5/25 Beyond 'Fear of God' for Love
/Acts Chapter 52 - Sermon
Date: May 25, 2025
Title: Beyond 'Fear of God' for Love
Scripture: Acts 10:1-8
[Acts 10:1-8]
1 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who1 came in and said to him, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.
8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to2 Joppa.
Kim Jang-ha, The Elder
A few years ago, a documentary film was released in Korea that created a sensation, gaining immense popularity. It was a documentary called 'Kim Jang-ha, The Elder'.
In an age where we ponder the difference between an old person and an elder, the media, both secular and Christian, found an answer in him, pouring out numerous articles highlighting his life.
Among them, I'd like to quote a passage from a Christian channel called 'Institute for Archival Culture' that featured him:
At the corner of an alley in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, beyond an old herbal medicine signboard, a warm aroma wafted. There was a person who prescribed a more valuable life remedy than the old oriental medicine clinic. His name was Kim Jang-ha. He was a man who left behind his heart rather than his name, and an elder who moved his hands more than his words. He didn't carry a Bible, but he lived a life more biblical than anyone else, quietly yet deeply leaving traces of love that pleased God.
Following the footsteps left by Mr. Kim Jang-ha, one encounters three distinct Christian spirits etched within them: love, humility, and justice. These three flowed like breath from his fingertips, his gaze, and his quiet retreating figure, and they were, in essence, the fragrance of Christ.
The reporter for this channel asserts that Mr. Kim Jang-ha's love is distinguishable from worldly love, based on three pillars: 'love, humility, and justice'.
First, the practice of unconditional love.
He provided scholarships to thousands of students, cared for orphans, repaired the homes of elderly people living alone, and paid off the debts of disadvantaged neighbors. Yet, most of those he helped never knew his name. He approached quietly, extended a hand, patted backs without a word, and loved by erasing his own traces. "Once you've given, that's it." This single phrase encapsulates his philosophy.
Like Christ, he loved first, gave unconditionally, and left without expecting anything in return. That's why his love was real, and that's why his love was the Gospel.
Second, humility, the path of thoroughly hiding oneself.
Mr. Kim Jang-ha disliked having his name called. If someone tried to bow and express gratitude, he would consistently avoid the situation, and he forbade his photo or name from being displayed in any school or memorial he founded. He lived by erasing his presence, saving the lives of others, and protected their futures by concealing his own contributions.
Third, treating everyone with dignity.
His life embodied a deep sensitivity to justice. He served as the first chairman of the Hyeongpyeong Movement Commemoration Project, remembering those in the lowest positions. This Hyeongpyeong Movement was Korea's oldest human rights movement, advocating for the abolition of discrimination against baekjeong (butchers) during the Joseon Dynasty.
He wished for children not to be discriminated against due to poverty, for the elderly not to be marginalized for being alone, and for those with disabilities not to be treated inhumanely.
That justice is the social ethic of God's Kingdom, and it was the reality of the Gospel that He came to earth to actualize.
Upon encountering this content, I, too, felt a warm, quiet yet powerful感動.
I was so curious about the truly inspiring life of Mr. Kim Jang-ha that I searched diligently, but there was almost no information available because he never gave an interview in his entire life.
However, that made it even more moving.
The stories from those who observed his life, the testimonies that painted his life, seem even more beautiful because he didn't add a single word about himself.
The Christian media outlets that highlighted his life all confessed, "We are ashamed."
I felt the same way.
However, at the end of the video from the Christian channel that introduced Mr. Kim Jang-ha, the reporter said this.
I'll quote it directly:
Whether Mr. Kim Jang-ha was a Christian or not is not important. He may not have frequented churches, but clearly, there was a cross in his life, and the love of Jesus resided in his touch. The Bible says, "Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:35). He was a person who acted on God's will through action rather than words, through life rather than faith.
As a Christian channel, wasn't this a statement that could be quite problematic? While I fully understood the intention, I momentarily worried.
Theology and Faith
Fortunately, though not many, there were comments on that video like, "No matter how good a person is, if they don't believe in Jesus, they'll go to hell!"
What would you say to such people?
[1 John 4:7-8]
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The truth flowing throughout the entire Bible actually defends such people.
How should we view those who claim to believe in Jesus but have no love, are indifferent, and perpetually self-centered?
What's the bigger problem? In fact, the Bible's stance is clear:
"Whoever does not love, no matter what they claim,
in reality, does not know God!"
I cannot discern his eternal destiny, but I cannot deny that the God I know—through countless sincere testimonies of those who experienced Jesus' love from him—affirms that God's love and fragrance were with him.
Cornelius, the Roman centurion in our text, was not yet a Christian who believed in Jesus. However, he was diligent in charity and good deeds, helping the weak.
Surprisingly, God sent an angel to him, commanding him to bring Peter.
