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Fear of the Lord is a sanctifying gift of the Holy Spirit, the beginning of Wisdom and the foundation of religious life. The gift effects harmony, filial fear of God, and conformance to God’s standards so that fear descends, and love ascends.

The following citations show the transition of fear to love: 

“Ruin and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they know not. There is no fear of God in their eyes.”  (Romans 3:16-18)

 “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being.”  (Luke 18:2)

“Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning.”  (1 Peter 1:17)

“His mercy is from age to age for those who fear him.” (Luke 1:50)

 “… Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves … making holiness perfect in the fear of the God.”  (2 Corinthians 7:1)

 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.”  (1 John 4:18)

The Heavenly Father sent His only son into the world to give us the definitive proof of love — Christ died on a cross to make us co-heirs of the Kingdom of God. 

“No one has greater love that this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.”  (John 15:13)

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”  (Galatians 4:4-7)

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