1 John 4:18
[18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (ESV)
I would love to say that every Christian has abandoned fear in their lives, but I would be wrong. The Apostle John recognized that fear was something that the believers in Christ in the first century church wrestled with. We are given his words for our encouragement. He makes a connection between fear and love. We will look at this connection today.
“I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens.”
― Woody Allen
The primary fear that we face is death. We know that it is coming. We may know in our hearts that there is no need to fear death because we belong to the Lord, yet we still struggle with this fear. So what is the solution? John tells us that it is perfect love that casts out fear. What is perfect love? God's love! If we want to see our fear disappear we need to draw closer to the one who can cast it out.
Fear has to do with punishment. Yet, the one who has been born again is a new creation in Christ Jesus. We do not need to fear punishment because the punishment we deserved has been placed on Christ and God's wrath against us has been satisfied at the Cross. If we are still bound by the fear of punishment for our sin, we need to be reminded of what perfect love accomplished for us on the cross.
Do you belong to Jesus? You need not fear. Draw close to him and allow his perfect love to cast out your fear. When Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. You need not fear.
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