1 John 4:17-21 No fear in love

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 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. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 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 cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Explore the text

4:17 confidence, (Parrēsia) a hallmark of authentic Christian life—open witness before the world and unshaken confidence before the Father, secured by the finished work of Jesus Christ

4:18 fear (phobos) The gospel liberates from slavery to death (Hebrews 2:15) and from the “spirit of fear” (Romans 8:15). Assurance of God’s love expels terror while intensifying reverence.

4:18 perfect. (Teleios) completeness brought to its intended goal. It speaks less of flawlessness and more of the wholeness that results when God’s purpose is fully realized in a person, act, or era.

Key doctrine: Attributes of God

The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, while also hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

See 1 Cor. 8:4,6; Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12; Exod. 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17; Deut. 4:15–16; Mal. 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23; Ps. 90:2; Gen. 17:1; Isa. 6:3; Ps. 115:3; Isa. 46:10; Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36

Apologetics: “How can love in a homosexual relationship be wrong when we have be called to love all?”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Fellowship discussion points

1.        Some argue that the only basis for assurance is faith in Christ, and that to look at our works is misdirected. Agree/disagree?

2.       Should believers still fear the day of judgment? Is it possible to be too confident about that day?

3.       Does loving someone (biblically) require liking or trusting him? Why/why not? What is the difference?

4.       Some teach that you must learn to love yourself before you love others and God. Why is this fallacious?

Thoughts for Personal / Family Worship

Our primary source of confidence is that we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood as the propitiation for our sins. It is only His blood, not our works, that atones for sins. But how do we know that our faith in Christ is genuine, since it is easy to be deceived?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________