“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.”
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
The love that erects confidence (4:17) also expels fears. God’s love is amiable toward the believer because of Christ. The believer’s love should be amicable toward fellow Christians because of their filial relation to Christ. Other Christians are worthy of being loved because of Christ.
If a person dreads the thought of judgment day, his life is not marked by the perfected love of God that expresses itself in concrete action. In other words, he has no basis for assurance concerning his welfare when the Judgment Seat of Christ comes. “Love” here also has the additional thought of “acceptance.”
PRINCIPLE:
Love conquers fear.
APPLICATION:
Fear is a feeling of anxiety caused by real or imagined danger. Fear can paralyze the believer making him incapable of doing the will of God. We conquer fear when we remember that God loves us (4:16,19).
That is the way with people who do not know the future. They do not know the score. They would rather remain in the dark. Fear is a very real thing.
Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Ps 23:4, 4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Ps 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?”
Ps 46:1-3, 1 “God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah.”
Jn 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
2 Ti 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Love that accomplishes its purpose casts out fear. It releases us from the bondage of fear. It frees us to engage others.
Hate is not necessarily the opposite of love. Fear can be the opposite of love. Love gives, but fear protects. Love moves toward others, but fear moves away. Fear is afraid of loss. Love is concerned with giving. Love does not cower in fear. Love does not live a defensive life, always avoiding and never risking. Love ever reaches out to others.
