Is fear a sin?

Mykuhl

Mykuhl

I would like to know what are your beliefs on whether fear and doubt are a sin?

I can not recall anywhere in the bible that states that fear or doubt are sins. It says many times not to fear or doubt but does not call them sins. Even the attitude in the bible concerning fear and doubt doesn't seem to express that it is sin. God doesn't get angry or pronounce judgment on it. Now keep in mind I am talking about with regards to the believer.

If anyone can present a scriptural case against this please do so. I really would like to know the truth about it.
 
Interestingly enough, fear and overcoming fear is the subject of our pastor's messages from last week and this week!!

Perhaps you can find some time to treat yourself to his great messages here:

http://www.findhope.tv/podcast-feed

(I think the message from last week is not available, but you can try it! Today's is fine!)
 
Mykuhl said:
I would like to know what are your beliefs on whether fear and doubt are a sin?

I can not recall anywhere in the bible that states that fear or doubt are sins. It says many times not to fear or doubt but does not call them sins. Even the attitude in the bible concerning fear and doubt doesn't seem to express that it is sin. God doesn't get angry or pronounce judgment on it. Now keep in mind I am talking about with regards to the believer.

If anyone can present a scriptural case against this please do so. I really would like to know the truth about it.
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As i read your post and pray about what to say the verse in James 1:6-8 comes to mind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord because their loyality is divided.

And Hebrews 11:6 that says without faith it is impossible to please God.
 
The only two verses that come to mind that begin to build a case for me to believe that fear and doubt are sins are: Romans 14:23 and Revelations 21:8. But so far I am not convinced.
 
God may not get angry or pronounce judgement on doubt or fear....but then again He is not judging a lot of things right now, because we are under grace. But i can guarantee you that if you are even just asking to just hear God, one will not hear His response because we do not believe that He will respond.

In my life this has happened to me and i went through it for about 20 years. I missed God a lot because i doubted that He even spoke to me. And as i think about it, i put a lot of stress on myself because when i did hear from Him, i doubted it was Him, and i went back and forth in my mind (which caused confusion). Doubt and fear open the door for the devil to operate in ones life.

Blessings!
 
Mykuhl said:
The only two verses that come to mind that begin to build a case for me to believe that fear and doubt are sins are: Romans 14:23 and Revelations 21:8. But so far I am not convinced.
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Hello Mykuhl,
Lets establish sin first. Sin is anything that destroys man or keeps you away from God or hinders your walk with God. (Basic view)

Fear is twisted faith. Doubt is wavering. Unbelief is opposed to Belief or Faith.
Jesus told Jairus to Stop the Fear and Only Believe. Because fear destroys faith.

We know that God is LOVE the devil is fear as God is LOVE.
Fear is twisted faith and here is an example of how..........
Big dog with big teeth charging you..........
Now you are either afraid of this dog or You have Faith in God and feel no threat.
Afraid of the dog is fear of the dog which is faith that this dog can hurt you
What I mean is fear of it is faith in it.

All of the things you asked about work against Faith in God and His word.
So when we have doubt or unbelief or fear that something is not going to happen as we desire then our faith is not strong, pure and confident in God and His word.

So yes fear and doubt and unbelief can be sin for it hurts man BUT it is not going to send you to hell but it might get you to heaven earlier then planned.
I hope this helps some how. ;)
Blessings
Jim
 
Fear in and of itself is not sin. Doubt in and of itself is not sin. Neither is anger. Temptation is not sin when it is of itself. It is what you do after you have been tempted, angered or made afraid.
If these were sins then Christ's sacrifice is null and void for He experienced anger, fear (just before His arrest) and temptation. It is how He reacted to those most human conditions that kept Him sinless Before the Father.
Though Christ was so afraid he even sweated blood, He still obeyed. He didn't let His fear prevent Him from obedience. If He had then His fear would have resulted in sin.
 
Well, many times in the bible the angels say to ppl dont be afraid, even Jesus says dont be afraid..
There is a healthy fear of the Lord though, which is the beginning of wisdom.
Perfect love casts out fear, for fear brings torment.

Once you know His love, there is nothing to fear.
If you find yourself doubting and being afraid, remind yourself the Jesus loves you and put your trust in Him.

I would say its not a sin in itself but something that needs to be cast out. You cant give in to fear.
 
