17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Commentary
Vs. 17 “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we
may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this
world.”
Love God’s being perfected in us means we may have boldness in day of judgement (consider Heb. 10:14). Thus, we are first perfected positionally before God by Christ’s loving Sacrifice for us, then we are being perfected in His love as His Holy Spirit works in and through us. Thus, we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
Vs. 18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
Thus, ever true believer does not fear God’s Judgment; though we fear God in reverence; we do not fear God as Judge; because His Son Jesus Christ has already Justified us all who believe in Him (Rom. 5:1). Therefore, we see and have God only as our loving Father, who loves and cares for us, who will never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6; Psalm 27:10; Isaiah 49:15; Matt. 28:20; Rom. 11:29; Heb. 13:5). Those then who do not know Him only fear Him as Judge, and so they have torment in their own souls, for they have not been made perfect in love, perfect positionally before God, but also perfect relationally, and thus they need to enter into His Son’s love which starts by repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which then opens the flood gates for God’s love to flow into them. Again, they must first open their hearts to His love for them, to have His love come into them (Rev. 3:20).
Vs. 19 “We love Him because He first loved us.”
Nothing is more truer about our relationship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ than this, that we love Him, because He first loved us. For all that we now have and are began with His first loving us and saving us. For in His love for us He first moved to make a way for salvation for us, even when we thought we could not be saved by Him, His love found a way to save us. Therefore, we love Him because He first loved us.
Scripture Quotations
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