1 John 4:17-19 (NKJV)
17 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.
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.
19 We love Him because He first loved us.
The word boldness (in verse 17) means confidence. Believers can have confidence because they know God as a loving Father. Believers can have boldness when they stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ because they know God as their Father in whose love they have trusted.
The root of fear (as contrasted with love in these verses) comes from the religious teaching that says God is going to punish you. The word torment (in verse 18) has to do with punishment. The reality is: You will not be punished because God has already extended His grace and mercy to you. You will not receive God’s judgment because you have already received God’s unconditional love. Because of Jesus, you are not God’s sinful child; you are God’s forgiven child!
Many times we forget that as new creations, we are not only God’s forgiven children, but (in Christ) we are also God’s righteous children. God now sees us as righteous, just like He sees Jesus. The challenge is: We have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to live like the righteous new creations we really are. As Jesus is, so are we in this world; that is God’s will for your life. The phrase (in verse 17) “because as He is, so are we in this world” means we are to live like Jesus – righteously!
Question: How do you get rid of fearfulness, timidity, and lack of confidence? Answer: Receive God’s love personally. Open your heart fully to the love of God. We love Him because He first loved us. Verse 19 is intimating that unless we receive the love of God personally, we will never be able to love God fully. Receiving God’s love personally enables us to love God and it empowers us to love others. Faith trusts in God’s love. This is how love activates faith. Love activates faith by trusting in God’s love!
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