The discussion question was : With regards to spiritual formation, what is the relationship between fear of God, Love for God, and Humility? Consider the sub-questions: Is there a primary affection that gives birth to the other two? Or are these cultivated separately or in parallel?
You are to only reply to student 1, 2 and 3 separately
Student 1
Based on the reading I would make the assertion that humility is primary towards the individual coming to know the fear and love of God in a truly healthy way. “And here it is that the teaching is needed: if you would enter into full fellowship with Christ in His death, and know the full deliverance from self, humble yourself. This is your one duty.”1 It is in the great deed of humbling ourselves before God that we enter into a place of receiving His grace and encountering His love. As it says in, James 4:6 (NIV), “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Therefore, Humility give birth to the love and fear of God and the development of all three work in parallel with each other. The more one loves God the more humility they will experience and have because Christ is the perfect representation of humility, the more Christ-like we are the humbler we will be. Philippians 2:8 “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
We see in Matthew 8:5-13 the faith of the centurion who comes to Jesus to request the healing of his servant. It is a show of great humility on the part of this Roman military leader to come to a Jewish wandering teacher. It reveals an absence of pride and a love for the servant who is ill and at the point of possible death. That humility yields to him a great faith, a faith that Jesus finds remarkable because the centurion understands that once the word is spoken then it is consider done based on the authority of the One who declared it. The centurion knew that once Jesus said his servant was healed then it was already done, because he recognized in Christ the authority to command healing just as he commands soldiers to do a task and they did it and never had to question whether his order was carried out. This great humility and faith yielded a display of Christ’s power and witness of His identity bringing about an increase in the love and fear of God in all who heard of it.
Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness (New York; London; Glasgow: Fleming H. Revell, 1800), 75.
Student 2
For each new Christian, there will be an attractant to the teachings of Christianity. In Spiritual Disciplines for Christian Life, Whitney prescribes an honest “ad” for new Christians. Such and honest ad asks for obedience of God, love of God, and a healthy attitude of humility.1 Whichever of these requests attract a new Christian will inform their initial spiritual development.
One could start with a development of humility as a desire to emulate the life of Christ without first having a fear of or love for God. One might begin their spiritual formation with a love for God without first having a fear of God or an understanding of the need for humility. Similarly, one’s spiritual formation could begin with a fear of God.
Murray argues that humility should be the driving study leading spiritual formation. In relation to the development of humility, Murray says “Our one need is to study and know and trust the life that has been revealed in Christ as the life that is now ours, and waits for our consent to gain possession and mastery of our whole being.”2
Paul appears to agree that humility will be the driving force of development, but, draws on one’s appreciation for Christ as the reason they should practice humility. In Galatians and Ephesians, Paul urges that faithfulness and humility be adopted through appreciation for God as an “heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 4:7). Using this as a starting point, one might conclude that love of God should lead to the study and adoption of humility. Through further study, one will come to adopt a healthy fear of God.
With the emphasis, by Paul, to “henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind” (Eph. 4:17) and “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32) it can be seen that whatever the initial motivations in accepting God, growth through God requires humbling yourself. If understanding is based on the writings of Paul; the conclusion could be that the affection of love for Christ leads to the adoption of humility and further study, from a place of humility, leads to a fear of God.
Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for Christian Life (Revised and Updated) (NavPress, 2014), 158.
Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness (New York; London; Glasgow: Fleming H. Revell, 1800), 20.
Student 3
Fear of God is giving reverence to God. It is respect for his authority and the dominion over your life. Fear of God creates the desire to know him more. Scripturally God tells us to fear him, so we seek knowledge of him, give him praise, and learn to walk in the truths of God. Fear of God is having eminent awareness of his greatness and understanding that we would be weak with the lack of his presence in our lives.
“Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge of God.” ~Proverbs 2:5(ESV)[1]
Once you gain knowledge of God, you develop a deep love for God. As with any relationship, you can find love in someone’s surface qualities, but it is the opportunity of experiencing varying encounters with them that we fall deeply in love. Our love for God deepens our reverence and compels us to learn how to be holy before him. Romans 6:18-19 tells us before we have gained knowledge of God, we were weak. Through relationships, we become comfortable offering the vulnerabilities that had us bond in slavery to wickedness to God for him to teach us to release ourselves and learn how to be holy before him. Again, we strive to be a better version of ourselves in any healthy relationship because we have reverence and have grown in love.
“So love God, your God; guard well his rules and regulations; obey his commandments for the rest of the time.” ~Deuteronomy 11:1 (MSG)
Dr. William Curtis’s lecture “The Economy of Heaven: Exposition of the Beatitudes”[2] highlights Jesus’s sermon on the mount that outlines the criteria to be in the kingdom of God, and the central theme is having an attitude reflective of humility. Through understanding the Beatitudes, we learn that humility is a spiritual posture—a posture given out reverence and love for God.[3] Humility is an attitude developed through awareness that we are nothing without God. Our humility is demonstrated through our inward and outward actions through that awareness. Dr. Ben Forrest talks about the authentic spiritual formation[4] developed through intentional acts of obedience to be holy before the Lord. 2 Timothy 1:9 “who saved us and called us to a holy calling.” Our obedience actions to ensure we remain holy demonstrate respect for our responsibilities with God’s kingdom.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and bellowed, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” ~Colossians 3: 12
Fear of God, for the love of God, and humility are parallel displays of affection towards God. All of them are foundational points to our relationship with God. Our love for him develops reverence and places us in a posture of humility through our reverence.
[1] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced employ the English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL; Crossway, 2008).
[2] Dr. William Curtis. “The Economy of Heaven: Exposition of the Beatitudes.” Video Lecture. Liberty University. 2022
[3] Dr. Ben Forrest. “Positional Awareness as a Spiritual Discipline.” Video Lecture. Liberty University. 2022
[4] Ibid.