Scripture Reference: 1 John 4:7-21

The Perfecting of Love

The presence of God in us is the way love is “perfected among us.” This is with a view to confidence, “boldness in the day of judgment,” and boldness in that day is the ultimate in confidence. “Because as He is, so are we in this world”: we are children of the Father and Jesus is our model. The world did not welcome Christ and it does not welcome Christ’s people. But on the day of judgment the Judge will know all who are His and He will understand all.

The thought of confidence or “boldness” is developed towards the repudiation of “fear.” This word occurs three times, as a noun, in this verse and as a verb once, but neither is found elsewhere in the letter; there is a strong emphasis that the Apostle uses here on the concept of fear. Believers need not be afraid, for “perfect love casts out fear” (it literally throws it out, as with force). Fear and love are incompatible, and John clarifies this by stating it is “because fear involves torment” (or punishment), but God’s “perfect love” reassures us and gives us “boldness.” His love ensures and assures us that we are saved, not punished. If we fear, that shows in itself that we have not been “made perfect in love” (for the perfecting of love brings boldness and confidence even on the day of judgment as verse 17 stated).

“We love,” specifically and practically in the sense of Christlike love, the love of the unworthy which proceeds from the nature of the lover and not the worth of the loved one, only “because He [God] first loved us.” John is telling how we are able to come to love at all, not how we come to love God. To say “I love God,” while having hatred for one’s “brother” (brother-Christian? brother-man?) is to show oneself to be “a liar.” Pretty strong words from the “Apostle of Love”!

Love for God is shown by love for all people, even the “unlovable”; if the latter is lacking then so is the former. John goes so far as to say of anyone that “does not love his brother” then “how can he love God.” John is implying that without loving others, it is an impossibility to love God. He goes on to make a distinction between the brother who is seen and God who is not. To affirm and proclaim one’s love for the unseen while failing to love the seen is to enter the realm of fantasy and deception.

John finishes this section by reminding his readers of the “commandment” that “we have from Him [Christ Jesus}.” He has already spoken of the commandment to love previously (1 John 3:23) and now reminds us again that love is not merely an option, but it is a positive and explicit command to action.

Roland Ledoux is Pastor of the outreach Ministry, Oasis Bible Ministry, specializing in Teaching, Encouragement and Intercession (both prayer and needs) since the early 1990s. He and his wife Sue, live in Delta, Colorado and have been married for over 50 years. They enjoy two adult sons, a grandson and a great grandson. He has been ordained since 1986. Fundamental Full-Gospel, Non-denominational. To learn more about Roland visit his website.

Featured Image from Wikimedia.org