1John 4:18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
The reason why many believers still live in "fear" is because they are yet to see and understand the sacrifice of Jesus for their sake. Until you see and come to understand the reality of God's love for you in Christ, you will keep serving God out of fear, and not love. You'd be prone to self condemnation, and thoughts of punishment from God will flood your heart. When you go through difficult times, you'd be saying; "God is dealing with me because of what I did, or because of the sin I committed". But all these are not true! That's why we try to get believers to see how great is God's love towards them, and pray they become perfected in that love!
The first thing that God's love does for the believer is to chase out the Spirit of fear from him.
2Timothy 1:7. For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, AND OF LOVE, and of a sound mind.
Those who are perfected in God's love live a life pervaded by His peace. They are at rest. They aren't tormented by fear. The truth is; any message that makes you dread God is not a message of Christ. It's another gospel! The gospel edifies, it brings peace to the hearts of men, it births joy, it increases the love of the saints towards God, why? Because, they have come to see, know and experience His love, they can't help but reciprocate that love!
1John 4:19. We love Him, because He first loved us.
My friend, give no place to fear in your heart, rather, seek to grow in the knowledge of the love the Father bestowed upon you in Christ(1John 3:1).