Sing praise to God who reigns above
Lord I want to be a Christian
O light whose beams Illumine all
O love that wilt not let me go
There is a place of quiet rest
Christ is made the sure foundation
[13] By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [14] And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. [15] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. [16] So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. [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.
(1 John 4:13-21 ESV)
There are so many fears that are in the world today.
So many people end up living in fear. But if we live in God we don't need to live in fear.
Vs 17-18 by this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement, because as he is so also are we in the world. There is only 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.
V 17 looks back to v16 where we seeing God and his love working in us.
It says "with us". It's not a "I"am doing this, it is God's working in us. It is living growing thing within us.
That love gives confidence. That confidence leads to a lack of fear.
It leads to not fearing punishment from God.
If God shows us this love, and that love is active in us, then we know what God's love means to us, and so we have confidence in him and have no need to fear punishment.
The more God's love grows in us, the more we see Jesus growing in us.
God sees the one we are joined to, so if we are joined to Christ he sees Christ.
There is no fear in love....Trust in God or make a choice to live in the fear that is of the world.
Look at what God has done. If our trust is in him then we have been forgiven and made clean.
For the present. Know that God is in you right now. He is right there. So there is no need to fear. He will work all things out for our good.
For the future. God sees who we are connected to so we have no fear of God's punishment.
God has rendered all things certain for us. He will always be working for us and in us on our behalf.
If we are fearing God we can be assured that God's love is not working in us or that we are not trusting in the Christ who lives in us. If we love God and have trusted our lives to him, then we have ZERO reason to fear.
So for those true believers who still live in fear of God, be comforted. God is not looking to harm his own. See God's love clearly.
So what do you do if a brother or sister in the faith has hurt you?
You need to forgive by seeing them as God sees them.