1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.
Context: 1 John 4:15-16Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 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. 1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love because he first loved us.
From the lexicon: Love=doing as God prefers. Made perfect=made complete. Have =hold. Boldness=confidence.
Pulling it together: God is love, John 4:16 and when we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior we abide in God and He in us v.15. When God’s love is in us, we know His heart. His love is completed in us giving us confidence toward the day of judgment which is coming and soon may be here. We need not fear because He has already dealt with our sin on the Cross. Verse 17 continues: We do not fear because as He (Jesus ) is, so are we in this world–alive–living life abundantly. The next verse follows up on the ideas.
There is no fear in love. We need not fear when we know God’s love for us. If He sent His Son for us to die on Calvary in order to redeem us, so much more will He watch over us and protect us. As the writer of the book of Hebrews said: Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16.
Lord, I pray for grace to trust your love for me and to love you enough to trust You.