All right, if you'd like to turn with me now in God's word, today we will be looking at 1 John 4, verses 17 and 18. That is the book of 1 John 4, verses 17 through 18. When you found your place there, please stand with me for the reading of God's holy word today. Let us pray. And now, Lord God, we quiet ourselves before you to hear the reading of your inspired word. We thank you for your servant, John, and the preservation of this great epistle. All the ways, Lord, that it has been of a great spiritual blessing to the church throughout the ages may be a bless to Haines Creek Church this morning. We pray, God, let us not be hard-hearted in our sin. But let us, Lord, be tender toward your voice, humble before your majesty, and ready, Lord, to receive whatever you would speak in faith. And we pray, Lord God, that you would do us much good by this. Appreciate what a great means of grace the word read and preached on the Lord's day is to the Christian people. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So 1 John 4, verses 17 to 18, listen now. Saints, to the word of God. Love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. but he who fears has not been made perfect in love. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Please be seated. When I first looked at this passage early on Monday morning, knowing that I would be preaching it to you this Lord's Day, It struck me with all the solemn suddenness of a Chinese gong that this was truly a profound couple of verses. Not all verses in the Bible are exactly profound. There are many that are just information details. the stories, things that happened long ago. There are other verses that are more a matter of prudence, I would say, sort of practical advice that makes for smoother sailing in this world. But these two verses, it seems to me, are a deep dive right to the stirring bottom of life. And it's there that that we find God summoning us from a place more profound than we want to be in our lives to consider something serious, and that is that it is possible to fail in this thing called life. Even as a professing Christian, you can blow it. In addition to this being a profound and I think a solemn couple of verses. There's also this additional challenge to me as a preacher this morning, is that these verses from 1 John also strike me as potentially challenging to Protestants. You all know that I love Martin Luther. I love his story. I love his pluck. I love the much needed church reformation that he sparked in the 16th century. But as a minister of Christ, if there is any theological tension between Luther and the Apostle John, then in my sermons you understand it's Luther that has to yield. Now, to be clear, I don't think that there is any real difference between the teaching of the Apostle John and Luther here. I do, however, suspect that there may be some conflict between John's words and many Protestant Christians' misreading of Luther. And so I guess I'm putting you on notice that while I am definitely not Roman Catholic, I'm not afraid to sound like a Catholic to your ears this morning, if that's what John's teaching requires of me. So if I have your attention, then what is it that I've come to say? What is it that the Apostle John teaches us here in 1 John 4, 17 through 19 that has struck me as so incredibly profound, solemn, and also potentially challenging to us as Protestants? It is this, that if we want to be without fear before Christ at the judgment day, that we need to be loving one another now while we may. I'll say that again. If we want to be without fear before Christ at the judgment of the last day, then we need to be loving one another now while we may. As we study this passage together this morning, there's two things I'll need to talk to you about. The first is this idea of the perfection of love. I quizzed Josie this morning on the way to church to see what she thought that meant. And it was exactly what I thought she thought it meant. And I told her that I had something to teach her this morning, and maybe you too. So we're gonna talk about the idea of the perfection of love. But then secondly, we're gonna look at John's statement here, that perfect love casts out fear. perfection of love and how perfect love casts out fear. Now some of you who are more prone to anxiety in your life may want me to get right to the casting out fear part. But that would be putting the cart before the horse. And so we're going to begin rather with the perfection of love. So you notice that John mentions perfect love and the perfection of love three times in this passage. Once in verse 17, and then twice in verse 18. And already in this epistle, John has mentioned this a couple of times. I didn't dwell on it on those occasions. So we've saved that discussion for today. But let me read those passages to you. The first is 1 John 2, verse 5. But John says, but whoever keeps God's word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. Whoever keeps God's word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. And in 1 John 4, verse 12, John said, if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love has been perfected in us. If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love has been perfected in us. So notice that in both of those instances, it's not our love that's being perfected here, but God's love that's being perfected in us. And so we'll be assuming that we're talking about the same thing here now in verses 17 and 18 of chapter four. God's love perfected in us. It's the word perfect that may throw you. I think it does a lot of people, because when we hear of that which is perfect or has been perfected, we imagine something flawless, like a gymnast. Landing, sticking the landing on a flawless performance at the Summer Olympics and scoring a perfect 10 out of 10. It was a flawless routine, absolutely perfect. But the Greek word that John uses here, which is translated perfect throughout this epistle, really means something more like finished. As when a runner crosses the finish line. Or it could mean something like complete, as in a completed jigsaw puzzle when you put in the last piece. So you can see how you could get the idea of perfection from that. So it's a legitimate translation. But I just know what that word perfect does in our minds right here. We think that John is calling us to perfect, flawless love. in our lives. And