Addressing Fear Doubt and Discouragement in Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth can be hindered by fear, doubt, and discouragement, which often stem from an awareness of sin and its consequences. The Bible consistently presents sin as a fundamental human problem, impacting both Gentiles and Jews, and preventing them from finding favor with God through their own actions [6]. All human beings are born with a sinful nature [1], and this inherent inclination can lead to "vanity" or various sinful acts [2]. The first sin, as described in Genesis, was not merely an act of eating forbidden fruit but represented a deeper rebellion involving self-love, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience [4].
The concept of sin extends beyond individual acts to a corrupt nature [7]. Deliberate sins are often committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God [5]. The Apostle John states that "He that committeth sin is of the devil," indicating that such actions align one with the devil, not through birth but through imitation [3]. This understanding of sin can lead to a consciousness of guilt, which in turn produces fear and dread, anticipating deserved punishment [10].
However, the Christian message offers a path to overcome these hindrances. Perfect love, which comes from living with Christ and growing in God's love, is said to expel all fear [10]. This love provides confidence in facing judgment, a stark contrast to the terror experienced by those who do not know God [10]. The New Testament emphasizes that believers are claimed by Christ, and through Christ, they are ultimately claimed by God [8].
When facing doubt, particularly during times when faith is severely tested by "speculative difficulties," believers are encouraged to reaffirm their belief in Christ [12]. The Psalms also offer guidance, suggesting that waiting for the Lord's answer can foster patience and refine one's faith [11]. Reverence for God, or "fear" in the sense of awe and respect, is presented as a positive attribute, contrasting with the negative implications of fear driven by guilt [9].
Sources
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
- Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 15:4: fear--reverence for God (Job 4:6; Psa 2:11). prayer--meditation, in Psa 104:34; so devotion. If thy views were right, reasons Eliphaz, that God disregards the afflictions of the righteous and makes the wicked to prosper, all devotion would be at an end.”
- 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 4:18: 4:18 perfect love expels all fear: As we live with Christ and grow more mature and complete in God’s love, we have confidence in facing the day of judgment, which will be terrifying for those who don’t know God (Acts 24:25; Rom 2:16). • Based on consciousness of guilt, fear anticipates a deserved punishment, producing dread that is itself a foretaste of that punishment. Christ died to set us free from this dread (Heb 2:14-15).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 4:1: Ps 4 This individual lament includes a prayer for rescue (4:1), a rebuke of the adversary (4:2-3), an exhortation to the godly (4:4-5), and an expression of confidence (4:6-8). 4:1 Waiting for the Lord’s answer allows for growth in patience and for the refinement of living faith (38:15).”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 6:69: And we believe,--(See on Mat 16:16). Peter seems to have added this not merely--probably not so much--as an assurance to his Lord of his heart's belief in Him, as for the purpose of fortifying himself and his faithful brethren against that recoil from his Lord's harsh statements which he was probably struggling against with difficulty at that moment. Note.--There are seasons when one's faith is tried to the utmost, particularly by speculative difficulties; the spiritual eye then swims, and all truth seems ready to depart from us. At such seasons, a clear”