Fear of Government

 - 1  Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.   - 2  Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.   - 3  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;   - 4  for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.   - 5  Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.   - 6  For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.   - 7  Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.   - 8  Owe nothing to anyone... - Romans 13:1-8

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Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.   - 2 Timothy 1:7

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, "Abba, Father."   - Romans 8:15

Because God's children are human beings--made of flesh and blood--the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.  - Hebrews 2:14-15

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.  - 1 John 4:17-18