Certain Eternity Part 38 – No Fear in Love
1 John 4:16-18
Park Service August, 17 2025 (no slide show pdf)
Introduction
You may have heard or seen depictions of elephants being afraid of mice
(dumbo, sword in the stone, etc.)….the image of large elephant on a stool
looking down at a mouse may come to mind. While that is largely a myth,
elephants are known to be very fearful creatures, easily frightened and set to
panic, especially when they are young.
o When a baby elephant (called a calf) is born, it’s incredibly
vulnerable—blind, uncoordinated, and completely dependent on its mother
and the herd. Calves cling closely to their mothers and will not stray beyond
the heard. In fact, they will regularly hold the herd up because of their
unwillingness to explore and experience anything they perceive as a threat.
They’re especially fearful of water crossings, fast movements, and
unfamiliar terrain. As you can imagine, any sign of a predator will paralyze
them with fear.
1 John 4:16-18 “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. ”
God loves me > I love God > [both of next simultaneously]
o > I love myself (because of my identity in Christ)
o > I love others (because God loves them and I want to be like and serve
my God, so I too will love others)
2 parts today: 1) Confident Love and 2) Completed Love
Confident Love
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.
(v16) “Love” (Gk. agape) unconditional, self-sacrificial action of always seeking
the best for another
“Know” (GK. ginōskō) = experiential knowledge from walking with God
“Believe” (Gk. pisteuō) = exercise faith or trust in
o Know and believe what? Answer: “the love that god has for us”
Why does God give us (1 John 3:1) this love? “God is love”
“Abide” (Gk. menō) – remain in, rely upon and rest in
(v17) “By this” => knowing, belief that brings confidence in our identity and future
eternity with our Father….no need to fear
Warren Wiersbe “An immature Christian is tossed between fear and love; a
mature Christian rests in God’s love. A growing confidence in the presence of
God is one of the first evidences that our love for God is maturing.”
“Confidence for the day of judgment”
o All about our eternal security by faith in Jesus….John comes back around
to his ultimate theme for this letter.
We can know with certainty we are saved children of God who can
have full and compete confidence about standing before the throne of
God as He judges us. By God’s grace, we have faith in Jesus.
Therefore, we are cleansed, made righteous, regenerated, sanctified,
and adopted as Children of the Father who face no penalty for our sin
because Jesus already paid it.
“because as he is so also are we in this world”
o Jesus walked in love without fear…even though he ultimately faced His
death, He did not need to fear the consequences of dying apart from the
Father (i.e. judgment) because He was perfected in the Father’s love
Completed Love
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.
(v18) “perfect” (GK. teleios ) means complete, mature, fully developed, total,
whole – similar idea to Shalom in the sense of full completion
o “perfected” (Gk. teleioō) – have been made perfect, i.e. brought to maturity,
completion, wholeness, etc.
o Interestingly the Gnostics used teleios of one fully initiated into their
mysteries and that may have been why Paul used teleios in this epistle.
(v18) “Perfect love cast out fear”
o John Stott “The same truth is now stated negatively. The love that spells
confidence banishes fear. There is no fear (i.e. no servile fear) in love. That
is, ‘there is no room for fear in love’. The two are as incompatible as oil and
water. We can love and reverence God simultaneously, but we cannot
approach him in love and hide from him in fear at the same time.”
o Not fear in general (fear as an emotion is not in view), nor is “fear of the
Lord”, which is always appropriate
o William Barclay “Fear is the characteristic emotion of someone who
expects to be punished. So long as we regard God as the Judge, the King,
the Law-giver, there can be nothing in our heart but fear for in face of such
a God we can expect nothing but punishment. But once we know God’s
true nature, fear is swallowed up in love. The fear that remains is the fear of
grieving His love for us.”
Fear of judgment – of not spending eternity with the Father….if you
know God’s love for you through your relationship with Jesus, then
the fear of judgment will ultimately be removed the more you are
transformed by that love.
o Steven Cole explains “The 18th century commentator, Bengel, gives the
proper course of growth in the spiritual life: “1) neither love nor fear, 2) fear
without love, 3) both fear and love, and 4) love without fear”. Most
unbelievers have neither the fear of God or the love of God in their lives.
Often such lack of fear stems from ignorance. Children are often unafraid of
danger because they are not aware of the severity of the danger.
Concerning people in their natural state, Paul states (Ro 3:18+, citing Ps.
36:1), “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Unbelievers are a
heartbeat away from eternity in the lake of fire, but they don’t fear God!
Then, as the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin and judgment (Jn 16:8+),
they become terrified of God’s wrath and their guilt before Him. At this
point, it is “fear without love.” God often uses this to drive them to the
Cross, where, still trembling, they experience both fear and love. Then, as
they grow assured of His grace and see His love working itself out in their
lives, they cast out fear and grow into love without fear. John Newton aptly
put it, “’Twas grace that caused my heart to fear, and grace my fears
relieved” (“Amazing Grace,” stanza 2).”
o If we are a follower of Jesus and do fear judgment (perhaps mixed with
love as Cole discusses above) – we do not yet either “know” or “believe” (or
both) deeply enough the love of our God for us….remember, he first loves
us (v19)
Conclusion
Elephants learn to overcome their fear through
o Mature Guidance (discipleship: The oldest female in the herd, known as the
matriarch, leads the group and teaches the young how to navigate the wild.
She models wisdom and confidence, avoiding threats but knowing her
strength.
o Gentle Discipline: The herd gently corrects the calves when they wander
too far or behave recklessly.
o Encouragement Through Adversity: When crossing rivers, the herd often
pauses to let the calf learn how to wade through water. If the calf hesitates,
the mother might nudge it forward or even wrap her trunk around it for
reassurance.
Over time, what begins as fear becomes trust—not just in their own
abilities, but in the wisdom and protection of their family.
Of course, this is very much how the Lord teaches us through fellowship and
discipleship in community and as He reveals Himself to us in His word and
generally as we see and experience His presence and power in our lives.
o As these things work in us, we can grow in our knowledge and belief in the
love up the Lord and, just like fearful elephants, grow confident and mature
as we navigate this world and look hopefully, confidently, excitedly to our
future eternity with our God.
Amen. Amen.