The most frequent command in the bible is "Fear not". Fear comes from a lie we choose to believe, and it is a tool that Satan uses in us to steal, kill and destroy our faith, and to make us ineffective for the Kingdom of God in the world. Fear and doubt is a major hindrance that keeps us from receiving from God and from becoming all that God desires us to be--thereby making the Kingdom of God on earth a feeble force, indeed. We need to rise up!
 
Mykuhl said:
I would like to know what are your beliefs on whether fear and doubt are a sin?

I can not recall anywhere in the bible that states that fear or doubt are sins. It says many times not to fear or doubt but does not call them sins. Even the attitude in the bible concerning fear and doubt doesn't seem to express that it is sin. God doesn't get angry or pronounce judgment on it. Now keep in mind I am talking about with regards to the believer.

If anyone can present a scriptural case against this please do so. I really would like to know the truth about it.
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Romans 14:23 (KJV)
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.​

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.​

Psalms 66:18 (KJV)
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:​

James 1:6-7 (KJV)
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
​
Hebrews 3:12 (KJV)
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.​


Yea, I think fear and doubt are sins... look at the results: separation from God.
 
Hmmmm that last Hebrews reference really makes me think. I read it in context and it seems to support that fear/doubt is a sin. I will continue to search and pray about it.
 
Euphemia said:
The most frequent command in the bible is "Fear not". Fear comes from a lie we choose to believe, and it is a tool that Satan uses in us to steal, kill and destroy our faith, and to make us ineffective for the Kingdom of God in the world. Fear and doubt is a major hindrance that keeps us from receiving from God and from becoming all that God desires us to be--thereby making the Kingdom of God on earth a feeble force, indeed. We need to rise up!
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I completely agree with your points.
 
dan in the lion's den said:
Fear in and of itself is not sin. Doubt in and of itself is not sin. Neither is anger. Temptation is not sin when it is of itself. It is what you do after you have been tempted, angered or made afraid.
If these were sins then Christ's sacrifice is null and void for He experienced anger, fear (just before His arrest) and temptation. It is how He reacted to those most human conditions that kept Him sinless Before the Father.
Though Christ was so afraid he even sweated blood, He still obeyed. He didn't let His fear prevent Him from obedience. If He had then His fear would have resulted in sin.
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I really don't think we can rightly say that Jesus ever feared. If we define fear as the opposite of faith, the lack of trust and imperfect love then we cannot say that Jesus ever experienced fear. If so then that means that Jesus lacked faith and trust for His Father and that Jesus did not have perfect love. We can't say this about Jesus.
 
dan in the lion's den said:
Fear in and of itself is not sin. Doubt in and of itself is not sin. Neither is anger. Temptation is not sin when it is of itself. It is what you do after you have been tempted, angered or made afraid.
If these were sins then Christ's sacrifice is null and void for He experienced anger, fear (just before His arrest) and temptation. It is how He reacted to those most human conditions that kept Him sinless Before the Father.
Though Christ was so afraid he even sweated blood, He still obeyed. He didn't let His fear prevent Him from obedience. If He had then His fear would have resulted in sin.
Click to expand...

Ther bible only speaks once that Jesus was angry and that is not where. I do not see what so ever where you
Mykuhl said:
Hmmmm that last Hebrews reference really makes me think. I read it in context and it seems to support that fear/doubt is a sin. I will continue to search and pray about it.
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1John 4:8 perfect OR PERFECTED Love casteth out ALL FEAR.......
 
Yes I agree Jim....perfect or perfected or complete and fully mature love casts out fear. But most of us in the body of Christ have not attained to that kind of love yet.

So my main reason for wanting to know if fear/doubt is a sin....WAIT! I think I may have jus gotten my answer!....the meaning of the repent is the change the way you think about and to turn away from what you are doing right? So....repenting from fear/doubt would mean to turn away from it and change the way you are currently thinking about it and turn to the truth about it.
 
yes I think you got it.
Scripture coming to mind - in Revelation - it is the fearful and unbelieving who are locked outside of heaven.
But remember we were all at that stage before repentance, after it, we do not go back or give in to it. I think of it this way - when we come to Jesus all fear is cast aside, if we do go back to it then yes, we are deliberately sinning. But if we know Jesus, what have we to fear???

So, the remedy is - get to know Jesus more.
 
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