A PERFECTED LOVE/1 JOHN 4:17-19

I don’t believe there is a person among us who would say that they love God and others perfectly. In other words, we all know that there is room for improvement in how we love both God and others. Yet, John in our text tells us of a love that is being perfected in us. I believe this is good news for all of us as we face our reluctance, at times, to love others. Let’s here some encouragement to keep on loving as we ought, as the rewards of doing so are out of this world. We begin with ...

I) HOW LOVE IS PERFECTED IN US–Vv.17-19

A) John begins to unpack how divine love is perfected in us by referring us back to verse 16. Note, at least in most translations, that John begins by saying "By this." What does the "By this" refer to? Look with me at verse 16 for the answer. John is saying, "Because God is love, and because He abides in us, and we abide in Him, divine love is brought to completion in us." John is not saying that a "perfected" love is a flawless love, but a love that accomplishes its intended goal.

B) Now John points out to us the benefit of this divine love coming to completion in us–"confidence in the day of judgment." John speaks of confidence in three other passages in this letter cf. 1 John 2:28; 3:21; 5:14. John wants to make clear to his original audience, and us, that we can have confidence of God’s saving love in Christ when we stand before Him in judgment cf. Hebrews 9:27. This is only possible because of what Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:21.

C) Then John helps us understand what this confidence is built upon–"as He is, so also are we in this world." But, what does this mean? It may have a couple things in mind. First, it can mean that because of our union with Christ by faith we share in His holiness, His righteousness, and His obedience. Second, it can mean that as Jesus had confidence of God’s abiding love for Him, that we too have that confidence as we live in this world as Jesus did, making God love known cf. John 17:22-26. We can say with one commentator, "The perfection or completeness of love is confidence." Do you have this confidence? If you are in Christ, then it is yours.

D) Next, John gives us a negative formulation of what he just said in verse 17. It is as if he is saying, "The other side of confidence is fear." John wants us to understand that fear hinders one’s ability to grow/mature in love. The fear spoken of has to do with the fear of God’s judgment--His present judgment and/or His future judgment. Here are a couple quotes I think will be helpful in understanding what’s in mind in these verses: "Whatever may take place in this world cannot nullify the power of [God’s] love nor separate us from it. Similarly, if we experience fear in any portion of our life, to that extent we deny God’s love and fail to trust Him." "The believer who lives in close communion with God is free from the fear of punishment. He knows that God punished Jesus Christ in His place on Calvary’s cross. Therefore, God does not punish the believer; otherwise Christ’s work would be incomplete. God corrects and disciplines but does not punish His children." Now, that’s confidence!

E) Then in verse 19 John tells us that our ability to love, and to see love perfected or brought to completion is found in God’s "first" love for us, as believers. We should also learn here that our ability to love, as we have been studying all along, starts with God’s love for us in Christ, not as has been proposed erroneously in loving oneself first. So, we have John saying that God originates love, and we then follow His example in our daily lives. Again, we are encouraged and strengthened in the task that we have been given–to love others. We can, and we must, have confidence that God is bringing love to completion in our daily lives. In closing, I’m challenged by this quote by John Piper, "Brothers and sisters, one of the main reasons why so many professing Christians have little confidence with God and little boldness with men is that their lives are not devoted in love to the salvation of the lost and to the glory of God, but instead are devoted (often by sheer default) to providing earthly security and comfort for themselves and their families." Oh, that God would perfect His love in us! Let us pray to that end!