1 John 4:12-19

4:12 | Love for one another is critical to the church’s survival and witness, for the world sees God through the lives of His children. When real love abides in believers, their loving actions and attitudes make the invisible God visible to the world (John 1:18; 14:23; 1 Tim. 6:16).

4:13-15 | All three persons of the Godhead participate in the believer’s witness. The Spirit indwells, giving the person conviction and confidence. The Father sent the Son, a testimony to God’s love. And the Son is the message, the Savior of the world. Anyone who denies Jesus’ humanity or divinity is not a believer (Rom. 10:9; Matt. 14:33).

4:17-19 | God’s love at work within His people expels fear in the day of judgment, for they know Jesus is their advocate. Meanwhile, their confidence (Born of a true knowledge of God and His Word) in the face of judgement marks them as one of His own. A mature believer will not be ashamed when Christ returns (John 15:9-17).

4:18 | A certain fear (commonly defined as reverential awe) of God is appropriate, but believers do not fear God’s wrath, because Jesus bore God’s wrath for them: “It is finished” (John 19:30). A Christian’s reverence for God knows that God loves His children enough to correct them. This love also knows God will always receive repentant believers again (Luke 15:11-31; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).