There is no fear in love
1 John 4:18 New American Standard Bible
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
There is no fear in love. In Jesus Christ we find perfect love. The world we live in will often call love many things. People will say I love my favorite sports team or even if they are eating a good meal, they will say I love this sandwich. But often what we find called love in the world is simply driven by lust and selfishness. Many today believe if they love someone or something that it should make them feel good all the time.
But in Jesus Christ the love of God is very different. It is agape love. It is a love based on sacrifice and will. Though we don’t deserve God’s love, He chooses to love us. He chooses to provide. He chooses to chase us down and open our eyes to the truth. When we understand the love of God it will cast out all fear.
Fear exist when a person is expecting judgement or punishment. Many during John’s day looked with dread at the judgement of Almighty God. But in Christ we have nothing to fear. As believers in Christ we shall stand before the judgement seat of Christ and our entrance into God’s kingdom will be based on our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Sadly, those who have rejected the precious salvation found in Christ will hear these words from Jesus “away from me I never knew you” and for all eternity they will suffer in a way that we cannot comprehend on this side of heaven.
Every day as we grow in Christ we are being perfected in love. The more we abide in Him, the more time we spend in prayer, the more time we spend in God’s word, the Spirit of God within us is perfecting us in His love. To see His love manifested in our lives requires that we have a right understanding of God’s word and who He is. In Christ His perfect love is made available to us. It doesn’t mean our lives will be easy or we will not face trial or tribulation in this life, but it does mean that no matter what we face He will work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). We also know that no matter what we face, nothing can separate us from His perfect love (Romans 8:38-39).