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Monthly Question Page
Q. Could you please explain the following verse? “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” (1 John 4:18).
A. The perfect love of God removes all fear as to the present as well as the future by bringing us to see that we are seen in all the perfection and loveliness of Christ. As believers we are completely clear from our sins and the judgment those sins deserve. When we appear before the judgment seat of Christ, we shall have our glorified bodies and be like Him; but, even now, while we are in this world, we are as clear from our sins as we ever will be. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We do not need to look at our own hearts to see if we are clear of judgment; we look to Christ and the work of Calvary. Thus perfect love casts out fear. Delivered from the fear of torment, we are made perfect in love, our love being drawn out by His great love to us. As the next statement indicates, “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). It is the enjoyment of His perfect love that gives us peace and confidence in His presence.
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