Fear

There's a running discussion on SKB's comments about whether Jesus used fear in his teachings. Here are two relevant passages from the New Testament:

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him, which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

Now "fear" in this context also means to respect, but it's a fear and respect based on the consequences of our actions and inactions - the separation from God. Sound advice.

Also, similarly, from Luke:

"But I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear. Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him." (Luke 12:4,5)

Here's something I found using a Google search:

The Fear of God

"There are those who tell us that fear ought to be banished from religion; we ought, it is said, no more to hold before men's eyes the fear of hell; fear, it is said, is an ignoble thing. Those who speak in this way certainly have no right to appeal to Jesus; for Jesus certainly did employ, and insistently, the motive of fear.

(...)

Even the Christian must fear God. But it is another kind of fear. It is a fear rather of what might have been than of what is; it is a fear of what would come were we not in Christ. Without such fear there can be no true love; for love of the Saviour is proportioned to one's horror of that from which man has been saved. And how strong are the lives that are suffused with such a love! They are lives brave, not because the realities of life have been ignored, but because they have first been faced — lives that are founded upon the solid foundation of God's grace. May such lives be ours!

Sorry to dive out into the religious waters - I don't normally do that, but this is something I felt strongly about. I hope you found it enlightening...