1 John 4:18 (NASB)

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Bible Commentary:

1 John 4:18 is a popular Bible verse in the New Testament that tells us how perfect love pushes fear out of our lives.

Can you imagine what your life would be like without any kind of fear or anxiety? No insecurity about what others think or say about you? Nothing hanging over your head telling you what you did wrong, what you should do or should have done?

The chaos of insecurity and fear in our souls has a devastating effect on our daily lives and well-being. Jesus Christ made the way for us to enjoy peace and to be free from fear.

In order to understand 1 John 4:18, we need to look at the two verses preceding it. 1 John 4:16-17,

¹⁶ We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷ By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

Very plainly, John states that God is love and that as believers, if we choose to abide in love—not judgment or jealousy for example—then we abide in God and God abides in us. 1 John 3:14 says, He who does not love abides in death. Very importantly, the attitude in our heart toward God and others determines where we abide–either love or hate, life or death.

Unlocking the Truth – The Perfect Partner

Quite simply, if we stay focused on Christ and His ways—love—then we become more aware of His Presence with us and we become more like Him. Proverbs 23:7 says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

It is possible to keep our focus on God while going about our daily business, but it takes time, like a muscle that needs to be worked out in order to become strong.

Just like our physical workout is important to our physical health, so is our spiritual workout important to our spiritual health–spending time alone with God and His Word, the Bible, communicating with Him as His Word communicates back to us.

As we grow in the knowledge of God, we begin to see and feel more and more from His perspective. (2 Cor 3:18)

So then, love is perfected in us (verse 17 above) as we abide in Him—focus on Him and become like Him. As we develop this focus muscle, we cannot help but gain confidence because we grow in our relationship with Him and He helps us see from His perspective.

Fear Cannot Remain

As our heart becomes more like Christ, fear and insecurity are pushed out of it. So then, fear cannot remain. Perfect love casts out fear.

There is no greater confidence than having the mind and heart of Jesus Christ! And there is no greater peace or joy than having an intimate and continual fellowship with Christ. He is the Perfect Partner!

We see perfect love emerge from our lives as fear is pushed out. Every fear in our life can be defeated. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.”

Let’s keep our focus on God by communicating with Him continually, like a best friend. Then our perspective changes, our heart changes and we can enjoy peace in His Presence and freedom from fear.

Study the Bible verse of 1 John 4:18, and be set free from fear.

 

Bible Verses about Love

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