1st john 4:18 can any one help me understand what this scripture is saying?

Answer 1

This is the trust aspect of love.

We trust God.

We have faith in God.

Then we need not fear.

Answer 2

It means that even though we are all sinners, we can approach God with freeness of speech and without fear, because of Jesus sacrifice (Hebrews 10:19). If we have fear, then it holds us back because we remain in the darkness, and really we need to search more for the truth (John 17:3, Acts 17:27).

Hebrews 10:17-19
“And I shall by no means call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind anymore.” Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness for the way of entry into the holy place by the blood of Jesus...

John 17:3
This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ

Acts 17:27
for them to seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us.

Answer 3

There is no fear of God's judgment, for where a relationship of love exists and is understood between God and the individual, then that person knows God's love through Christ and is freed from judgment under the Law. One now lives in the hope of the Gospel in which there is only salvation and joy. Fear is gone. Blessings!

Answer 4

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." - 1 John 4:18 NIV

Fear is a consequence of anticipated punishment and condemnation. God does not punish nor condemn. God loves. Hence, love does not provoke fear. Love encourages compassion, caring, and more love. Love begets love:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

Answer 5

Many interpret, believe and teach that this scripture is about how 'perfect love' not only 'casts out fear', but that by being 'fearless'--boasting about fearlessness--thinking that fear is 'evil', that such an attitude (or even a perfect love) will somehow keep us or protect us from having to face our fears.

This is illusion.

Notice that the scripture states that perfect love casts out fear--and NOT that perfect love keeps us or protects us from being afraid (fearless) and/or facing our fears. Nor that fear (or facing them) is something to be avoided or thought as 'bad'.

Regards,

Answer 6

If understanding how much God loves us and believing in it are so important, how can we tell where we stand in the strength of that belief? Verse 18 begins to answer that question. Fear and worry signal that we are not yet perfect in our belief in how much God loves us. If we believe that the God of infinite power and wisdom loves no one in the universe more than us, what do we have to fear or worry about?

Answer 7

It is talking about God's love for his people and our love for Him. It gives us courage to face all kinds of obstacles. Whether it be persecution, ridicule, or the day to day things that nag at our time for spiritual things. Allowing any of these obstacles to rob us of our faith bit by bit or all together is a result of losing our love for God. As Matt. 24: 12 said, "the love of the greater number will cool off." Notice God's love does not cool. It is our's.

With love going both ways, we can conquer anything. Why? The next verse 19 says, "As for us, we love, because he first loved us."

Answer 8

When the apostle John wrote that “perfect love throws fear outside,” what did he mean by “perfect love,” and what “fear” is thus thrown outside?

“There is no fear in love,” wrote the apostle John, “but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love.”—1 John 4:18.

The context shows that John was discussing freeness of speech—specifically the relationship between love of God and freeness of speech toward Him. This can be seen from what we read in verse 17: “This is how love has been made perfect with us, that we may have freeness of speech in the day of judgment.” The degree to which a Christian loves God and senses God’s love for him has a direct effect on his freeness of speech—or the lack of it—when he approaches God in prayer.

The expression “perfect love” is significant. As used in the Bible, the word “perfect” does not always mean perfection in the absolute sense, that is, to the infinite degree, but often in a relative sense. For example, in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus was telling his followers that if they loved only those loving them, their love would be incomplete, deficient, defective. They should perfect, or bring to full measure, their love by including even their enemies. Similarly, then, when John wrote about “perfect love,” he was speaking about love of God that is wholehearted, fully developed, and embracing all aspects of one’s life.—Matthew 5:46-48; 19:20, 21.

When approaching God in prayer, a Christian is well aware that he is sinful and imperfect. However, if his love for God and his feeling of God’s love for him are fully developed, he is not hampered by fear of condemnation or rejection. Rather, he enjoys freeness of speech in expressing what is in his heart and in asking for forgiveness on the basis of the ransom sacrifice, which God has lovingly provided through Jesus Christ. He feels assured that his petitions are favorably heard by God.

How can one be “made perfect in love” and thus ‘throw outside’ fear of condemnation or rejection? “Whoever does observe his [God’s] word, truthfully in this person the love of God has been made perfect,” said the apostle John. (1 John 2:5) Consider: If God loved us when we were yet sinners, would he not love us all the more if we are truly repentant and diligently “observe his word”? (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10) Indeed, as long as we remain faithful, we can have the same assurance that the apostle Paul had when he said about God: “He who did not even spare his own Son but delivered him up for us all, why will he not also with him kindly give us all other things?”—Romans 8:32.

Answer 9

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us.

Basically, we should be compelled to love God because in His great love for us, He provided His Son in sacrifice to make a way out of our futile condition (death and dying).

This, as opposed to fearing him because he can punish us. He's not interested in punishing us, but wants us to appreciate that He has done so much by making a way out of death.

When we get to that level of love of God we will have no fear of Him.

Answer 10

so simple..
there is no fear in love

if you love God you don't have fear
you know God will do all he says on your behalf, he will

tenderly care for you if you serve him and finally if you are faithful you will get the gift of everlasting life.