Perfect love removes all fear.

I was recently reading the account of Isaiah in the throne room of God. He describes seeing the Lord “seated on a high throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). As he observed the room and the sound of angels, He said, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies” (Isaiah 6:5).

This passage reminded me of something similar with Gideon. He was threshing wheat inside a barn, hiding from enemies, when an angel of the Lord visited him. In a similar fashion, he responded, “Oh no, Lord God! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” (Judges 6:22). 

Both men, under the old covenant, saw the Lord and immediately felt afraid at the realization of their sinful nature in comparison with the Lord’s holiness.

I feel like we would do the same, dropping to our knees in sheer awe and reverence. But with one major difference– no fear. 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment.”

Jesus is the difference

Both Gideon and Isaiah were (rightly) afraid because their sin was still uncovered. But in the new covenant, we are cleansed from our sin by the precious blood of Jesus. In fact, we’re told to look to Jesus — not look away, or be fearful, but to look steadily at Him, “the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT).

John said the person who fears has not been completed in love yet (1 John 4:18b). I think this has many applications. For starters, it describes Isaiah, Gideon, and all who lived under the old covenant because God had not yet sent Christ to redeem our sins. But I related to John’s words for many years simply because my mind and heart had not been renewed to the reality of God’s love for me.

But now, I can boldly say He loves me, and I know and believe it. In fact, John said this is necessary for our faith: “And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him” (1 John 4:16).

I used to be so fearful God would reject me. This wasn’t before becoming a Christian either. It was after. The more I learned of the Bible, the more afraid I became. Like Gideon and Isaiah, all I saw was my sin. Paul said he felt the same way (Romans 7). He said the more he understood, the more sinful he felt. But like Paul, I eventually (and gratefully) came to the same conclusion: “Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).

Thanks be to God!

Paul’s next words (which open Romans 8) are: “There’s now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” And that’s the realization the Holy Spirit led me to also. Gideon and Isaiah were afraid of punishment. But you and I don’t have to live under that kind of fear. Jesus took our punishment on the cross and nailed it there. 

And that’s why we can now look to Jesus, our King, and not be fearful.

There’s no fear in love. When you and I come to know and believe the love that God has for us, we’ll find freedom– freedom from fear, guilt, or punishment. Not because of what we’ve done, but because of the One who loved us and gave His life for us.

No fear.
Only love.

I still imagine falling at His feet when I see Him face-to-face. But not out of terror or fright. My deep affection for Him (and His for me) will be the only emotion felt between us.

I pray you know this too. Or get to know this as I did. There’s absolutely no fear in Love.