"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because He first loved us." 1 John 4:18, 19 (NLT)
To fear God out of "awe" or "reverence" is the appropriate admiration we should have for our Savior, but here in this verse John is speaking of the kind of fear that robs us of our joy and involves torment. This kind of fear is in contrast to the relationship we should have with our Father. When we demonstrate anxiety of this nature, it only shows that we are not complete and mature in His love.
We have no need to fear our past, for God has erased it (Psalm 103:12).
...no need to fear our present, for He loves us, is watching over us, and will not allow anything to enter into our lives unless it is for our eternal good.
...no need to fear our future, for He has made a promise to be with us to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20) and His Spirit resides within us (John 14:17).
His perfect love dismisses any fear we would have.
As verse nineteen states, "We love each other because He first loved us."
Do you believe that?!
Ponder that idea.
Mull it over in your mind.
The creator of all loved us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8).
Before we came to faith in Him, He loved us.
Before the worlds were created...
HE LOVED!
Our love for God is always in response to His love toward us.
He is the motivator and in return we answer.
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