Week 10 · Day 7: The Fear of the Lord
The Fear That Casts Out Fear
Reverence for God and confident love before Him are not enemies.
What the labels mean
- Scripture explicitly says
- This states what the biblical text itself says, in the passage being read.
- Direct quotation or allusion
- One part of Scripture quotes or clearly alludes to another. The citing reference is named so you can check it.
- Canonical theme
- A connection across the whole Bible. The passages develop the same theme; one is not quoting the other.
- Interpretive conclusion
- A conclusion drawn from the text. The reasoning is given so you can weigh it against the passage.
- Application
- A step, prayer or question for the reader. Not a claim about what the passage states.
Today’s verse
Loading 1 John 4:18…
1 John 4:18
Today’s focus
The truth of the day
John is writing about the fear of judgment and punishment, the dread of a person unsure whether they belong to God, not about reverence in general. Perfect love casts out that particular fear, the torment of uncertain standing before a holy God.
This does not cancel everything the week has said about the fear of the LORD. It clarifies which fear the gospel removes. Confident love replaces terror of condemnation; it does not replace awe, reverence, or the seriousness with which Scripture treats God's holiness.
Today’s reminder
Scripture explicitly says- The fear John removes is specifically the fear tied to torment and judgment.
- Confident love before God and reverent awe of God are not the same as anxious dread.
- This verse describes an experience made possible only through being loved by God first.
Deeper insight
What the passage says in its own setting
The context of 1 John 4 is confidence on the day of judgment, mentioned explicitly in verse 17: as he is, even so are we in this world. John is addressing believers anxious about whether they will stand condemned, and his answer is that love, God's love for them made complete in them, removes that specific torment. He is not contradicting Proverbs or Hebrews, which describe a different kind of fear: reverent awe rather than dread of punishment.
The Greek word for torment, kolasis, is used elsewhere in the New Testament for punishment, including in Matthew 25:46 for eternal punishment. John's point is precise: it is the fear of that punishment, the uncertain, anxious dread of a person unsure of their standing, that perfect love removes. Reverence for a holy God, by contrast, runs throughout John's other writings, including Revelation's scenes of worship before the throne.
Christ connection
Where this leads to Jesus
Canonical themeThe love that casts out fear of judgment is demonstrated concretely, not left abstract. 1 John 4:10 says love is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Confidence before God rests entirely on what Christ has already done.
Reflection
ApplicationAre you still carrying the fear of condemnation that 1 John 4:18 says perfect love has already answered?
Today’s action
ApplicationIf you have been relating to God out of anxious fear of punishment, bring that specifically to Him in prayer today and ask Him to settle it with His love.
Today’s prayer
ApplicationFather, thank You that Your perfect love casts out the torment of fearing judgment. Let that confidence never make me careless, but let it free me to love You without dread. Amen.