Fear of God and the First Step of Faith
But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” – Luke 23:40-41
The second criminal responded very differently from the first criminal, as we discussed yesterday. Instead of mocking Jesus, he rebuked the other man. His response reveals the beginning of genuine faith.
“Don’t you even fear God?”
Fear of God is not terror. It is reverence. It is recognition of who God is and who we are not. This man understood something the first criminal did not. He acknowledged guilt. He admitted responsibility. He recognized justice.
“We are punished justly.”
This is the language of humility. He did not blame others. He did not make excuses. He did not minimize his sin. He owned it.
Then he defended Jesus. “This man has done nothing wrong.”
In the middle of unbearable pain, this criminal demonstrated clarity. While hanging on a cross, he recognized innocence. He saw truth in the middle of chaos.
This is often how faith begins. Not with confidence, but with honesty. Not with bargaining, but with humility.
The fear of God opens the door to faith because it puts us in the right posture. It reminds us that salvation begins with admitting our need.
The second criminal did not start with a request. He started with confession. And confession always precedes transformation.
The second criminal responded very differently from the first criminal, as we discussed yesterday. Instead of mocking Jesus, he rebuked the other man. His response reveals the beginning of genuine faith.
“Don’t you even fear God?”
Fear of God is not terror. It is reverence. It is recognition of who God is and who we are not. This man understood something the first criminal did not. He acknowledged guilt. He admitted responsibility. He recognized justice.
“We are punished justly.”
This is the language of humility. He did not blame others. He did not make excuses. He did not minimize his sin. He owned it.
Then he defended Jesus. “This man has done nothing wrong.”
In the middle of unbearable pain, this criminal demonstrated clarity. While hanging on a cross, he recognized innocence. He saw truth in the middle of chaos.
This is often how faith begins. Not with confidence, but with honesty. Not with bargaining, but with humility.
The fear of God opens the door to faith because it puts us in the right posture. It reminds us that salvation begins with admitting our need.
The second criminal did not start with a request. He started with confession. And confession always precedes transformation.
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