Outside of being justified by Christ there's good reason to fear. "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather
fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Mt 10:28 The
circumstances in this world which threaten one's life, way of life, or
ambitions are nothing compared to the threat of eternal condemnation in
hell fire. Condemnation should be the greatest thing to be feared - a
condemnation which awaits all who fall short of God's standards. It's
the curse of the Law. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it
is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things
which are written in the book of the law, to do them." Gal 3:10
However, those who have come to trust in Christ have been released from such fear. "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He
Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy
him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb 2:14,15 Thus
while the fear of condemnation should drive one to the grace inherent
in the gospel, as they travel on that straight and narrow path that few
find. Those who have embraced the grace of God have arrived at the end
of that journey. They have past from death to life and are free from
condemnation. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears
my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be
condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24
Consequently there is no more fear for those who have to
trust in Christ, their salvation being sure, and that based not on
their performance but upon their faith in Christ, being confident as
Abraham was, as it is written, "he did not waver
through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in
his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had
power to do what he had promised. This is why it was credited to him as
righteousness." Rom 4:20,21 Saving faith is confident faith.
God gives His Spirit to those in the faith. And "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2Tim 1:7 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" Rom 8:15
Now concerning Love, love cannot be exercised in the context of fear. For "there is no fear in love; but perfect love
casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not
been made perfect in love." 1John 4:18 Consequently those
unbelieving Christians who view salvation as contingent upon one's
performance, as for example in obeying the commandments, are not capable
of practicing love. For the works they do are done to try and escape
condemnation. Their motivation is not love but self-preservation. Jesus'
greatest commandments are to love. But ironically those who view their
salvation as dependent upon obedience to such commands are inherently
incapable of obeying such commands. It's an example of the curse of the
Law.
Those who are in the faith practice love not in order to be saved but rather simply because it's the right thing to do and it's what they are. It comes naturally. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27 They do so because that's the nature of sheep. In contrast of false Christians it is written, "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." 2Peter 2:22
Consequently one can distinguish children of God from
children of the devil among the Christian community based upon their
behavior. "This is how we know who the children of
God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do
what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his
brother." 1John 3:10