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"There is no fear in love..."

Text: 1 John 4:18

A MATURE PERFECTED LOVE

The Love that the apostle John wrote about is essentially God’s divine love and not human love. This understanding must be borne in mind.

“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.”
1 John 4:18

1. “There is no fear in love”

a) The phrase “in love” may translated “in the love”.

i) Thus the focus is not love in general.

ii) The article “the” is really a reference to the love that John mentioned earlier.

iii) This is a reference to God’s divine love.

b) There is indeed no fear in this love.

i) This love of God assures us that we will not come into judgment.

ii) This love of God is evidenced in the sending of His Son to die for mankind.

iii) This love of God removes all our fears.

2. “Perfect love”

a) The word “perfect” highlights the idea of full maturity.

b) The love of God must mature in our hearts.

i) It must be planted first.

ii) It is then cultivated carefully.

iii) It finally matures fully.

iv) Then we have what John calls “perfect love”.

3. “But perfect love casts out fear”

a) Perfect love can have a powerful effect on us.

b) The phrase “casts out”

i) This word is used by the gospel writers to describe Jesus casting out demons.

ii) Perfect love has this potential power to cast out whatever fears we may have.

c) Perfect love can cast out even fears of the strongest kind.

d) This text is truly inspirational. Let us seek to cultivate this “perfect love” of God in our heart.