God, the Lord, went to a Gentile commander, who didn't even know Jesus or Yahweh, and bestowed grace upon him.
The Bible states that the reason he could live such a righteous life was because he was a "God-fearing man."
To Reverence is To Fear
The Hebrew verb 'yare' (יָרֵא) is the most common word used in the Old Testament to mean 'to revere' or 'to fear'. This word encompasses the following nuances:
Fear, Terror: This refers to the actual terror felt in threatening situations or before a powerful entity.
Looking at key verses where this word is used:
Genesis 22:12: "“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear (יָרֵא) God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”"
In the scene we examined in detail last year, when Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac, God stopped him, saying, "Now I know that you fear God!"
However, this same word is used this way:
Exodus 14:10: "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians marching after them. They were terrified3 (וַיִּירְאוּ) and cried out to the Lord."
Not only does it refer to fearing God, but the fear felt when seeing Pharaoh and his army pursuing them is also the same word.
While we translate it differently in Korean as 'to be scared,' 'to be afraid,' and 'to revere,' it's all the same word.
So, whether good or bad...
We can see that there's a common characteristic in what it means to be afraid.
What people fear can be different.
Some of you might not be afraid of zombies or ghosts at all, but might be truly terrified of a tiny insect.
For such a person, if a single insect appears in the room and makes eye contact...
They would feel a shiver down their spine, as if all their hair stood on end.
They wouldn't be able to divert their attention for a moment and would likely lose sleep that night.
While the object of fear may differ and the atmosphere can be vastly different, there's a crucial commonality in fear, terror, and awe.
When Abraham had to offer his beloved only son Isaac on the altar, could he have thought of anything else for even a moment?
And when a terribly disliked insect is in my bedroom...
What is the commonality?
That commonality is the most important meaning of 'yare'.
It's not about being first, second, or third...
It's about a presence so overwhelming that it captures all attention, making all other things incomparable,
It's the awe felt for a being so precious that dedicating everything wouldn't be too much,
It's the inability to shake off thoughts for even a moment, leading to an unavoidable focus on the object.
This is when we 'yare'...
And that's why the Bible consistently expresses it as 'fear and trembling'.
Those for whom God becomes such a being are the ones who 'fear God'.
People who do good deeds to be seen by others are, in fact, doing good business. They are investing their wealth in good causes and, in return, building a reputation and gaining social influence. This is a transaction.
However, those who truly do good deeds with their right hand not knowing what their left hand is doing—people who thoroughly conceal themselves to an excessive degree—are not seeking such social fame. The more inexplicably pure it is, the more the reason for their actions becomes an awe of the God who is the master of all things.
Cornelius was not a Jew, a people who believed in monotheism. Like all other cultures, Cornelius would have believed in multiple gods and followed customs of offering sacrifices to them.
However, he had a special difference.
Although he couldn't yet fully grasp it, his conscience believed that there must be a greatest God above all gods, and that people ought to fear that God. Therefore, he was a person who strived to live devoutly and righteously before God.
This is the characteristic of those who fear God.
The characters portrayed in the Bible had a commonality. Even if they didn't know much about God, Old Testament figures, who possessed only a piece of the puzzle compared to us now, commonly revered that God, even though they didn't know Him in detail. They 'yare' – they feared Him.
Fear Enters
Initially, when God created everything and rejoiced, fear did not exist. However, Adam and Eve, who committed the first sin, hid from God.
At this point, the first expression of fear is found.
[Genesis 3:10] He replied, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
It was sin that transformed the heart focused on God from love into fear.
1 John 4:18: "There is no fear (φόβος) in love. But perfect love drives out fear (φόβον), because fear (φόβος) has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
This verse clearly shows the source of fear.
One feels ashamed for what is not yet perfected, and at that point, one experiences fear.
However, when this verse is applied too simplistically in a theological context, hypocrisy and falsehood can creep in.
The message becomes: "Since we believe in Jesus and are saved, we are already in perfect love, and therefore, it is wrong to be afraid!"
What we gained through the grace of the cross is the authority to become children of God. We gained that right, that qualification, but it does not mean we have fully recovered our childlike nature.
How much does the Bible emphasize the continuous process of change demonstrated by the disciples?
That's why it proclaims, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling!"
Jesus also taught that mourning over sin and hungering and thirsting for righteousness are blessings.
Fear of God
Recently, a fashion brand named 'Fear of God' gained great popularity.
The moment I first saw it, I felt certain it was a brand created by a Christian.
The designer explained how he chose the brand name:
'Fear of God' came from an experience I had with the Lord. I was doing morning devotion with my parents in Northern California, and they started talking about the clouds and darkness surrounding God's kingdom. Righteousness is the foundation of His throne. And for the first time, I saw God as something truly cool.
He said that he had always thought of God as gentle and accepting, not very "cool," but for the first time, he felt that God was "cool" and kept that expression in mind.
