Is there such a thing as a “perfect love?” There is a website that attempts to help one discover whether or not they are “in love.” Their “Love Test” has 100 questions—some of which are:
Have you ever:
1.Felt weak in the knees at the sight of them?
2.Have you ever done something that seemed ludicrous at the time to impress them?
3.Have you experienced a loss of appetite because they were not with you?
12.Do you have trouble remembering your life before them?
14.Do you put them first in your life, even before yourself?
15.Do presents from them seem more enjoyable than any other gift, even before you know what they are?
62.Have you remained faithful to them, never cheating?
70.If you had to be separated by a large distance, could you keep your feelings alive?
100.Would you be willing to lay down your life to save theirs?
In the letter of 1st John we find a description of “perfect love”—it is the kind of love that gives us “confidence in the day of judgment.”
(1 John 4:17 NKJV) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
In the Garden of Eden, before Adam’s disobedience, there was this kind of boldness and confidence. Adam and Eve had an intimate communion with God. They also shared a special intimacy with one another. There was peace and tranquility as the Bible describes in Genesis chapter two:
Gen 2:8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
Gen 2:9 And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Gen 2:10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads.
There is an indication in the book of Genesis that the Lord God would fellowship with Adam and Eve as He walked with them in the garden in the cool of the day. That is, until man sinned.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Something has drastically changed. Adam and Eve suddenly go from walking with God to hiding from Him.
Gen 3:9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
Gen 3:10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
In the foreword to Neil Anderson and Rich Miller’s book, Freedom from Fear, we read that the Bible clearly identifies the first negative feeling that entered the human experience. In the Garden, fear was the original disturbing emotion resulting from Adam’s disobedience and rebellion. Anxiety, fear, and the panic that originated at the fall have prevailed ever since.
We know from the record of Scripture that God did something about this rift in their fellowship.
God removed the stigma that resulted from Adam’s sin
Col 1:21-22 - And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight…
He gave His only Son Jesus Christ to bring man back into a warm fellowship with his Creator.
1 Pet 3:18 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…
God reconciled man back to Himself so that we who trusted in Christ would no longer be His enemies but His friends.
Rom 5:10 - For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
John knows that some of his readers are having a hard time grasping this wonderful truth. Some of his readers are still experiencing the kind of fear that leads to torment. Some of his readers are doing what Adam and Eve did and hiding themselves from the presence of the Lord.
So John attempts in this letter to communicate the truth that God really does love His children and that there is no need to fear:
1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Earlier in this series we learned that some of us have never experienced in human form, the kind of love that God the father has for His children.
There is the love of a parent. But as loving as they may have been to us, their love wasn’t perfect. There have been times that we were let down, some of us even abused.
There is the love of a spouse. Again, as loving as some husbands and wives can be, their love isn’t perfect. Some have even experienced the betrayal of spousal love.
But God’s love is a “perfect” love.
The Greek tells us that God’s love “is made perfect.” That is, it “has been made perfect or complete, and exists in its finished results.” For the Christian, this refers to a love that represents a past fact in his or her life and is a present reality.”
When John writes about this love, he is not primarily referring to God’s love for us. He is not referring to our love for Him but the love, which God is in His nature.
Two weeks ago we learned that God’s love is a:
Great love, Giving love, Sacrificial love, Pursuing love, On Time love, Demonstrating love, An Enduring Love.
This love is not a feeling but a fact. It is the essence of God’s character; it is who God is (1 John 4:8).
John tells us that this God, who is love, produces that “perfect Love” in the heart of the Christian who abides in Him.
On the same web page where I found the “Love Test” there is a list of the lyrics of hundreds of “love songs” written or sung by popular artists. Many of the lyrics I perused described a love that was insecure, unconfident, uncertain and apprehensive.
Many of us feel this way when it comes to the love expressed or received in the context of our families, marriage, church and even our relationship with God.
