Explanation

Perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18

"Come to Me” Matthew 11:28

Below you can take each verse apart, word by word, and then read about it in context.

Perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18 (Taking this verse apart, word by word. )

"Perfect" means consummate, complete, total, lacking nothing, fulfilled.

"Love" means "Agape Love". The Love that the Bible speaks of is the Love which God is and demonstrates.

Love, which patient, kind, does not envy or boast, is not proud or rude, is not self-seeking or easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. This consummate Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and never fails. (1Cor 13:4-8) Perfect Love never changes (Malachi 3:6) and does not lie (1 Samuel 15:29, Titus 1:2).

To know more about the four types of love, see "Agape Love".

God Loves!?- How? + see the links on the bottom of that page!

To know more about Perfect Love and God's Love, see "Agape Love".

"Drives out" means casts out, and to throw out, remove, thrust away with force and intensity.

"Fear" means alarm or fright, to be afraid or exceedingly afraid, to have fear or terror. (cover terrorism)

Putting it all together -

Consummate, complete, total and lacking nothing Perfect Love is completely pure, unselfish and totally wanting the best of the best for everyone. This Love, which is patient, kind, does not envy or boast, is not proud or rude, is not self-seeking or easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. This Perfect Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and never fails. (1Cor 13:4-8) This Perfect Love never changes (Malachi 3:6) and does not lie (1 Samuel 15:29, Titus 1:2). It is this Perfect Love that powerfully throws out, casts away, removes, and thrusts with force and intensity the alarm, fright, fear, terror, and the internal cause of being exceedingly afraid.

Reading the whole Bible verse in context,

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

There are four points made –

1. There is no fear in love. – Perfect love has no fear. Perfect love is not afraid. Those who are in Perfect Love do not fear.

2. Perfect Love drives out fear. - Perfect love gets rid of fear. Love surpasses fear.

3. Fear has to do with punishment. - This kind of fear is the fear of being punished, condemned, destroyed, or having repercussion and consequences for words, thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

4. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - This verse is speaking of two ways a person can be deficient, or not made perfect in love by God, Who is Love. Please note that no person is perfect, but God strives with us to enable us to live in a close relationship with Him based upon Who He is so that we are sanctified, or more “perfect in love”.

The first way is a person who fears and does not trust that God is Sovereign and in total control working for his or her benefit totally! This person doubts the character and abilities of God and may be double minded (James 1:5-8; James 4:8) sometimes.

The second way is a person who fears, realizing and being aware that he or she is due punishment for what wrong he or she has done. This person senses they must suffer wrath as just punishment which they deserve. In order for this person to be made perfect in love, he or she would have to have accept the justice which was already done for him or her so he or she can be considered not-guilty by Perfect Love, or God. (This is possible!!!) If he or she was already made perfect in love, he or she would not have that fear since he or she would already know that justice has already been made and the perfect love has already driven out their fear.
For those who are in Perfect Love, which is by God alone, there is no fear. The reason there is no fear is because God’s Love has driven out the fear, thrown it out, removed the fear, thrust it away, and replaced it with God’s presence, His Holy Spirit. God’s perfect love drives the fear out of a person. God may not change a persons personal situation for a while, but He will change the individual so that the fear is not consuming or ruling them. (2Cor 5:17 link , Heb 2:14,15, 1Cor 15:21,22,54,55,57; Romans 8:2, John 8:32)

In this verse, God says that fear has to do with punishment. Fear of a future event that will cause disaster to the individual. (Are you in this kind of fear?)

To know more about the types of love, see "Agape Love".

God is love. 1 John 4:16 Who is God, How is God, What is God?, Why is God?

What kind of Love is God?

"Come to Me” Matthew 11:28

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 Come = come hither and follow, stay with me, be with me.

When Jesus says, "Come" - that means Come and Follow me, Stay with me, Be with me. It is a personal invitation to YOU!!! Read the links for more encouragement.

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