Perfect Love Perfected in Us

John explained the cycle of love which we understand in greater measure through faith:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

That is love: more than feeling, not an action which we initiate in our own strength, not a set of ideas, a code of conduct, or a set of happy peppy positive-thinking affirmations. Love is Jesus, the Beloved Son of God, dying on the Cross to take away our sins and give us His life.

How is this loved perfected in us? John explains"

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

To the degree that we understand that God's love, through the death and resurrection of His Son, has not only paid for our sins, but has also presented us with Himself, our Eternal Life (John 3: 16; John 14: 6), then we realize also by faith that we receive Jesus' standing and blessings also in this world!

When we see how God's love has transformed us from prisoners of sin and death to prisoners of hope and righteousness -- including the inexhaustible supply for all our needs, we find that we have nothing to fear
:
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1John 4: 18)

John then reminds us the source of this perfect love:

"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)

In the original, "him" is not written there. We love God, ourselves, and everyone else because He first loved us, at the Cross!

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would also understand this enhancing and every-enriching love:

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints." (Ephesians 1: 17-18)

We are called to reign in life through God's grace, which we receive by faith in His love,