1 John 4:17-19 ESV
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.
God's love is perfect without us. It's work is complete in us when we have no fear of judgment. When we realize we have nothing to fear from God, it affords the freedom God intends for His children. While His love is perfect, our understanding of this perfect love may not.
Christ has done a perfect work for us. His mercy has removed the judgment which plagued mankind. A person can fear judgment without reason, by not fully believing what God has done. This does not diminish the gift of God, but it does diminish the joy and realization of that gift.
"Perfect love casts out fear." When we accept His love and what it does in our life, we are no longer fearful of one day standing before the Lord. We are then able to love and be loved in the way God intends. That is perfect love.
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