As St. Basil the Great says, there are three types of dispositions with
which we are capable of pleasing God. The first is when we keep God’s
commandments because we are afraid of Hell; in this instance we are in
the position of a slave. The second is when we fulfill God’s commandments
because it is profitable for us and we desire to receive payment and to be
rewarded; in this case we resemble employees. The third is when we do so
on account of virtue itself; in this instance we hold the title of a son. For
when a son reaches a mature age, he carries out the will of his father not
because he is afraid of being punished, not because he wants to receive
payment from him, but because he loves his father, and he pays special
attention to always love and respect his father, convinced that everything
that his father owns belongs to him as well. Such a person becomes
worthy of hearing the following words: “Wherefore thou art no more a
servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal.
4:7). Such a person no longer fears God (with introductory fear, of course)
as we have already said, but he loves God, as Saint Anthony stated: “I no
longer fear God, but I love Him.”
When the Lord said to Abraham (after he offered his son to Him),
“Now I have come to know that you fear God” (Gen. 22:12), He was
referring to the perfect fear that results from love. Why else would He have
said, “Now I know”? Abraham did so many things prior to this. He obeyed
God, abandoned everything he had, and went to live in a foreign land
amongst a nation of idolaters, where there was not even a trace of
godliness. After all this, the Lord put him through the most-difficult test of
sacrificing his own son. Finally, He told him, “Now I have come to know
that you fear God.” It is clear that God was referring to the perfect fear that
the Saints possess. For the saints no longer do God’s will because they
fear Hell or hoping to receive a reward; rather, they love Him, as we have
repeatedly stated, fearing not to do anything contrary to the will of Him
Whom they love. This is why it has been said, “Love casts away fear.” For
they no longer do things out of fear; rather, they fear as a result of love.
This is the perfect fear. But it is not possible for someone to arrive at
perfect fear, as we previously stated, if one does not first acquire the
introductory fear.
—by Abba Dorotheos—
