1 John 4:18 NIV
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18, is part of a larger passage in the Bible that discusses love, fear, and their relationship. To understand its context, it's beneficial to consider the surrounding verses as well.
The broader context of 1 John 4:18 begins earlier in the chapter, where the apostle John addresses the theme of love as a defining characteristic of those who belong to God. He emphasizes the importance of discerning spirits and testing whether they are from God. St.John also speaks about the confession of Jesus as the Son of God and how God abides in those who love one another.
In verse 17, the preceding verse, St.John discusses the idea that love leads to confidence and boldness on the day of judgment because, as believers, they are like Christ in this world. Then, in 1 John 4:18, he delves into the relationship between love and fear.
Let's break down 1 John 4:18:
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
Here, St.John asserts that fear and perfect love cannot coexist. Perfect love refers to God's complete, unconditional, and all-encompassing love. This perfect love originates from God Himself and is demonstrated through Jesus Christ. St.John suggests that when one experiences and truly understands God's perfect love, fear is dispelled.
The reason behind this is explained: fear is associated with punishment. In the context of this passage, fear might relate to the anxiety or dread of facing judgment or condemnation because of sin. However, St.John emphasizes that perfect love drives out this fear. When someone truly comprehends and embraces God's perfect love, they understand that in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), and they no longer need to fear punishment.
St.John is essentially saying that a person who fears has not fully matured or reached completeness in understanding and experiencing God's love. When one fully grasps God's love, it transforms their perspective and removes the fear of punishment or judgment.
1 John 4 speaks about the transformative power of God's perfect love. It teaches that as believers experience and understand God's love more deeply, fear, specifically the fear of punishment or judgment, is eradicated because they recognize the completeness and sufficiency of God's love through Christ.
