This is the manuscript for the twelfth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”
1 John 4:18 NIV 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.
Through Jesus Christ, God revealed himself to humans. Through the Holy Spirit, God indwells humans. Today I want to talk about three grand and glorious things about this unique relationship between God and his people.
First, we will look at the gift; then the gain (what we have “gained” in receiving this gift); and finally, the glory, the result of our continuing relationship with God through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.
For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.
You can see the entire service from OCTOBER 11, 2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/U5PbAOmxEqw
1 John 4:18 NIV 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.
Through Jesus Christ, God revealed himself to humans. Through the Holy Spirit, God indwells humans. Today I want to talk about three grand and glorious things about this unique relationship between God and his people.
First, we will look at the gift; then the gain (what we have “gained” in receiving this gift); and finally, the glory, the result of our continuing relationship with God through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.
For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.
You can see the entire service from OCTOBER 11, 2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/U5PbAOmxEqw
Sermon Scripture
1 John 4:11-21 NIV Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 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. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Text:
1 John 4:18 NIV 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.
Introduction
Through Jesus Christ, God revealed himself to humans. Through the Holy Spirit, God indwells humans. Today I want to talk about three grand and glorious things about this unique relationship between God and his people.
First, we will look at the gift; then the gain (what we have “gained” in receiving this gift); and finally, the glory, the result of our continuing relationship with God through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.
1. Let’s examine this incomparable gift of God to the believer (1 John 4:12–13).
1 John 4:12-13 NIV No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
A. The first part of the gift is expressed outwardly.
“if we love one another, God lives in us”
We prove our faith to the world by loving one another—or, more specifically, by letting God love others through us.
John 13:34-35 NIV “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I may “like” you or “dislike” you; that is beside the point. You may “detest” some of my ways; that, too, is beside the point. The simple truth John has given us is that God dwells in us only if we love one another in spite of who or what we are!
We talked about this the last couple of weeks.
This love is not just affection for others. It is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to the crowds there;
Matthew 5:43-45 NIV“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
That’s the outward expression of this wonderful gift, this personal relationship with God that we exhibit or show this unconditional love to others.
B. The second part of the gift is expressed inwardly.
Again
1 John 4:12-13 NIV No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
This inward expression is the assurance that we are the children of God.
How do we know that we are his?
Because he has given us his Holy Spirit.
Romans 10:9-11 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
When we repented and made this declaration God “baptized,” us into his family.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Here baptism by the Spirit is the act by which the Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ and his body, the church. In other words, it’s conversion. It’s becoming a Christian.
Let's look at 1 John 4:12-13 NIV again
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit."
The verb phrase, “He has given” (NIV), is a perfect tense, indicating that the gift was a permanent one, given to us at a point in the past to be ours forever.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession--to the praise of his glory.
1 John 4:11-21 NIV Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 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. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Text:
1 John 4:18 NIV 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.
Introduction
Through Jesus Christ, God revealed himself to humans. Through the Holy Spirit, God indwells humans. Today I want to talk about three grand and glorious things about this unique relationship between God and his people.
First, we will look at the gift; then the gain (what we have “gained” in receiving this gift); and finally, the glory, the result of our continuing relationship with God through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.
1. Let’s examine this incomparable gift of God to the believer (1 John 4:12–13).
1 John 4:12-13 NIV No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
A. The first part of the gift is expressed outwardly.
“if we love one another, God lives in us”
We prove our faith to the world by loving one another—or, more specifically, by letting God love others through us.
John 13:34-35 NIV “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I may “like” you or “dislike” you; that is beside the point. You may “detest” some of my ways; that, too, is beside the point. The simple truth John has given us is that God dwells in us only if we love one another in spite of who or what we are!
We talked about this the last couple of weeks.
This love is not just affection for others. It is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to the crowds there;
Matthew 5:43-45 NIV“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
That’s the outward expression of this wonderful gift, this personal relationship with God that we exhibit or show this unconditional love to others.
B. The second part of the gift is expressed inwardly.
Again
1 John 4:12-13 NIV No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
This inward expression is the assurance that we are the children of God.
