1 John 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.
Context: 1 John 1:16-17 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 1John 1:19 We love because he first loved us.
Lexicon: Fear=panic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror. Love=(Godly) love, goodwill. Perfect= having reached its end, i.e. complete.
Pulling it together: Fear has to do with punishment. We sin, feel guilty, and fear God’s wrath. But for the believer in Christ who knows the fulness of God’s love, there needs be no fear. Jesus has taken our sins at Calvary where He paid our debt. If I fear God’s judgment, I’m not fully trusting in His promise: Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (delivered from sin) Romans 10:13.
But does this give me the permission to continue to do as I want, regardless of God’s will for my life? God forbid. As Paul wrote in Romans 6:3 How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Sin causes us to fear. If a believer is fearful of God, it is an indication that he doesn’t fully trust God or that there is an ongoing sin in his life. Either way this is sin. But there is a solution: 1John 1:9 If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Lord I pray for grace to love You enough to trust Your love for me and I pray for grace to keep short accounts with You surrendering my heart, soul, and will.