we know that we are not there and we suspect that we're not going to get there, that that's impossible. And so we're ready to despair. But what I'm saying is you misunderstand, John, I believe, that there isn't actually any reason here for any sincere, albeit imperfect, Christian to despair. So with respect to God's love in our lives as Christians, what John wants for us to grasp really is the whole picture. To see the whole race all the way to the finish line, or see the complete positive, where nothing is lacking. That means understanding everything that God's love for us in Christ is meant to do in us, and with us. Everything that God's love is meant to do in us and with us. So let me give you an illustration. What happens on Thanksgiving Day? Or what is supposed to happen on Thanksgiving Day? Well, you get the day off from work, hopefully. You gather with family. in someone's house, there's cooks in the kitchen, there's a football game on the television, and then you all sit down together to enjoy a great feast of turkey with all the trimmings. And all of this is to what end? What is the point of all of this, this holiday, and all that is a part of it? The point is for the family to give thanks to God. That's why it's called Thanksgiving Day. But then, if in the observance of this holiday, if that never happens, if we never get around to actually being thankful to God and giving things to God as a family, then we've really missed the point of everything else. Amen. This occasion, In November, it's not called Turkey Day. Please don't call it that. It's Thanksgiving Day. And because it's Thanksgiving way, if you do all the rest, including eating a big bird, but fail in giving thanks to God, then really the whole holiday is a failure. In a sense, Thanksgiving Day never really happened, at least not in your home. Whatever it was that we just did, it wasn't Thanksgiving Day. So this is something that John wants us to see about God's love in our lives as Christians. He wants us to see the whole picture and critically, the last finishing step. So it looks like this as we search John's first epistle. First, God himself is love, right? Remember that? It starts with who he is. Second, God loves the world and the human race in the world, and we see this in Jesus Christ as God sends his Son into the world to save us from our sin. Third, as those who have believed in and confessed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Savior, we Christians have come to know that we are truly God's children whom he loves. But we're not done. And then fourthly, As Jesus our Lord gave us commandments, so we Christians also love one another in the world, as God in Christ has loved us. Remember, that was the ought to back in verse 11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. And so when we do love one another in obedience to Christ, then what I'm saying is that the picture of God's love is complete. It has done everything that we know it was meant to do in the world, and so we can now stand back and behold and appreciate everything that God's love was meant to do in the world. So, that being the case, what should happen then if we didn't love one another? Christians. I say everything else is in place. God is love. We said that we know that we see God's love for the world in Jesus Christ, the son and his sacrifice. And every believer here feels personally assured that God loves him or her in Christ. Only this is missing that we don't love one another. I don't see why we should. We don't desire fellowship with one another. We don't bother to take care of one another. It's obvious enough. There's no effort made to be involved in each other's lives. And as for the poor widows, they're left to fend for themselves. So what? John says, then God's love has not been perfected among us. God's love for us in Christ hasn't done among us what it was meant ultimately to do. And if it never does, then I would ask, did we ever really understand God's love? Or as Jordan would say, did we ever really know him who is love? With respect to Thanksgiving Day, you say, well, I got the day off, I got to watch a football game with my cousins, I stuffed myself with a turkey feast. And nothing else, nothing more? And I say, you got nothing. You got nothing of Thanksgiving Day, actually. And likewise, you say as a professing Christian, well, I know that God is love, and I know that In love he sent Jesus, and I know that God loves me since I believe in Jesus. And nothing else? Nothing more? Then you got nothing. Nothing of God's love, apparently. So this is our conclusion. The perfection of God's love in believers is when they love one another as Jesus Christ gave them commandment. And by love one another, I don't mean flawless love any more than John does, but I do mean sincere love, as John does. Observing, evidence in a desire to be in fellowship with one another and a willingness to take care of one another like family. Without that, the picture of God's love for the church is incomplete. just spoken about by a people who sadly didn't get it. Like a turkey stuffed family on Thanksgiving day in which no one bothered to stop and give thanks to God. So that's the concept of the perfection of love. So now let's talk about the second thing, about how God's love perfected in our love for one another casts out fear. So as much as you might like the prospect of absolute fearlessness in life, I don't think John intends to give you anything like that in these verses. There's lots of fear actually that we need and we would be in a bad state without it. Like fearing that you're gonna hit your thumb when you're hammering a nail. That's a fear. And there's nothing about God's love in your life that should relieve you of that fear. So be careful. So what fear in particular then does John intend here? He means, it appears, the fear of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, when he comes again in glory to punish the wicked of this world at the final judgment. That's the fear that John is talking about here. You see the reference to the day of judgment in verse 17. That's where he tells us what he's talking about. And John has, as a matter of fact, looked forward to that day in this epistle before. So let me point those instances out to you. First John chapter two. Verse 28, John said there, And now, little children, abide in