He explained the meaning of 'Fear of God' as follows:
Fearing God means reverence, love, and respect for God. When we have that, we can be at peace with the darkness surrounding His throne and our own inability to understand Him.
While I cannot know how faithful a believer he is, the feeling I had when I saw the brand name—that it was created by a Christian—suggests that his true intention was conveyed.
It is clear that Christians often view God too leniently, taking Him for granted, and this leads to various serious spiritual insensitivity and apathy.
Considering the most important characteristic of yare that we examined earlier,
the opposite of fear is 'insensitivity.'
There is no awe of God, no mourning over sin. Therefore, there is no impression, no thrill, no gratitude for anything.
That's why Jesus lamented:
[Matthew 11:16-17]
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not4 mourn.’"
Isn't this generation like that? It's the Lord's sigh over indifference, insensitivity, and apathy.
Therefore, I believe the message of 'Fear of God' has significantly inspired this generation.
But why is there no fear of God, even when people commit sins? Regarding such people, Kant first used the term 'practically atheist.'
While they verbally acknowledge that God is always everywhere, and that they believe in a God greater than the world, if they can actually live by almost ignoring God, as if He doesn't exist, then for whatever reason, they are living as a 'practically atheist.'
If such practical atheists constitute the majority in every church,
if weeds far outnumber the wheat... could we still call that place a field of wheat?
Could we call such a church the light, the salt, the fullness of Jesus Christ left in the world?
That's why those who are practically atheist, while calling themselves Christians, are more dangerous and harmful than those who openly declare themselves atheists.
[Titus 1:16] They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for any good thing.
Let's look at four characteristics of practical atheists, as summarized by a theologian:
First, they view the teachings of the Bible as merely one opinion, not absolute.
Second, they generally live by the values and philosophies of the world.
Third, they rarely pray and have no expectation from prayer.
Fourth, they are not serious about heaven and hell.
Sinners must first pass through the Fear of God to reach true love.
Only by humbly seeking God with a mournful heart can one encounter true love.
From Fear to Love
But if you are someone who often feels fear of God,
let's briefly revisit the example of people who fear insects.
Why are tiny insects, thousands of times smaller than humans, so frightening?
It's the fear of them suddenly appearing... the mere thought of them jumping on me or flying at my face gives me goosebumps. It's because I can't control them or predict their actions.
But wouldn't it be much less frightening if the insect were safely confined in a small trap box?
Or what if the insect is outside the window? In that case, we would hardly feel any fear.
While the objects are completely different, from the perspective of fear—yare—can't we also understand our relationship with God through this analogy?
Firstly, we fear God because we don't know Him well enough. Moreover, God is infinitely greater than us and immensely powerful—He can do anything. We don't know what He might do. That's why we are afraid.
If we don't know how God will react to our thoughts and actions, it's natural to be afraid.
Jesus respected and reverenced God, but because He knew the Father and acted according to His will, He lived in peace and joy without fear and loved God perfectly.
Jesus consistently described His relationship with God as that of a deeply loving Father and Son. And His disciples, who followed Him, also trusted God the Father and committed everything to His will.
God is so great that endless adjectives cannot fully describe Him, but the Bible ultimately defines it in one word: 'love.'
He created us because He loved us and to love us.
When we chose the path of destruction through sin...
He sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins on our behalf.
That is the proof of God's love for us.
No one in the Old Testament or among the righteous in the world had the qualification to become a child of God through their own righteousness alone.
If Cornelius had been enough as he was, God wouldn't have needed to send Peter.
However, because he became a God-fearing man, he received grace and had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Have you, like Cornelius, lived as a God-fearing person and then encountered the Gospel?
Did God grant you the grace to hear the Gospel because you diligently engaged in charity and sharing?
If you're not even sure about that... how great is the grace you have received?
Among Mr. Kim Jang-ha's scholarship recipients, many became respected figures in society.
I saw an interview with one of them, who became a pastor. He was accepted into a science high school but, as an orphan, couldn't afford the tuition.
After much searching, he finally met Mr. Kim. In their first meeting, without many words, Mr. Kim promised to cover his tuition and living expenses not only through high school but until he graduated from university.
When he later said he would surely repay the kindness, Mr. Kim, as always, told him to repay it to society.
The pastor's eyes welled up throughout the interview.
Why did this person live with such a sense of indebtedness, giving away everything? I hope that one day, when Mr. Kim Jang-ha receives grace and encounters Jesus through someone's obedience, that secret will also be revealed. When he finally looks upon Jesus, Jesus will surely praise and welcome his life, lived as a truly righteous person in his time.
And I dream a dream.
Though not thousands, I hope that during my lifetime, one or two people here, through the love I have given without calculation because I love Jesus, will experience the love of Jesus, and repay that debt of love not to me but to others, thereby moving the world.
I hope that one or two such people will appear in that land of South Dakota.
Let us pray.
