Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 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. 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." (I John 4:16-18)

The word "perfect" in the scripture above is defined by Strong's as:

1. Brought to its end, finished;
   
2. Wanting nothing necessary to completeness;
   
3. Perfect
   
4. That which is perfect
   
   1. Consummate human integrity and virtue
      
   2. Of men
      
      1. Full grown, adult, of full age, mature
         

In the scripture listed above is a verse that says "we have known and believed the love that God hath to us." This is key.

The first thing that happens in an un-believer's life is the revelation of God's love in such a way that it can be tasted and felt. It is experienced on such a level that it is difficult to explain, but valid in every sense for the un-believer. This is love that catapults the un-believer out of the world of the lost and unbelieving, into the world of the saved and believing. It is only because we experienced that love on some level that we can believe it. Without the experience of it, there is only head knowledge that it exists. It is because God first loved us that we can now love Him. John says "we have known." The word "known" here is the same word used in Jewish idom to describe sexual intercourse between a man and a woman; it indicates great intimacy.

Where there is no "believing" of God's love, there is fear and doubt, otherwise known as "torment." "Does God REALLY love me? Can I REALLY be saved? Am I REALLY worthy of God's love?"

Legalism is born out of this fear; legalism does not comprehend God's mercy and grace. And it cannot extend mercy and grace towards others.

This is why God tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please [God]; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith says that God loved us. Faith does not doubt God's love. If we walk in doubt instead of faith, we will begin to fashion God out of our own wicked imaginations into a hard taskmaster and judge only rather than a loving God. And we lead others to believe the same. None who walk in such fear and doubt can enter into the kingdom of heaven.

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

We, however, believe. Therefore we have no fear of that scripture in Revelation pertaining to us. In place of fear and torment, we can have peace. It is all a matter of remembering God's love for us, and trusting in it always; and never giving way to the enemy who wants us to believe otherwise.

"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11)

So now we have:

1. Love that has first been received by us from God (and has brought us to our knees in repentance);
   
2. Dying to our flesh;
   
3. Living to God (aka obedience)
   
4. Living in peace versus fear (having "faith" or "believing").
   

Next posting, we will begin to discuss what perfect love looks like in our relationships with one another.