Perfect Love and the Path to Freedom from Fear (02/08/'24)

Perfect Love and the Path to Freedom from Fear "Understanding the relationship between sin, fear, and love through the lens of 1 John 4:18 reveals a profound truth: perfect love, which is found in God, dispels all fear, including the fear of sin. This scripture clarifies that fear is connected to punishment, suggesting that those who live in fear, including the fear of sin, have not yet fully embraced or been transformed by God's perfect love. If we genuinely love God, this perfect love empowers us to rise above the fear of sin. It poses a thought-provoking question: can one who does not fear sin truly claim to have been perfected in God's love? The essence of our relationship with God is not founded on fear but on love. When we sin, it may seem as though we are distancing ourselves from love—because God is love. Yet, it is through repentance and the redemptive grace of Christ's sacrifice on the cross that we are invited back into a perfect love that casts out all fear, restoring our hearts to the fullness of love that was once lost." -Pastor Steven G. Lee (February 8, 2024)