No Fear Fellowship Series

You can listen to this sermon at https://www.npbc.org.au/podcasts/media

1 John 4:1-21

“No Fear Fellowship”

When you read John’s Epistles in one sitting what you will find is a lot of repetition.

Especially when John writes chapter 4.

Chapter 4:1-6 is about the false prophets and the antichrists who do not recognise that Jesus has come in the flesh.

John wrote extensively about that in chapter 2

Chapter 4:7-21 talks about the love of God.

An atoning love.

The need to acknowledge the name of Jesus to receive that love.

The need to show that love to brothers and sisters in Christ.

All topics that have been extensively covered by John since chapter 1.

When we remember this letter is not really that long in the first place, why does John have so much repetition? Part of the answer can be found in the words which Jesus wrote to the church in Ephesians.

Revelation 2:1-4

1 ‘To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first.

Jesus writes to the church to encourage them … and commend aspects of their spiritual life … and even celebrate what God is doing through them.

But Jesus is also concerned about an aspect of their spiritual relationship which they have put into the back of their spiritual cupboard. There is something about the love of the Ephesians that has gone stale. That is why Jesus writes to the church of Ephesus. To remind them, again, of an aspect of their relationship with Him that they have forgotten. By employing the use of repetition John is taking a similar approach. John really wants us to unpack the significance of God’s love.

By this time John is old. John is the last of the original 12 apostles who is still alive. As a result of that longevity John has been able to observe what can happen when believers have been walking with Jesus for a long time. Through that observation John has seen how easy it is for those who are doing really well in their spiritual relationship with Jesus to take important aspects of their relationship with God and put them on the back shelf in their spiritual cupboard.

Even when it comes to the love of God for us in Jesus. Which is such a foundational aspect of our relationship with Jesus. Even here we can forget just how significant that love is.

So, this morning, we are going to focus on the impact of the love of Jesus for us.

Specifically, we are going to remind ourselves of the eternally transformative nature of God’s love as described in 1 John 4:18

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

When we know the love of God in our lives, that love will remove any fear that we feel between ourselves and God.

No fear fellowship … with God. That is what knowing the love of God gives us.

Now, already some of us may be thinking, “Wait a moment. What about these Scriptures?”

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

Proverbs 1:7

13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.

1 Peter 2:17

These verses, and many like them, that talk about fearing the Lord.

This is “reverential fear”. Being in “awe” of God.

God is the Creator … all Sovereign … Majestic … powerful beyond imagination.

When we see His works and acts we can’t help but be in awe, and even a bit afraid.

On one occasion Jesus fell asleep in a boat in the middle of the storm that was so ferocious even the life-long fishermen were worried they were going to drown.

So, in their fear, they woke Jesus who got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

How did the disciples react to this powerful work?

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”