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Fearless Love!
When you envision yourself standing before the almighty God on judgment day, do you picture yourself overcome by fear, or do you see yourself walking strait into God’s open arms for the biggest hug you have ever received? Your answer may depend on the day that this question is asked, but I would guess that an overwhelming group of proclaiming Christians would say that they envision themselves somewhere in between the two responses to judgment day.
What if I told you that if you truly live in God’s love, and His love is at work in your life, then you should have an attitude of confidence before God on judgment day, and not fear, because God’s “perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” (1 John 4:17-18) That’s right, if you are in God’s love, then you should have nothing to fear on judgment day! What an amazing promise through Jesus, but a difficult one to allow ourselves to enjoy. We know that we are sinful, and so we don’t feel worthy of God’s perfect and fearless love in our lives.
How do we know if we are complete in God’s love so that we do not need to fear Him on judgment day? The apostle John’s answer to that question is simply that you will see God’s love at work in your life, and one of the primary ways that you will see this love at work is in your love for God, which will supernaturally lead you to a God-sized love for your brothers and sisters in Christ! (1 John 4:20-21) Obedience to God’s commands will give us confidence before the throne of God on judgment day, and His commands are to love God and love one another. How are you doing with this?
If showing genuine love for our brothers and sisters in Christ is one of the main ways that we know if we are truly secure in Christ, then there are some very obvious implications. It is a general fact that the best place to find brothers and sisters in Christ is at church, which is Christ’s body. If you say you love God, yet neglect the brothers and sisters at church by not coming around very often, then John would advise you to reconsider your faith in God and love for Him and His children. (1 John 4:20)
John makes it clear throughout his book that loving God and loving God’s children are 100% inseparable. Christ’s body, the church, is not an option if you call yourself a Christian. They are inextricably bound together in the same faith and in the same God! John finishes this section by saying this, “And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:21) May you show your love for God by loving your brothers and sisters in Christ, and may that lead you to a fearlessness before the throne of God on judgment day!
Cody Balch
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