How do we know that we are his?
Because he has given us his Holy Spirit.
Romans 10:9-11 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
When we repented and made this declaration God “baptized,” us into his family.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Here baptism by the Spirit is the act by which the Spirit unites us to Jesus Christ and his body, the church. In other words, it’s conversion. It’s becoming a Christian.
Let's look at 1 John 4:12-13 NIV again
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit."
The verb phrase, “He has given” (NIV), is a perfect tense, indicating that the gift was a permanent one, given to us at a point in the past to be ours forever.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession--to the praise of his glory.
2. That’s the gift, but then, there is the gain (what we have “gained” in receiving this gift) (1 John 4:17).
A. What do we “gain” in this relationship with God that transforms us and makes us his children?
1 John 4:17 NIV This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
We gain confidence or boldness. Confidence, or boldness, is one of the most important words in the New Testament. Luke said in the book of Acts that the religious authorities were amazed at the “boldness” of Peter and John.
In Acts Chapter 3 there is the story of Peter healing a lame beggar. You should read the story but to cut to the chase Peter and John were arrested questioned about how this beggar was healed and by what power or in whose name they did this.
Acts 4:8-13 NIV Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage (boldness, confidence) of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Later on when Peter and John were talking to the others about what had happened they all became bold in their preaching of the gospel.
Acts 4:31 NIV After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
And remember as God’s children we are invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace”.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
This “boldness” is not brashness or reckless presumption, but a “freedom of speech”, so to speak, that God has given believers through the presence of his Spirit indwelling them.
B. Another dimension of this boldness is revealed in verse 17.
1 John 4:17 NIV This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
Christians will have boldness, confidence, “on the day of judgment.” Because of our relationship with God through Christ, we will have no reason to fear judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 NIV Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The judgment seat of Christ is something exclusively for believers, as Christ's evaluation of our works on earth. This will be an assessment of what each saved, heaven-bound Christian has done "in the body" since coming to faith in Christ. How has he or she used this life in Christ? What have they done, for good or for evil?
Romans 14:12 NIV So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
We don’t have to fear this. We’re saved and that’s a permanent fact. It’s here that we are rewarded for what we have done since we were saved.
That’s another sermon for another time but the point today is that because of the Holy Spirit in us we have confidence about judgement
3. We’ve talked about the gift and it’s expression in us both outwardly and inwardly, we’ve talked about the confidence or boldness that we have gained because of the gift, finally, let us see the glory of it all (1 John 4:18–21).
1 John 4:18-21 NIV 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. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
A. What kind of “fear” was John talking about in verse 18?
Is it possible that he was talking about fear at the thought of judgment? No because where there is “perfect love” (and it is perfect because it is God’s love in us and not our own), there is trust, confidence, and assurance.
Let's read that again;
1 John 4:18 NIV 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. Just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, so fear cannot survive where there is love.
B. There is no torment like that produced in a person who lives in fear.
There is a fear of tomorrow, a fear of death, a fear of judgment. And because sin alienates people from God, it is the fear of unbelievers toward a God who they don't know and who they can't call “Father.”
C. The glorious promise, to those of us who have the Holy Spirit, is that “perfect love drives out fear.”
When we surrender to God and allow God to love through us, there can be no fear. The love of God within us destroys and dissipates fear.
Conclusion
If you are a Christian, you have already received the greatest gift of all— salvation by grace through faith. But have you received the gift John talks about, which ought to be operative in the life of every Christian? Are you letting Christ love others through you, and are you constantly receiving the assurance that you belong to God because of his Spirit within you? Have you gained a “holy boldness,” a freedom to share your faith with others? Are you free from fear because God poured out His love in your heart?
If your answer to any of these questions is no then you are missing out on the gift that God has already given you. You don’t have to look for it, it's there already in the person of the Holy Spirit in you. All you have to do is yield to Him let Him control your life and your emotions. I know that it’s hard sometimes to let go of your emotions, when someone you love and trust disappoints you or slanders you but remember that God loves you and He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you and give you His Spirit so that you can love like Him.
