You Are Perfected in Him -- So Fear Not

"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." (1 John 4: 18)

"Perfect love" does not refer to our love, but rather God's love for us.

"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)

This love is perfected in us because we have received a new identity, a new standing in Christ our Savior:

"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." ( John 4: 17)

"As He is, so are we. . ." God sees us perfect in Christ.

Does that seem radical, or even offensive to you? Consider what scripture says:

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)

Paul made it clear that he was writing to perfected people:

"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought." (1 Corinthians 2: 6)

Paul indicated that the Corinthians were "perfect", even though they still engaged in unseemly practices, fighting with each other (1 Corinthians 1: 10-11), visiting temple prostitutes (1 Corinthians 6: 12-20), and suing each other in court (1 Corinthians 6: 1-8).

Rather than upbraiding the Corinthians as sinners, Paul first addresses them as saints (1: 2). Despite the shock which many readers may feel, we are not perfected because of anything that we do or have done, but in Christ who has done all on our behalf.

Because we are perfected in Christ by identity with Him, we are made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5: 21) There is nothing that we must do to make ourselves complete in Him, either:

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." (Colossians 2: 10-11)

Christ has perfected us by His death, and His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1: 7), and by His Holy Spirit we have the assurance that  we are children of God (Romans 8: 15; 1 John 4: 13)

Meditate on Christ's Finished Work, know and believe who you are in Him, and every fear will be cast out of your life!