Bible Study Perfect love casts out fear

[Winnie]

1 John 4:18

'There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. (Another translation says torment) The one who fears is not made perfect in love.'

So, I have often heard this used, but never understood what they were talking about, especially because it is used when someone is having fear over circumstamces in their life. Plus, arent punishment and torment two different things?

 

[for_his_glory]

Punishment and torment can be the same thing if we think about God's chastisement on disobedience as it can be physical torment when He brings down wrath upon those who do not walk in obedience. Fear is also emotions that can cause us to do things we would never normally do.

As a true child of God we are not to fear anything on this earth as when we walk in the Spirit we no longer walk in the flesh. This is what God says about fear. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell, Matthew 10:28.

 

[Winnie]

I like your reply.
I was also wondering about this perfect love stuff.
I wonder if I could also post this in bible study. As some people have a tendency to avoid the theology section.

 

[stovebolts]

I like your reply.
I was also wondering about this perfect love stuff.
I wonder if I could also post this in bible study. As some people have a tendency to avoid the theology section.

I'll move this into the Boble Study forum for you.

 

[Michael74]

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. 1 John 3:14a NIV

If you have perfect love for God and His children, you need not fear punishment on judgement day.

Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14b NIV

Those who hate God's children should be afraid. Be very afraid. They will face the wrath of an angry God.

 

[Winnie]

So why is 'perfect' love neccessary. Is there such a thing as imperfect love?
Is it comparable to the saying, 'im just a little pregnant?' (Either you are or you aren't).

 

[Michael74]

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16 NIV

Being lukewarm is not acceptable. You can't help the Lord's people one day, and harm them another. Harming the Lord's children is never, ever acceptable.

 

[for_his_glory]

Perfect love also means forgiveness. As God has forgiven us our trespasses so we too need to forgive those who trespass against us. Not only forgive, but to also walk in love towards those who come against us as we need to not hate them, but to pray for them as we are to let the light of Christ shine through us.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

 

[Christ_empowered]

this is a good thread. Verna is forever quoting this verse to me. The Lord does not want His children to fear, even (ideally...) when facing rough times ("I can do all things thru Christ, who strengthens me"). He also blessed us with a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of a sound mind....as CS Lewis once wrote, Christianity is a fighting religion (something like that, anyway).

OK. I'm scanning over these again, because...this is a tough one, obviously...

 

[evenifigoalone]

I think something to keep in mind is that fear is a natural emotion God made us with. It serves to protect us and keep us from taking big risks that could injure or kill us. It also motivates us--you may fear not being able to pay your rent, so that fear motivates you to work hard so that you have the money to keep your apartment for another month.
Fear becomes a problem when it keeps you from doing things you need or want to do.

Just pointing out that it's not a sin to feel afraid. It's a natural reaction, a natural emotion to have. Especially if you are in danger or have a reason to fear for your safety. We are in our earthly bodies still, so we are still subject to the pitfalls that comes with.

 

[Michael74]

Taking evasive action when there is a dangerous situation ahead is Biblical.

The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 27:12 NIV

However, one must not fear to do the Lord's will. If someone fears people to the extent that they follow along with the crowd, instead of the Lord, this is backward.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 NET

So take refuge from danger as Proverbs says to, unless the Lord tells you to do something. Then do what the Lord says, not fearing what people will do or say. Jeremiah was given this warning of what would happen if he failed to tell people what the Lord told him to say out of fear of those people:

“Jeremiah, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything I command you to say. Don’t be afraid of the people, or I will give you good reason to be afraid of them. Jeremiah 1:17 NCV

 

[for_his_glory]

Our flesh will fear that of what we see as yet we are still mortal, but a valuable lesson is to trust in the Lord and fear not that (Satan) of what can devour you. Perfect love, which is Christ Jesus, will always give us the victory over that which comes against us, even over death.

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I learn't this lesson one day as the town we use to live in part of it caught on fire that was out of control for a long period of time. Five businesses burned to the ground and the gas station and our house was next to go. We packed up all the important things and got them out of the house. My flesh feared the greatness of the fire, but God spared the fire from reaching the gas station that would have taken out our home plus many others down the block. God gave us the victory over that fire as even though I feared, I also trusted the Lord to take care of us.

 

[Opywang]

Paranoid schizophrenic is a good example. If you don't have love it can make you paranoid, and be fearful. All these people in the bible has the same symptom as paranoid schizophrenic, and people with schizophrenic is also gifted, but they don't realize that because our world is worldly, and it doesn't teach people things that are spiritual.

Spiritual is not an easy task, and even I myself have trouble, and it take perfect love to not have fear. The world doesn't realize that being a spiritual christian is no different than being a sage, or a person that has kundalini, or and etc.

It's very sad that the world we are in are brainwashed, and doesn't accept the thing that are spiritual, and even many christian ended up in a mental hospital because the world doesn't realize that the Bible has a lot to do with it manifesting, or triggering spiritual experience.

Acts 2:17
"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

 

[for_his_glory]

Paranoid schizophrenic is a good example. If you don't have love it can make you paranoid, and be fearful. All these people in the bible has the same symptom as paranoid schizophrenic, and people with schizophrenic is also gifted, but they don't realize that because our world is worldly, and it doesn't teach people things that are spiritual.

Spiritual is not an easy task, and even I myself have trouble, and it take perfect love to not have fear. The world doesn't realize that being a spiritual christian is no different than being a sage, or a person that has kundalini, or and etc.

It's very sad that the world we are in are brainwashed, and doesn't accept the thing that are spiritual, and even many christian ended up in a mental hospital because the world doesn't realize that the Bible has a lot to do with it manifesting, or triggering spiritual experience.

Acts 2:17
"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Hi Opywang and welcome to CF ,

People always put down that of what they have no knowledge of. This is why we are not to conform to this world as it is not our home, but part of our journey to our new heavenly home.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.