After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid themselves from God. Eventually, they were kicked out of Paradise Eden. But since Christ has died, been buried and then raised from the dead, things have changed. God has reconciled us back to Himself through the death of His Son. The Bible tells us that this is how He demonstrated His own love for us—in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
After His resurrection from the grave, Jesus tells His disciples that He is going back to be with the Father but He would not leave us comfortless. He tells us that He would send His Holy Spirit, the paracletos, the One who would walk alongside us, to encourage us and comfort us. The Holy Spirit would accomplish four things:
The Holy Spirit would indwell the believer.
In the Old Testament the Israelite would look with wonder at the tabernacle or temple, because the presence of God was in that building. No man would dare to enter the holy of holies, where God was enthroned in glory! But we have God’s Spirit living in us!
As we abide in this “perfect love,” we experience the abiding of God in us. Jesus says, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).
The Holy Spirit would produce the love, which God is in His nature, in our hearts.
Romans 5:5 – “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
The Holy Spirit would bring this love to its full capacity of operation in our lives.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
The Holy Spirit would cause this fullness of love to result in a life that is devoted entirely to the Lord Jesus.
John 14:15 - "If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John goes on in verse 17 to communicate that this love will give us “boldness” in the Day of Judgment. We have already learned what this word “boldness” means in a past sermon.
We learned that when Jesus returns for the believer, the response is boldness or confidence. The term "confidence" is a translation of a Greek word, which literally means "all speech" or "freedom in speech." It also means “cheerful courage,” “boldness” or “assurance.”
John is describing the believer who lives so close to the Lord Jesus that there is nothing between him and his Lord when He appears. There is nothing of known sin in his life when the rapture occurs.
The confidence that John writes about is indicated in the believer's assurance, in contrast to the silent terror and shame of those who must quake before Jesus at His return.
There will be some who in shame will shrink from Him when He appears. They will shrivel low and won’t have much if any to say because of conscious guilt and His glorious presence. But the child of God has the loving attitude that says, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”
At the end of verse 17 John writes, “because as He is, so are we in this world.” Because Jesus lived a pure life, as Christians we are to live a pure life and if we do, we can have boldness and assurance in the Day of Judgment!
1 John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
So John writes in our text: Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (vs. 17)
Then he goes on to write:
1 John 4:18 - 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.
John’s point is this:
If you and I have been abiding in God—He abides in you and has poured out His “perfect love” in your heart. If God’s love has been perfected in you and I then we will not shrink away in fear at His return.
There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear. What a wonderful truth!
The Greek word for fear is now a part of our English vocabulary: phobia. All sorts of phobias are listed in psychology books; for instance, acrophobia—“fear of heights,” and hydrophobia—“fear of water.”
Fear is the most basic instinct of every living creature. An animal without fear will probably become some predator’s dinner. Fear is the natural response when our physical safety and psychological well-being are threatened.
Rational fears are learned and vital for our survival. For instance, falling off a chair at an early age develops a healthy respect for heights. Burning our hand on a stove as a child helps us to develop a healthy respect for fire and heat.
In their book, Freedom from Fear authors Neil Anderson and Rich Miller teach that in order for a fear object to be legitimate it must possess two attributes:
It must be perceived as imminent (present)
It must be perceived as potent (powerful)
Fear is based on perception. For instance, a United States customs official saw a colorful, small snake on the Arizona border. He fearlessly picked it up and deposited his trophy in a jar. Later, he learned that it was a coral snake—which looks harmless but is one of the most venomous snakes in the western world.
Most of us have been educated to believe that poisonous snakes are legitimate fear objects. As I talk about snakes, you probably sense no fear of snakes because there are none present. The fear object is potent but not imminent.
Now, what if someone were to throw a rattlesnake into your lap? It would then be both potent and imminent and you would probably be terror stricken. Now, suppose a dead snake is thrown in your lap. It is imminent, but not potent and you wouldn’t sense any fear—provided you were persuaded it was dead. My point is that the fear object is no longer legitimate when one of its attributes is removed.
