Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

➤ by Isabel Jennings

HAS YOUR MOTHER EVER SAID TO YOU, “JUST WAIT UNTIL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME?”

Those seven words would strike fear into the heart of any rebellious child!

When I was a child, my constant thought was that I couldn’t do this or that because my father would become so angry with me that he would punish me. I honestly thought that my father didn’t love me if I was bad, and that if I was too naughty, his love for me might really end.

Looking back at my childhood, I now see that my father’s love for me was always there. He wanted to protect me, and he made choices that he believed were best for me. As a child, I couldn’t see it that way. I felt fear, not love or comfort, because of those actions. I had an idea of what I thought my father’s love should look like.

Many of us come to believe in Christ, but our view of God never really changes from what it was before we knew Him. Before we were saved, most of us assumed He was a strict Judge sitting on His throne, eyes moving back and forth, just waiting to punish us whenever we disobeyed.

But how do we see Him now that we are saved? Do we shrink back in fear or terror of Him, like a servant expecting punishment? Do we try to hide and hope He won’t notice us, especially when we sin?

What is fear? What is perfect love?

The word "fear" comes from the Greek word "phobos", which means to be alarmed or frightened. The dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or is a threat; or the probability that something undesirable will happen.

When we are terrified that God will punish us for every mistake that we make, we truly don’t understand what His perfect love has already done for us.

1 John 4:18 tells us: “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.”

In 1 John 4:18, translators used the word "perfect" in this verse. Perfect love casts out fear. But what does "perfect" mean?

• The dictionary defines "perfect" as having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it can possibly be; free from any flaw or defect in condition or quality; impeccable.
• However, if we look at the Greek word used in this verse, "perfect" is translated from "teleios", which means complete.
• The dictionary defines "complete" as total, having finished its course, or fully accomplished.

This Greek definition of "perfect" (complete) reminds me of the finished work of the cross. The death of Jesus fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law. When Jesus died in our place, God’s righteous wrath was poured out on Jesus. His wrath was spent.

The Bible says in Romans 3:23–26 that Jesus became the atonement for our sins. He simultaneously satisfied God’s justice and canceled our guilt. That was a complete act of love.

Now we no longer have to fear (be in terror of) God, the punishing judge. The things that happen in our lives are not God trying to make us pay for our sins. Jesus already paid for that.

He made sure our sin would never stand between God and us, nor prevent us from having a Father–child relationship. All we have to do is accept what Jesus did and believe.

1 John 4:18 says perfect love casts out fear. What is perfect love? What does it look like?
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 gives us a picture:

That is what God’s perfect love looks like.

What is the fear of God?

Being afraid of God is not the same thing as having the fear (reverence) of God. There’s a difference. God does not want us to be terrified of Him. He doesn’t want us to shrink away in fear. We are not slaves who cannot look into our Master’s face out of fear of punishment.

God tells us to come boldly to His Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16).

That doesn’t mean we can run off and do whatever we want. God is holy, and therefore He expects us to be holy (1 Peter 1:16).

The Old Testament frequently uses the phrase “the fear of the Lord.” This fear is from the Hebrew word "yir’ah", which means reverence. Reverence means “deep respect for someone or something.”

How can we deeply respect God? It means we follow His ways and obey Him. It means we choose to be pure and not live the way the world lives. We don’t look like the world, talk like the world, or act like the world.

Things that seem acceptable because everyone else is doing them aren’t necessarily good or acceptable for us. God has standards for how we are to live, and out of our love and respect for Him, we obey. That is the fear of God.

God loves you, and His love is perfect. His love for you is flawless, faithful, incomparable, immeasurable, untouched, and complete. He loves you.

You may have faults, inconsistencies, problems, anxieties, and doubts. But despite all that—
He still loves you!

And even if you are still struggling to put those faults and problems aside—
He still loves you.

If you're tempted to sin, Jesus has already made the way for you to be forgiven. God is waiting to have a relationship with you, His child. You don’t have to be afraid.

Draw near to Him. And as you begin to grow in your faith and your relationship with God becomes stronger and more mature, you will begin to understand that His love is permanent. You no longer need to be afraid.

He loves you.

And you can trust that unfailing love, every day and in every circumstance.

Unless stated otherwise, all Bible passages quoted in orange are from the KJV translation.

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