For this class reading turn with me to the book of first John and turn over to chapter 4. We will be considering verses 17 through 18 and for your convenience I have included the verses below:
1 John
4:17-18
(King James Version) “17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
The Holy Spirit revealed to me that verse 17 has to deal with something every human being wants and desires, but verse 18 has to do with something that everyone wants to cast aside or get rid of. Therefore, today’s text is relevant to everyone reading these pages.
So, let me make this a little more clear for you! Through the teaching of the Holy Ghost, I realize that verse 17 gives us confidence that carries all the way into judgment. If you are a child of God; then, this applies to you. However, judgment is to be feared by those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Furthermore, verse 18 casts out any fears we might have about dying and judgment.
These two versus remind me of a quarter, because on one side is the confidence that we have, because that we have been given through Jesus Christ, but the other side is tails. The other side is a feeling of anxiety. The feeling of fear. Today, we can’t straddle the fence! We can’t be for God in one moment, and the be for the world the next moment.
For the writer of this message, John, he wants us to be confidant on our day of judgment. He does not want us to fear or have anxiety. For God is the God of love. We are not to be scared of our own death. We are not to be scared to meet Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, I question whether people really believe verse 17? I often think that we do not consider judgment as often as we should. I guess, preachers and pastors deal with life and death every day, but the natural person doesn’t think about death every day. Because if they did, I believe we would see people doing different acts.
Did you know that Jesus spoke about this issue a lot? I counted 12 times in the New Testament that Jesus spoke about Hell. Jesus likewise, spoke of the Day of judgment often. In one instance, he tells the disciples that whoever will not accept your words; you should shake off the dust; off of your feet and move on (Matthew 6:11). Jesus also made it very clear that every human being would die and then comes judgment. Then, he uses a language that most preachers would dare to even utter in the pulpit to today. Do you remember him saying something to the point of if you’re eye offends thee pluck it out? Well, I’ve included that scripture here for you. Matthew 18:9 “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”
The reason I doubt that the public has a burden on their heart for the scripture, is because of all the rumors of chemical warfare. No one, in their right mind, would kill another nation, knowing that after life is judgment. If they are not children of God; then, they are going to Hell. Yes, God is a God of love, but we have the right to choose to accept His love or to reject it. This bothers me, because Christians get so worked up about it, but they don’t get worked up about the final day of judgment. The final day of judgment is eternal. Nuclear weapons are destructive, but heaven and hell are eternal. Someday, the wrath of judgment will be cast and it will reach every age group.
As Christians, we should be worked up about this. We should have a burden for the lost, because of the love that is within our hearts. The love for the brother. That Holy Ghost love. A love that surpasses all understanding. I’m not seeing that kind of love everywhere I look. It’s disheartening. It’s disgraceful. It leads me to think that Christian doctrine is teaching people that there is no Hell or that Hell doesn’t really exist. But according to the Bible Hell is a certainty. So, let our love be enlarged today. Let it be so enlarged that we go and tell. That we go and warn others.
According to first John chapter 4 verses 17 and 18 there is a way to approach judgment with fearlessness and confidence. No one, that understands the scripture has to approach judgment in fear or with trembling.
How would you feel or what would you do if you went to the doctor and you got the worst news? I mean news that you had to have surgery, but they didn’t know if they could get all of the cancer. Then, you had the surgery and the doctor came in and said: “I’m sorry, but the tumor was too large, we couldn’t get it all and we don’t think radiation will help you.” Well, that would devastate you wouldn’t it? The news, for me, as the pastor, is that I have really good news for you. God through his perfect love and through his perfect plan has redemption for you. All you have to do is believe, confess, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ. Your body shall die, but your soul will live for eternity. You will be reunited with a many loved ones who have passed, you will walk on streets of gold, you will see walls of Jasper, you will have a mansion, and walk through gates made or pearls. If that doesn’t thrill you; then I don’t know what would?
By God‘s grace and according to his word we do not have to have one whisper of fear for the grave. Jesus Christ was crucified and rose on the third day! This means he defeated death for all those who believe, once and for all. It is the perfect love of God that sent his only begotten son to be our sacrifice. (John 3:16) This should encourage us today! We do not have to be like a Jehovah witness or those in Calvinism that have to cross our fingers, and hope that we were born in that number, of who gets in heaven.
This little book of John, is included in the book of life, so that we can have assurance and confidence in this life.
First, I want you to notice, in verse 17, there are three causes. Those clauses are as follows:
- And this, there is love perfected in us.