Remember, in order for a fear object to be legitimate it must possess two attributes:
It must be perceived as imminent (present)
It must be perceived as potent (powerful)
I found it interesting that when it comes to fear that is experienced as a result of any one of a host of fear objects, the Scripture clearly teaches that we have no need to fear because in each case God has removed one of their attributes.
For example, the reality of physical death is always imminent. It could come at any time and in a variety of ways but the potency or power of death has been broken! Paul teaches that the resurrection of Christ has rendered physical death no longer potent: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
While the imminence of death is still there, the potency of it has been neutralized. The Christian can say, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain!” (Philippians 1:21)
Many people are fearful of death, loss, betrayal, abandonment or separation. There are some who are afraid of being left out or overlooked. Still others are fearful of being scrutinized or being the center of attention.
John wants us to know that a believer in Jesus Christ does not have to fear the past, present, or future, for he has experienced the love of God and this love is being perfected in him day by day.
I’ve already shared with you fear-object the follower of Christ need not be fearful of: death. Let me briefly share with you two more objects the Bible says the believer need not be tormented with:
2.) The Christian need not be fearful of man.
One thing that helps me to face this kind of fear is what the Bible teaches about the sovereignty of God.
The Bible teaches that God is in control. He is in total control of my life and my enemy’s lives. No one can touch me unless God allows them to and if He allows them to touch me or cause me harm, it is for my good.
David writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5). This means I don’t have to constantly live with paranoia, consistently looking over my shoulders. I can recline in total peace as I partake of the blessings of God knowing that He’s got my back.
When I feel threatened by my enemies I turn to Psalm 37:
Psa 37:1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;
Psa 37:2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
Listen to what the Lord says in Isaiah 54:
Isa 54:16 "Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.
Again, God is expressing His sovereignty. He is in charge and in control. Though my enemies may be an imminent threat, their potency can’t match up to God's omnipotence!
Isa 54:17a - No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.
But before you get too excited, listen to the rest of the verse:
Isa 54:17b - This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.
God doesn’t make this promise to anyone. He makes it to those who are “servants of the Lord.”
Psa 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Prov 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.
The number of reasons why Christians don’t share their faith is the fear of “man” or, more specifically, the fear of rejection or failure.
1 Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."
1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Review: In order for a fear object to be legitimate it must possess two attributes:
* It must be perceived as immanent (present)
* It must be perceived as potent (powerful)
With this in mind let’s look at Hebrews 13:5-6 where God assures His followers that though man is both immanent and potent God is both omnipresent and omnipotent:
Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
This verse teaches that God is imminent. He is a “very present help in time of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
The next verse helps us to take refuge in the omnipotence of God!
Hebrews 13:6- So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Our God is both present and powerful; we have no need to be fearful of man!
3.) The Christian need not be fearful of separation or abandonment.
Have you ever walked through the forest woods alone? For me, having someone to walk with me always dispels some of my fears.
David in Psalm 23:4 writes, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me…”
In Psalm 139 he says:
Psa 139:7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Psa 139:10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
Psa 139:11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me;
Psa 139:12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
Before Jesus would go to the cross He left His disciples with this encouraging message:
John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever;
John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:18 "I will not leave you orphans…
Paul echoes this promise in Romans 8:
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
One valid fear object
Let me tell you that there is only one valid fear object. God is the only One whom we should fear. 1 Peter 2:17 says, “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
In order for a fear object to be legitimate it must possess two attributes:
(1.) It must be perceived as imminent (present)
(2.) It must be perceived as potent (powerful)
Two of God’s attributes make Him the ultimate fear object in our lives: He is omnipresent (always present; always imminent) and omnipotent (all powerful).
The fear of God dispels all other fears because God rules supreme over every other fear object.
