With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

(Psalm 130:3-4)

How could the forgiveness of God cause us to fear Him?  Most people have this notion that it's God's wrath and anger that causes us to fear Him.  Wouldn't the love and forgiveness of God produce opposite results, causing us to love Him back?  Yes, that does happen.  But that's not all that happens.

The problem is, without forgiveness, we would become desperate and feel a sense of hopelessness.  Without hope, many would continue down the path of sin and destruction, and depart from their faith in and worship of God.  Just as devils have no fear of God because they have not been granted forgiveness, we would not fear God either.  There might be dread and trembling, but no godly fear.

If God did not grant forgiveness, there would be no godly fear, because condemned humanity will forever hate God and be cut off from him.  But because God took the step of pardoning sin through the sacrifice of his Son, the discovery of this gospel causes us to fear Him.  How can we not fear one who is not only infinitely powerful and just, but also infinitely loving and merciful?  How can our hearts not melt, causing us to fear to offend Him and want to serve Him with gratitude?

There is no God like the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed in the pages of Holy Scripture.  In the latter days, he has revealed Himself in the flesh, through His Son Jesus Christ, in whom is the fulness of God.  He has come to forgive us and offer salvation to the world.  And by doing this, we can only stand in awe, in reverent fear of the only one who is worthy to be praised.