That's the good news to those of us who are believers and have the Holy Spirit. The bad news to those who are not believers is that you don't have this gift that I have been talking about but you can have it. God wants to give it to you. All you have to do is admit that you can't fix your life, you are not sure and are afraid of judgement. Remember the believer has confidence and is not afraid of judgement. What to do? Well here's the answer
Romans 10:9-10 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
A. What do we “gain” in this relationship with God that transforms us and makes us his children?
1 John 4:17 NIV This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
We gain confidence or boldness. Confidence, or boldness, is one of the most important words in the New Testament. Luke said in the book of Acts that the religious authorities were amazed at the “boldness” of Peter and John.
In Acts Chapter 3 there is the story of Peter healing a lame beggar. You should read the story but to cut to the chase Peter and John were arrested questioned about how this beggar was healed and by what power or in whose name they did this.
Acts 4:8-13 NIV Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage (boldness, confidence) of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Later on when Peter and John were talking to the others about what had happened they all became bold in their preaching of the gospel.
Acts 4:31 NIV After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
And remember as God’s children we are invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace”.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
This “boldness” is not brashness or reckless presumption, but a “freedom of speech”, so to speak, that God has given believers through the presence of his Spirit indwelling them.
B. Another dimension of this boldness is revealed in verse 17.
1 John 4:17 NIV This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
Christians will have boldness, confidence, “on the day of judgment.” Because of our relationship with God through Christ, we will have no reason to fear judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 NIV Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The judgment seat of Christ is something exclusively for believers, as Christ's evaluation of our works on earth. This will be an assessment of what each saved, heaven-bound Christian has done "in the body" since coming to faith in Christ. How has he or she used this life in Christ? What have they done, for good or for evil?
Romans 14:12 NIV So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
We don’t have to fear this. We’re saved and that’s a permanent fact. It’s here that we are rewarded for what we have done since we were saved.
That’s another sermon for another time but the point today is that because of the Holy Spirit in us we have confidence about judgement
3. We’ve talked about the gift and it’s expression in us both outwardly and inwardly, we’ve talked about the confidence or boldness that we have gained because of the gift, finally, let us see the glory of it all (1 John 4:18–21).
1 John 4:18-21 NIV 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. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
A. What kind of “fear” was John talking about in verse 18?
Is it possible that he was talking about fear at the thought of judgment? No because where there is “perfect love” (and it is perfect because it is God’s love in us and not our own), there is trust, confidence, and assurance.
Let's read that again;
1 John 4:18 NIV 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. Just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, so fear cannot survive where there is love.
B. There is no torment like that produced in a person who lives in fear.
There is a fear of tomorrow, a fear of death, a fear of judgment. And because sin alienates people from God, it is the fear of unbelievers toward a God who they don't know and who they can't call “Father.”
C. The glorious promise, to those of us who have the Holy Spirit, is that “perfect love drives out fear.”
When we surrender to God and allow God to love through us, there can be no fear. The love of God within us destroys and dissipates fear.
Conclusion
If you are a Christian, you have already received the greatest gift of all— salvation by grace through faith. But have you received the gift John talks about, which ought to be operative in the life of every Christian? Are you letting Christ love others through you, and are you constantly receiving the assurance that you belong to God because of his Spirit within you? Have you gained a “holy boldness,” a freedom to share your faith with others? Are you free from fear because God poured out His love in your heart?
If your answer to any of these questions is no then you are missing out on the gift that God has already given you. You don’t have to look for it, it's there already in the person of the Holy Spirit in you. All you have to do is yield to Him let Him control your life and your emotions. I know that it’s hard sometimes to let go of your emotions, when someone you love and trust disappoints you or slanders you but remember that God loves you and He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you and give you His Spirit so that you can love like Him.
That's the good news to those of us who are believers and have the Holy Spirit. The bad news to those who are not believers is that you don't have this gift that I have been talking about but you can have it. God wants to give it to you. All you have to do is admit that you can't fix your life, you are not sure and are afraid of judgement. Remember the believer has confidence and is not afraid of judgement. What to do? Well here's the answer
Romans 10:9-10 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
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