Christ, that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. When he appears, that's the last day, the day of judgment. A little later, 1 John 3, verses 2 through 3. John says, Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, there it is again, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, and everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. And a little bit later, 1 John 3, 18-21, I think is the third reference to the same thing. John says there, my little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him. Before him when? When he is revealed. And he comes again with the judgment of the last day. John says, for if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, then we have confidence, there's that one again, towards God. And I take that to mean when God the Son appears to judge the world on the last day. All right, so you heard it several times in John's way of speaking, what's the opposite of fear? The opposite of fear is confidence, or it can be translated boldness. We know from the Bible that when Jesus Christ returns at the end of the world, he's going to condemn and punish the wicked. with everlasting damnation and the execution of divine justice. And among these damned, these goats, these unhappy souls, are those whom Jesus in his parables calls, quote, the wicked and worthless servant who knew his master's will and did not do it, end quote. Well, we are his servants. We know His will. So how can we, Christians, anticipate and face this coming day of Christ's return and judgment with confidence rather than with fear? When we hear the trumpet sound and we see the Lord appear in His glory, how can we actually go to meet Him at His coming with confident joy? Even as many others in this world lose heart and shrink from Him in dread and know their conscience is bearing witness against Him that their condemnation is sure. To have that sort of confidence before Him on that day, will it be enough, Christians, to know that God is love? Say, oh God is love, I know that, so I have nothing to fear. Will it be enough to have seen God's love for the world manifested in his sending his son into the world as savior? Will it be enough to believe that God loves me because I have confessed with the church that Jesus Christ is the son of God? The Apostle John says, no. It is only through the perfection of God's love in our lives that we can face Jesus Christ on that day without fear of condemnation. It's verse 17. Love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. You say, why bold, John? He says, because as he is, so are we in this world. And in the teaching of the apostle John, that means loving one another as he loved us. Verse 18, John says, there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Not imperfect love, mind you. Where love is unfinished, there is reason to fear. But where love has been completed among us, brethren, then love is perfected and perfect love casts out fear. Because, John says, fear involves torment. The Greek here is tricky, but the word torment is probably better translated punishment. Some English translations have it. What John means, I think, is that what is to be feared on the last day is that Jesus Christ will condemn you along with the wicked of this world and sentence you too to the punishment of everlasting damnation. And I ask you, do you fear that this morning? That when the trumpet of the last day sounds, that you too Being summoned to the judgment throne of Jesus Christ to give an account to him of your service. An account of what you have done in this brief life or left undone. Are you afraid that he might condemn you? Say to you, I never knew you. Order you as a slothful servant. to be bound and cast into the fire, to be punished eternally. I mean, we are shown these scenarios in Scripture, aren't we? The Apostle John says, if God's love were perfected in you, Christians, then you would not fear that. You might fear other things, but you would have no reason to fear that. Verse 18, he who fears has not been made perfect in love. So do you remember the parable of the 10 virgins? How some were faithful, patiently waiting for the bridegroom to come, even in the third watch of the night, signified in their keeping their lamps trained. So what is it, Christian, to keep your lamps trained in this life? What would John say? He would say two things. You see, one, keep on believing and confessing that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, even when everyone else around you is denying it. You keep on believing it and keep on confessing it with other Christians who believe it with you. That's the first thing. But then secondly, John would also say, wouldn't he? And you keep on loving these other Christians. Keep on desiring fellowship with them, and keep on taking care of them like family. For if Jesus should come back and find you so doing, then you will have nothing to fear from him. Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking like good Protestants. But we are justified by faith apart from works. That's that's Martin Luther. That's the Apostle Paul. And yet I would urge that if you read these men thoroughly, you will find that works come back into the picture again under their teaching on sanctification. And you have no doubt come across those passages in scripture where it is plainly taught that in Christ's separating and sentencing men on the last day, there will be due consideration of their works. For instance, whether they did or did not feed and clothe and comfort his little ones in this life. And no less Protestant than Luther were the Westminster divines, and this was their conclusion. Quote, Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification. Yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces and is no dead faith, but worketh by love. Saving faith worketh by love. What love, you ask? I answer, God's love. God's love for you. God's love in you. God's love perfected when you, whom he loves, love one another as Christ gave you commandment. Then, May we say that you walk as he walked. Then may we say that you are truly his disciples. Then may we say that your lamps have been kept trimmed. And then has our fear of the final judgment been cast out by God's love perfected moment. But not before. Jesus Christ is no more pleased with an Orthodox Christian confession without brotherly love than God is pleased with a