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Clause One Perfect Love:
Because we have perfect love and perfect love gives us confidence at the day of our judgment; -we are like Christ in the world.
| Now, in verse 17, let’s consider what perfect love is toward us. And the King James version there are two little words and those are as follows: “In This!” It’s unfortunate, that some versions take out those two little words, because you must go back to the previous verse in order to get a total understanding. The preceding verse infers that God is love and he who abides in love abides in God. God abides in him, and this is love perfected within us. God’s love is perfected in us! Therefore, the two words; In This, is speaking about God’s love in us; which loves others through us! So perfected Love, in this verse, is the love of God expressing itself; in our love for other people. This is true, because its also recorded in verse 12. Verse 12 records the following: “1 John 4:12, ESV: No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” |
| Ok! Now, let me tell you how the Bible wants us to regard the word perfect! In English, the word perfected comes from the context of when a person takes something flawed and fixes it! Then it is said to be perfect. Well, the Bible means For example, John 4:34 says: “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” Now, that’s the same greek word that’s translated perfect in chapter 4 verse 17! However, it means that Jesus takes an assignment from God; then, Jesus takes this takes task and completes it or accomplishes it! In addition, another example of perfected, found in scripture, can be found in John 19:28 where Jesus says: “I thirst!” and John comments he said, “this in order to fulfill the Scriptures.” Therefore, the word fulfil is the same word for perfect in first John 4:17! What does it mean? It does not mean (something is flawed and it needs to be made perfect.) This means there are promises in Scripture that Jesus will complete or accomplish making the word perfect! For example, “He came to fulfill the law!” |
| Ok? Well here’s a another really important analogy! James chapter 2 verse 22; he says “you see that faith was active along with Abraham’s works and faith was completed by his works.” We see here, the same word: perfected! Now what does that mean? It means that Abraham’s faith was internal, subjective, and then it became real! So, in other words it became active, it was completed, and it reached its goal. For example, when the knife went into the air and started down; it was perfected in the sense of the biblical meaning of completed or accomplished! |
| Another example of the word perfected in Scripture can be found by considering the ideas of a journey, a course, or path! For example, Paul says in Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” If only, I might accomplish, the same word perfect, in my course of ministry! I like Paul do not expect everything to be flawless or sinlessly perfect! We mean that we fully expect God, through His grace, to finish the assignments, he’s given! For Paul he believes that if it is God’s will… For Paul he believes that if it is God’s will… He’ll get to Rome For Paul he believes that if it is God’s will….He’ll preach For Paul he believes that if it is God’s will… He will die But, I am going to complete I am going to complete I am going to perfect my ministry! |
Now come back, with me to verse 12 of John 4! 1 John 4:12, ESV: No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”
If we love one another God abides in US and his love is perfected in us! This would not mean that our love is flawless or sinlessly perfect!
It would mean:
- that it is God’s love coming into action!
- God’s love reaching through us!
This, in real life is completed through: deeds of kindness, when forgiveness is granted, and when one shows mercy. Furthermore, love is not incomplete or unfulfilled! Love reaches its goals in action!
So, now back to verse 17 of our text! The first Clause of this verse would be paraphrased as something like this: “in this” (that is in your love for each other)
God’s love is put into action! So, that “this love” reaches its appointed goal!
Thus, lets be clear, perfected does not mean flawless!
Perfected Love is implemented in sharing Christ! It is implanted in the process! If you have perfected love you act.
- For example, Perfected love is when you see someone hungry you feed them.
- Perfected love is when you see someone who needs clothes; you cloth them.
- Perfected love is when you see someone begging for alms; you give them what they need.
- Perfected love is when you see the lost; you share the love of Christ.
Love is then perfected in the completed act.
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Clause Two: That we may have confidence in judgment.
The second clause of verse 17, revealed by the Holy Ghost, is “in this” is love perfected with us that we may haveconfidence for the Day of Judgment! Now in view of what we’ve seen so far:” What’sthe source of confidence in the Day of Judgment? Answer” by putting God’s love into real action among us; you gainconfidence for the Day of Judgment. It doesn’t mean that we gain confidence through being sinlessly perfect! -Because that would contradict verses 7 to10.
We don’t gain confidence by beingsinlessly perfect! We gain confidence by putting our money where our mouth is! Turn to chapter 3 verse 18 of 1st John! the flow of thought between verses 18through the end is the same as in our text today, because it says: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
I’ll just stop there! That’s the same as saying as the following:
My Dear, little children let God’s love be perfected in you!”
It would be imperfect, in complete, unaccomplished, or unfulfilled, if we just talked about it! The course or action needs to by complete in order to have perfect love.
Our love must be completed in our deeds, because this is love in action.– However, it does not have to be perfect in the way of flawless!
So, according to our text: he says let love be perfected in our deeds and in our actions. Perfected love is not just lip service! Therefore, when our hearts condemn our imperfections; The Word, brings us assurance that we can have confidence before the throne of God!
Our text is really not saying anything new! It is not saying for our imperfect vessels to be perfect in this world. We are only perfect in Christ Jesus. John is saying week after week to love one another in our deeds and in our actions. Showing our love is not just coming to church and occupying a seat. We show our love in deed. Check out what
chapter 3 verse 14 says.
