The Life That Leads To Confidence At Jesus’ Judgment Seat (Part Four)

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D. John says, 17 “By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:17-19). You can’t live at odds with the character of Jesus (which is love) and then expect to have any confidence when you stand before Him at the judgment seat. John has already told us, “God is love” (1 john 4:8, 16), so that the believer who loves is “as He is” even though the believer is still in this world. The experience of loving like Him in this world and then like Him when we are out of this world, should give us confidence on that day of judgment. John is not suggesting that any believer’s love could in this life be flawlessly perfect, but rather developed and mature, set steadily and intently upon God. He describes the mark of such perfect love, namely confidence before the God who is love. This perfected and mature love comes from God, who loved us before we loved Him. When we live in obedience to God, according to love, we can be confident in our relationship with Him, and have no need to fear His judgment. Believers who grow and mature in God’s love need not fear how God will evaluate them in the future. Here’s the deal. Our love for God is sourced in His love for us. Consequently, if we love one another, and also love God, there’s only one reason. It’s “because He first loved us.” Be encouraged!