1 John 4:18 says that perfect love casts out fear. Over the years I’ve heard many people use this verse to say that since God loves us with a perfect love, there is no reason for us to fear God. But is that what this verse is saying?
Let’s look at this verse in its context to see what it’s actually saying.
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. (1 John 4:17-18 ESV)
This passage isn’t talking about God’s love for us. It’s talking about our love for God. This is grounded in what Jesus said about love producing obedience. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹
Notice in our main text, verse 17 talks about love being perfected with us. It goes on to say in verse 18, whoever fears has not been perfected in love. So again, this passage isn’t talking about God’s perfect love for us. It’s talking about our love for God, and this love should produce obedience in us. This truth is expressed through other scriptures.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3 ESV)
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him (1 John 2:5 ESV)
So, perfect love will produce perfect obedience, and in perfect obedience there is no reason to fear.
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As mentioned earlier, 1 John 4:18 is often used to say that there is no reason for us to fear God. But this goes against scripture that clearly teaches the fear of God.
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 NASB)
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Footnotes:
- John 14:15 ESV
Test Everything 