“1 John 3:14-16 New International Version (NIV) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
So, today’s text simply stresses this new thing: perfect love that gives you confidence
for the Day of Judgment! This perfect love is not imperfect! It is just and kind. It is real perfect love that is put into action! This perfect love that triumphs any doubt! It perfect love that triumphs over fear of death! Perfect love gives us the confidence that when we stand before God we will be accepted. This perfect love inside of us that calms all fears that our death will be our demise! This perfect love gives us confidence on the day of judgment, that we have the advocate with the father, that says we have been justified. At our regeneration, we have been accepted and “mage right with God. It’s because of the “perfect love” our eternal home is to be present with the Lord.
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Clause 3: Because he is in this world so are we.
We get the third clause, again, from The Word. 1 John 4:17 (King James Version) reads: “17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” The clause is the last part of the verse: “because as he is, so are we in this world.” What does this mean? It almost seems like an incomplete sentence. It’s Not! The assumption is that God won’t condemn people who are like
his son! So, if you are like Jesus; then, you can see that you won’t have to be afraid at the Judgment Day! Any one who stands with Jesus and who has been regenerated (whose life is like Jesus) doesn’t
need to be afraid! God will never condemn people who are like his son!
If we stand beside Jesus at our judgment, Jesus will be the shining star, but we will be accepted, because we accepted Jesus Christ. If we are not ashamed of him; then he will not be ashamed of us (Luke 12:8). For example, we can describe perfect love as follows: there are two streams, flowing the same direction. One stream is crystal clear and clean (Christ); while, the other stream is murky, dark, and rocky (us). However, both streams end up at the same place. We are like Jesus, because we are allowing his light to shine through us; WHILE, we live our life. Then, like Paul we can state the following: Second Timothy 4:7 (King James Bible) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” Sure, as you’re standing next to Jesus, we’re going to see our falls, our tribulations, and our failures, but because of Jesus we are going to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23). Just as the two streams flow; you and Jesus had a part to play in the kingdom. So, as you stand there you will be: Just has he is so are you.
Now let’s lol at 1 John 2:28! “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” This has the same language at verse 17! We are speaking about judgement and having confidence! Not one Christian should shrink from him at his coming. We have nothing to fear if we are ready. If we are like Christ we are ready.
Consider 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Since, we are sons and daughters of the king; we should have confidence at his coming on judgment day. Yes, we may be nervous or have some anxiety, but we should have no fear.
So, we can paraphrase verse 17 like this: we know that we abide in Jesus Christ if we love the brother. We love the brother in in our acts and in our deeds. Sometimes, it is not enough just to say I love you, sometimes we have to go the extra mile to prove it. This is when the love of God has reached its practical purpose in your life; thus, it is perfect love.
Do you know what shatters our confidence? One is doubt and two is love without works. For example, pretend your day started over today! When you got up! There was an opportunity to love. Whether that was at your breakfast table, that was on your way out the door, that occurred while you were driving, an opportunity came to be here at church, opportunity came to pick the phone up and call someone, an opportunity came up to visit the sick in a hospital, an opportunity came to visit the sick in their home, or it occurred at the dinner table with your own family. Instead of seizing the opportunities, you decided to be absorbed with your own mess, and you did none of that. So, how do you feel at night when you kneel down before the Lord? Do you have full confidence or are you shaking in your boots, because you failed God. Isn’t it better, to meet Jesus in the morning and ask him to order your steps? Doesn’t your day go a lot better when you can sacrifice a little bit of yourself for someone else? Don’t you feel the power and perfect love of God? We feel his presence the most when we are doing what we are called to do. Then, at night, we can go boldly, with competence, to the Lord in prayer. I ask you, which track are you on? Is your stream clear or dirty?
John and scripture desires for us to live our daily walk by the Spirit. Too many of us allow our flesh to dictate what we do and how we react. The Scriptures challenges to live holly lives and act as Christ would act.
All right! The Holy Spirit has taught us all about verse 17. Let’s move onto verse 18. Verse 17 and verse 18 are polar opposites. However, both scriptures tell us the same thing. Verse 17 tells us positively; while, 18 has a more negative effect. Finally, both verses of scripture tell us how to have confidence on the day of judgment.
Let’s read it again together!
1 John 4:18 KJV: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in Love.
So, we see here the analysis is correct! I have never seen a person that has acted in perfect love fear the consequences. For example, I have never acted in perfect love and then been like: “Man, I’m really going to get it for this one.” There’s a negative connotation in fear, because when we fear there is punishment. In perfect love there is no punishment; only reward. For example, when I’m on my way to visit the sick in the hospital, there is no red flag being waived. I mean, there’s no consequence, because I’m trying to help. I can tell you what is with me, great confidence, because I am doing the will of God. Because I am working out perfect love. Finally, Christ loves other people through us and we will never feel fear from that. This is the perfect will of God. When we love with active love not flawless love -fear, like a big scab, is peeled off your heart.
Let’s not have fear in our hearts. My friend, the antidote for fear is love. Love like Jesus. Following the simple question of WWJD. When we have a deep seeded love in our heart, we feel the touch and presence of God; and we have confidence that will carry us through judgment day. My friend, are you ready?
