1st John 4:18-19

Picking up from yesterday's verses, we see John continue to talk about fear as it relates to judgment. God, who is love and perfect, does away with ALL fear. Not just the fear of judgment but also of any type.

John also mentions we shouldn't be afraid of punishment from God. Let’s break that down some. There are preachers all over the world who just talk about hell and cause people to fearfully give their life to God just to avoid hell. That is NOT the way to introduce people to God. However, once someone gives their life to Christ and they grow and get to know Him, punishment should never cross their mind. For example, I had a friend that didn’t attend church one Sunday. That week, she got a flat tire and she thought God was punishing her because she had missed church. Uh, NOPE! God doesn’t do bad things to people. He is love.

When we have fully surrendered to God, and we are getting to know Him, when we miss up, He sees Jesus in us. Does this give us permission to sin? ABSOLUTELY NOT! But it does help you stop fearing punishment that isn’t happening. Jesus paid it all! Once and for all. He took our punishment.

We must get to know God through Jesus. We see His character all throughout the Gospels. He never punished anyone for doing something wrong. Huge example: the woman caught in the act of adultery. (John 8:1-11) He didn’t punish her and she was more than likely standing there naked in the dirt.

Reverence and awe for the LORD is good. But out right fear of Him will actually keep you away from Him instead of close like He wants. His perfect love sends away fear!