Psalm 27:1- The LORD is my light (imminence) and my salvation; (Light communicates God’s imminence. “Light has come into the world (John 3:19)”)
Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength (potency) of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
The fear of God dispels all other fears because God rules supreme over every other fear object—including Satan.
It is true that the devil is a clear and present danger. In 1 Peter 5:8 Peter warns us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
While the devil is imminent, he is not potent. Jesus came, according to 1 John 3:8, for the very purpose of destroying the works of the devil, when, according to Colossians 2:15, He “having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
God in Christ stripped from the powers of evil, their control over the lives of men.
We need not fear the devil; we are to fear God alone. When we fear people and objects we elevate their power and value above ourselves; we submit to their power and authority over our lives--only God should have that prominence in our lives. We are to worship and fear God alone.
Fear of any object or personality other than God hinders our faith in God. The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
Listen to the counsel of God in Isaiah 8:12-14a:
"You are not to say, 'It is a conspiracy!' In regard to all that these people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. Then He shall become a sanctuary…”
Back in our text, John writes:
1 John 4:18 - 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.
John tells us “perfect love casts out fear.”
God’s love “is made perfect.” That is, it “has been made perfect or complete, and exists in its finished results.” For the Christian, this refers to a love that represents a past fact in his or her life and is a present reality.”
When John writes about this love, he is primarily referring to the love which God is in His nature; the love that is produced in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
When a thunderstorm stalls over our area my younger children are afraid. But when I am home, there is just something about having daddy home during a thunderstorm that casts out fear.
God wants us to know that He is our Daddy; He is our “Abba Father” and we do not have to be afraid because His perfect love casts out our fear and its torment.
Just to bring our lesson back to its context, John is speaking of the fear that will most certainly be evident in the life of the person who doesn’t know Jesus Christ as Savior.
John says, “He who fears has not been made perfect in love.” John is speaking of the fear that will most certainly be evident in the life of the person whose time has come to die and face the judgment.
If you are fearful of dying and having to face God at the judgment, you have not been made perfect in love. In other words, you do not know Him.
You see, the true test for whether you are a Christian is by how you love the brethren and express your love for God. Earlier in chapter four John writes:
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
If you are abiding in the selfless, self-sacrificing, “thinking of others better than yourself kind of love,” then you are abiding in God and God in you.
If you are abiding in God and God is abiding in you, there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear… You can wear one of those tee-shirts that says “No Fear!” But the Christian version of the tee-shirt would say,
“No Fear! When I am abiding in God!” or “No Fear! My God is both Immanent and Potent!”
As we close let me share with you some of the Bible Promises for the Fearful:
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord will be your confidence, and He shall keep your foot from being caught. Proverbs 3:25, 26
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. Isaiah 43:1
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not,
Isaiah 44:2
Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? Isaiah 44:8
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 51:10
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Matthew 6:25
And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. Luke 12:4
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 18:4
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27
Call to Discipleship
God says to the Christian, “Fear not.” But if you have not trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior there are plenty of reasons for you to fear. Mostly that one day you will have to face God at the Judgment to pay for your own sins in Hell, for eternity.
The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
You have sinned when you have broken God’s holy commands as taught in the Bible.
If you have ever told a lie you have broken God’s 9th commandment against lying. You are a liar.
If you have ever stolen anything you have broken God’s 8th command against stealing. You are a thief.
If you have ever looked at a person to lust after them the Bible teaches you have broken God’s 7th commandment against adultery. You are an adulterer.
The Bible says that one day you will stand guilty before a holy God and He will judge all liars, thieves and adulterers in Hell and the Lake of Fire for eternity.
But there is good news! The Good News is that Jesus Christ, God’s own Son paid for your sin when He suffered and died on the Cross. The Bible says that if you repent, that is, turn away from and forsake your sin, and trust in Jesus Christ as the One who has paid for your sin, you shall have eternal life.
