Do you have perfect love for God, family, etc? Some of you may be thinking, "Wait a minute - only God has perfect love - I can't."

When we say such things I believe part of our problem is misunderstanding the use of the word, perfect, in Scripture. Sometimes we have applied the idea of 100% scientific accuracy, precision, being completely correct. This used to be my problem with my background in science and math. However, I do not believe this is the way the Holy Spirit in­tends us to understand this word in the scrip­ture. In the New Testament perfect carries the idea of maturity and completeness, growing in love in response to God's love. I am not suggesting that our love in this life is flawless, but developing, maturing, it is set, fixed on God.

Proposition: Love is made perfect by

I. Causing Confidence.

Love is made perfect by causing confi­dence. Contrast this with what wise Solomon wrote in the Proverbs 13:5 "The wicked man is ashamed and shall not have boldness." Paul wrote to the Philippians 1:20. "According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." To the Corinthians he wrote, "Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech. This confidence, this bold­ness, this freedom to speak, I do not believe is rudeness , brazenness or brashness.

In his letter John spoke of confidence in the day of judgment. The writer to the Hebrews said, (9:27) "It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this comes the judgment." So in the context here John is telling us that a follower of Jesus Christ can ap­proach the judgment without shame and with confidence. The reason is because as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.

Our position is that we are identified with Christ. This is NOW, in the present time, He is with us. We are in fellowship with God, abiding in Him and He in us. This is NOT a confidence in ourselves alone, but a confidence of who we are as followers of Jesus Christ. This is not blind, foolish, confi­dence. It is confidence on Christ, the solid rock, that we stand, faultless to stand before His throne, as the hymn puts it.

In his Gospel John had recorded Jesus' words, (5:24) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my words and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." With Christ's teaching in mind, Paul had written, (Romans 8:1) "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

For those who are really Christians, our judgment is past. Our sins have already been judged at the cross and they will not be brought against us again. The Father deals with us as He deals with His own Son. The Father cannot judge our sins again without judging His Son, for "as He is, so are we in this world."

We must share a word of caution here, however. This is NOT license for us to do anything we please. As we abide in Christ we are to be doing as God pleases, and having confidence in His forgiveness when we disap­point Him. For the true Christian, to live in the sin of the world is hypocrisy. Such pretending is not being confident.

A college student named Jerry had grades that were falling below his usual performance. In addition is health was failing and his roommate was concerned and persuaded him to talk to the campus psychologist.

"I can't figure myself out. Last year I was sailing through school and this year it is like fighting a war."

The counselor then asked, "You're not having trouble with your new roommate, are you?" He did not reply, so the counselor thought that might be a clue, so he asked, "Jerry, are you concentrating on living your life as a good student, or on trying to im­press your new roommate with your abilities?"

With a sigh of relief, Jerry said, "Yeah, I guess that's it. I've worn myself out acting and haven't had enough energy left for living."

We should have confidence in who we are as children of God, living to please Him. I think of the hymn, "Living for Jesus".

II. Casting Out Fear.

Love is made perfect by causing confi­dence and love is made perfect by Casting out fear. Our suffix, phobia, comes from the Greek. We could mention a number of phobias: acrophobia, hydrophobia, and claustrophobia fear of high places, fear of water, and fear of small enclosures.

Have you ever heard of krisisphobia? That is fear of judgment. Read verse 18. "There is no fear in love. Perfect fear casts out love, because fear involves punishment and the one who fears is not perfected in love." Many people have torment, judgment, punishment, fear of what lies ahead. What lies ahead as you contem­plate speaking before hundreds of people, of making a trip to the dentist, of facing sur­gery.

A nonchristian may fear contemplating judgment and punishment. We find a number of fear scriptures: "The fear of the Lord is beginning of wisdom." Ps. 111:10. "The fear of the Lord is beginning of knowledge." Prov. 1:7. "The Fear of the Lord leads to life." Prov. 19:23.

Augustine comments on casting out fear by love. "As in sewing, we see the thread passed through by the needle. The needle is first pushed in, but the thread cannot be introduced until the needle is brought out. So fear first occupies the mind, but does not remain permanently, because it entered for the pur­pose of introducing love."

The true Christian has confidence in Jesus Christ and does not live in fear of punishment. Jesus Christ has already taken our punishment upon himself at the cross.

Love is made perfect by: I. Causing Confidence. II. Casting Out Fear. This is the perfect love I want. How about you?

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