Thanksgiving day in which he is not thanked. As Christians, there's no reason for us to live in fear of the final judgment if we are loving one another. But let us see to it. Otherwise, our own consciences condemn us before God. John is right. If that is the case with us, we will not be so bold before the Lord is coming as we should have and might have been. Speaking of fear, there was a time in my life long ago when I was gripped with a particular fear. I had heard it said many times that life was short, And then one day I really saw it. I saw that it was so. My days were passing with alarming speed. And I feared that in all that I was doing in those days, that I was somehow missing the point. Blowing life. And so began a journey. A journey I read the Bible. I repented of my sins before God. I believed in and received Jesus Christ for my salvation. I was baptized and I joined a local church and became an active member. There I learned how to worship God as a Christian. I learned how to pray as a Christian. I studied Christian theology. I understood sovereign grace. I discerned and developed my spiritual gifts. I reformed my life. I entered into the ministry. So that's a lot of things done. All done, seeking to resolve this haunting fear that I was missing the point of life and would be profoundly sorry for that someday, even someday soon. And then I come to this passage in 1 John and the apostle, rather than applauding me for how far that I have come, makes this striking point with me instead. which is that for all that I have gained in the years of my Christian pilgrimage, it is not complete until I am loving you. Remember Jesus' words to Peter. Peter, do you love me? Yes, Lord, I love you. Attend my sheep. Follow that love all the way out in love to them. Nothing is complete in my Christian life until I am loving you. My reading the Bible is not complete until I am loving you. I have not yet got what is there for me to get. My repenting of my sins before God is not complete until I am loving you. My believing and in receiving Jesus Christ for my salvation is not complete until I am loving you. My church membership, my understanding of worship and prayer, the development of my spiritual gifts, the reformation of my life, the fulfillment of my ministry, none of it, and especially God's love for me in Christ is not complete until I am loving you, my Christian brothers and sisters. That's how important you are to me and my journey. And likewise, that's how important you all are to one another. There's a lot here in the Bible, and because of that, a lot of things that might be emphasized by Christians in their Christianity, and I've seen all kinds of emphases. We all have them. Some Christians place a great emphasis upon the nation of Israel and exhibit their zeal for Christ by being engrossed with the war in the Middle East and cheering for Israel against the Palestinians. And some Christians place a great emphasis upon being Protestant and exhibit their zeal for the gospel by constantly criticizing and heaping contempt upon all things Roman Catholic. And there's a thousand other emphases like that out there, all with their peculiar accompanying zeal. My question is if we could have the Apostle John in our midst this morning and say to him, John, where would you like to see the emphasis fall? And our zeal for God and the gospel exhibited as Christ followers in this world. Are there any doubts in anybody's mind what he would say? This Greek word that John uses here, translated perfection or completion, when it is applied to something organic, something that grows like a tree or a boy, can also mean maturity. And so I'll end with this question. We all go through stages of immaturity, even as Christians. So what does grown-up Christianity look like? What is a mature understanding of faith? And with faith of God's love and of the gospel of Jesus Christ, what does that look like in a Christian and in his or her religious zeal? And I answer this morning more than anything else. More than theological study, more than interest in supernatural phenomena, more than end times prophecy, the religious zeal of truly mature Christian people looks like zeal in their love for one another. So think about that. According to the Apostle John, this is God's love perfected in us, mature in us. are loving each other. And therefore, this is the love that says, now we're ready for Christ to come again. Shall we pray? Lord God, rightly it has been observed by some that the true religion of Christianity is full of paradoxes. The joy comes through suffering. The life comes through death. The most despised of men is the one most worthy to be king. And it is not the proud but the meek who will rise with him as his people to inherit the earth. And then there is this paradox. That we as Christians are most mature in our Christianity when we are in some ways most like little children. Sophistication is not where we vainly imagine, Lord, we confess that. That we should love one another is a lesson from our earliest Sunday school classes when we colored with crayons and drank out of juice boxes. And yet here in John's epistle, it is that very lesson truly learned in this life's journey and on display in our Christian churches that is the perfection of your love in us and among us as your beloved people. And so God, we pray this morning as children, teach us to love one another. We pray that you would raise us, your children, unto spiritual maturity, that you would work in us, oh God, what is well-pleasing in your sight. And in this way, prepare us to meet Jesus at his coming. Help us as Christians to understand in our minds the relationship between faith and works, one the instruments, the other the fruit. of our justification in Christ. But still more importantly, God, we pray, work in us by your Holy Spirit that true and saving faith in Jesus Christ that does work by love, even your love for us all in your Son. And then shall we walk as he walked and look forward with great anticipation to his promised coming at the last day, when he shall surely judge the world in righteousness. For it's in his name we pray, amen. As our thoughts now go back to the first appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ in our world, please join with me in your hymnals to hymn number 201, which is A Little Town of Bethlehem. 201, let's stand together as we sing.