“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world...So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us…so that we may have confidence for the Day of Judgment…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 4:14-18)
Let that sink in for a moment. John was most likely toward the end of his life when he wrote this. By that time he was familiar with the revelation of the salvation of all which Paul had received from the risen Jesus. And John was now certain that Jesus was the “Savior of the world”...not just Israel. And not just a possibility of being saved if certain choices were made…Jesus IS the Savior…of the whole WORLD.
And John says it is because God is LOVE. And there is no fear in the judgment that is to come when one actually understands and believes that God loves the world. When we come to realize and believe, as John did, that God is love…the fear of judgment is CAST OUT.
It is so frustrating for me to see so many Christians who “fear” the judgment of God and yet claim they know God loves them and say they love Him back. You cannot be “perfected” in love and still “fear” God. When you come to know the truth that Jesus is the "Savior of the world" because God loves the world…then you no longer "fear" for yourself or others.
Remember the word judgment just means to “make a decision”. God has made the decision. God decided to send his Son to SAVE the world …not scare the hell out us.
“…and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” (1 Timothy 1:14-15)
Let that sink in for a moment. John was most likely toward the end of his life when he wrote this. By that time he was familiar with the revelation of the salvation of all which Paul had received from the risen Jesus. And John was now certain that Jesus was the “Savior of the world”...not just Israel. And not just a possibility of being saved if certain choices were made…Jesus IS the Savior…of the whole WORLD.
And John says it is because God is LOVE. And there is no fear in the judgment that is to come when one actually understands and believes that God loves the world. When we come to realize and believe, as John did, that God is love…the fear of judgment is CAST OUT.
It is so frustrating for me to see so many Christians who “fear” the judgment of God and yet claim they know God loves them and say they love Him back. You cannot be “perfected” in love and still “fear” God. When you come to know the truth that Jesus is the "Savior of the world" because God loves the world…then you no longer "fear" for yourself or others.
Remember the word judgment just means to “make a decision”. God has made the decision. God decided to send his Son to SAVE the world …not scare the hell out us.
“…and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” (1 Timothy 1:14-15)