1 John 4:18

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4

Key Scripture: 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

To really conquer fear in our life we have to know where we stand with God. We have to know who we are to God and in God. We must understand that He loves us with a perfect love before we can really trust Him enough to let go of our fears. In the Amplified Bible 1 John 4:18 says that “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it thoughts of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into loves complete perfection].” Notice that it says fear brings with it thoughts of punishment. I believe that so many of us still have a view of God as the God who punishes, more than the God who loves. This is a mind set that we have to change.

All my life fear has been one of the greatest challenges in my faith. I didn’t completely realize that I was afraid of God and that fear held me back from trusting Him. Even though I have spent many years studying the subject of fear in the Bible there is still so much that I realize I have to overcome. One time I was sitting in a Lady’s meeting with my church, and the speaker asked us to think about what it was like when we first came to Christ. How we were so in love with God and how we felt His love and peace in our lives. It was like a ton of bricks fell on me because I realized that is part of what has really been lacking for me in my attempt to conquer fear. When I came to God at the age of 9 years old, I was not coming to God because I felt like He loved me or I loved Him- I came to Christ because I did not want to go to hell. I was so scared that I might die and go to hell.  I didn't even realize that was the main motivator for my relationship with God all these years.

Everything that I did for God wasn’t so much because of my love for Him or His love for me, it was to try and please Him so that I could go to heaven. This really gave me a mentality full of condemnation and works. I grew up thinking I had to be perfect in order to earn God’s love. I thought He would punish me if I messed up or didn’t think the right thoughts, if I didn’t read my Bible or pray enough God might get mad at me and punish me somehow. As I matured into adulthood I gained a lot of head knowledge about the right way to think. I knew that God loved me and wanted what was best for me, but I know that in the back of my head there was still this little part feeling like I had to earn His love or that I could not trust Him not to punish me in a harsh way. I remember when I was in college and found the verse Romans 8:1 that says there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, how free I felt. I would beat myself up over and over for anything that I thought might not be pleasing to God. If I didn’t pray as much as I thought I should, or as much as my friends did, or my teachers thought I should etc. So to know that if I was living to Christ and trying to serve Him, then I did not need to live under that condemnation any longer was so exciting and very freeing.

Another verse that was so neat to me was Romans 8:38 that says, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t and life can’t, the angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.” No matter what we have done, are doing, or will do God loves us! In Jeremiah 31:3 it says that He loves us with an everlasting love. Romans 5:8 points out that even when we were still sinners Christ died for us! God did not wait for us to be perfect. He already sent Jesus to pay for anything we could do or have done- we just have to accept His free gift of love and forgiveness. 2 Peter 3:9 says that it is not God’s will for any to perish and Jeremiah 1:5 says that God knew us before we were even born. So God knew us before we were even put her on this earth. God knew we would make mistakes because we were coming to a sin filled world. He knew that we would not be perfect, but it is still His will that none of us shall perish! He sent Jesus to die for us even before we made the mistakes because He knew we would. It doesn’t matter what you have done or what has been done to you, God loves YOU! In Psalm 139:17 it tells us that God’s thoughts towards us are precious. Maybe it has been too long since you have felt precious to anyone- especially yourself. But that doesn’t matter to God- you are precious to Him. Maybe people have told you that you are worthless, good for nothing, and you should never have been born. Maybe you even tell yourself that- but God never thinks that or says that to you. He speaks to you that you are his beloved (2 Thessalonians 2:13). He loves you unconditionally and wants you to become part of His family.

We must realize His love is for us individually and not just as a church. He loves us no matter who we are, what we have done, what we look like, or what we are going through. You have to have this ingrained in your heart in order to understand the basics of living a fear free life. Without God’s love we can not have a solid foundation to conquer fear. God has built that foundation in our lives with the perfect love that has no fear of torment or punishment. A love that says you are forgiven as soon as you ask. This is the foundation that we will be able to lay the rest of the precepts that we learn about letting go of fear upon. Beloved, accept God’s love in your life. Let Him love you with an everlasting love that is so far above what we can even think or imagine. Continue studying with me as we discover who we are in Christ and what God’s promises are for us in His Word because we are His children. As we gain security in His Word and His love, fear will begin to melt away in our lives and we will be truly fearless in this world full of fear.



Confession/Prayer

Father- I thank You that You are love. That Your perfect love casts out all fear that may try and hinder me in my life. I thank You that Your thoughts towards me are precious and that You love me with an everlasting love. I don’t have to earn Your love, but You give it to me freely. Thank you that this love protects my heart and heals my hurts.

In Jesus Name

Amen