November 21
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also,” 1 John 4:18-21.
Perfect love and dreadful fear do not exist together at the same time. John writes, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.” The dreadful fear of which John is writing is the fear of punishment for the sins that one has committed.
Christians who have faith in God’s love, which He revealed in the sending of His Son to be the Savior of all sinners, know that God has declared us just and forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Thus the message of God’s perfect love in Christ Jesus removes the dreadful fear of God’s wrath and punishment. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord graciously assures each believing Christian, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine,” Isaiah 43:1.
Think of the many announcements recorded in the Bible beginning with the words, “Fear not!” spoken to sinners by angels or the Savior Himself. When Zacharias was serving in the temple, an angel of the Lord appeared to tell him that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son in their old age who would be the forerunner of the promised Savior. The angel’s first words were, “Fear not!” Luke 1:13. When the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to inform her that she would be the mother of Jesus, Gabriel said, “Fear not!” Luke 1:30. When the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him to take Mary as his wife, the angel said, “Fear not!” Matthew 1:20. When the angel appeared to the shepherds watching their flocks on the fields of Bethlehem the night that Jesus was born, he said, “Fear not!” Luke 2:10. When Jesus walked on the water of the Galilean Sea during the storm and appeared to the disciples struggling in their boat, He said, “Be of good cheer! It is I; fear not,” Matthew 14:27. At the open, empty tomb on Easter morning, the angel said to the women, “Fear not, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen,” Matthew 28:5. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, with its assurance of forgiveness of sins and Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the devil, is the fear-removing message for all sinners.
The hearts of Christians are filled with faith and love. John writes, “We love Him because He first loved us.” Jesus loved us and sacrificed Himself on the cross to redeem us. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” John 3:16.
As Christians, we must show the love of God by loving our fellowmen. John wrote, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” “He who loves God must love his brother also.” Your faith must show itself by deeds of love for your neighbor. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” Matthew 19:19.
“Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone,
And rests in Him unceasing;
And by its fruits true faith is known,
With love and hope increasing.
Yet faith alone doth justify,
Works serve thy neighbor and supply
The proof that faith is living.” Amen.