I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Evil produces “fear”; but, “love” produces peace and joy and gentleness and kindness. “There is no fear in love”; therefore, “born again” (John 3:3-8) Children of God have no “fear” that God will cast them away, that God will fail to take their spirit/soul to be with Him when their body dies, that God will fail to take them (body, soul, and spirit) to Heaven on the great day of the Resurrection, that God will fail to come to our aid in times of trouble, or that God will do some great evil to them. Old Testament Israel feared the presence of God (Hebrews 12:18-21); but, because our Lord Jesus Christ has Sacrificed Himself to pay our sin-debt, we can now without “fear” “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16)! It is true that faithful Children of God are correctly known as God Fearing People (Acts 10:2; 10:22; Colossians 3:22); but, this “fear” refers to the Reverential Awe that we have of God. The principal reason we Primitive Baptist do not give our ministers the title of “reverend” is because that title is reserved for God: “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” (Psalms 111:9). The “fear” that God-Fearing People have for God is much like the loving “fear” that Children have for their parents; they know that their parents love them but, they also know that, out of that love, their parents will chasten them to correct their behavior and to guide them. Furthermore, because of our Heavenly Father’s loving care for us (I Peter 5:7), “we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6)!