1. FEAR
and
LOVE
1 John 4:16-21

2. What are some fears we face?

3. Acrophobia – fear of heights!
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedal iophobia: Fear of Long Words
Ecclesiophobia - fear of church
Homilophobia - fear of sermons

4. We need to ask 3 questions…
l. What kind of fear is this?
ll. What kind of love is this?
lll. How does love cast out fear?

5. 1. What kind of fear is this?
The word fear is used two ways in the Bible :
Fear of the Lord – reverence / awe
"serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear“ Heb 12:28
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom” Prov 1:8
Not a “Fear lest He hurt me”,
but a “fear lest I hurt Him”!

6. 1. What kind of fear is this?
Fear of God – dread of His power and holiness
Jesus: “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of
those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear:
Fear Him who, after your body has been
killed, has power to throw you into hell.
Yes, I tell you, fear Him” (Luke 12:4-5)

7. In 1 John 4 - Fear of God’s judgment
v.17 “so that we will have confidence on the day
of judgment”
v.18 “fear has to do with punishment”
"there remains a fearful expectation of
judgment and of raging fire that will
consume the enemies of God" (Heb 10:27)
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
and grace that fear relieved”

8. 2. What kind of love is this?
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” 1 John 4:18
l. God’s love?
God’s love for us allays fear of judgment.

9. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” … “Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … (nothing) in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8)

10. “… whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him
“… whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with 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 4:16-19
ll. OUR love

11. 3. How does love cast out fear?
“You cannot draw near to God in love, and run from Him out of fear of judgment at the same time” John Piper
God’s love provides new birth!
Our love proves new birth!