Idea: Boice, “The sinner must begin by fearing the God against whom he has sinned; but, having believed in Christ who has atoned for sin, he may put away fear and grow in confidence before him.”
Intro: They call this week at OSU dead week. It's the last full week of classes before the end of the semester arrives and the professors give final exams. Finals week produces a certain amount of fear in the hearts of students. The final exam is coming. For those who put off studying, they take it up madly, trying to cram all they can before the test comes. Why? Because they are not ready for the exam.
You can imagine, then, how the day of judgment carries with it an element of fear.
But John says something incredible here. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” I intend, then, to urge you to see how God has perfected His love in you, and how such love casts out fear.
1. Love Perfected
2. Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
3. Perfect Love Transforms Servility to Confidence
4. Love Perfected in Loving One Another |
