1 John 4:17-19 (NKJV) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; 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. We love Him because He first loved us.
When facing difficulties, some people like to ask whether God is punishing them for what they have done. Those who ask such a question are tormented because they are unsure of God’s love. Therefore, our understanding of how God sees us and the knowledge that He is not against us is vital for us to experience perfect peace.
We will always experience uncertainty and fear if we believe that acceptance is based on Phileo love, which is a conditional love. We will always fear that we are not good enough or have done enough to be loved and accepted. However, God does not operate in Phileo love, but Agape love, which is unconditional. God first loved us while we were sinners. He knows our condition, but He chose to pay the price by sending Jesus so that we can be accepted by Him.
The perfect love of God gives us perfect peace and absolute security in His love. Therefore, it sets us free from fear, because if God is not against us but for us, there is nothing to fear. Because our salvation is purely because of God’s grace towards us and not by works, we cannot add anything to our salvation but nothing can separate us from His love either.
We are redeemed and have our sins forgiven because of the blood of Jesus. We have the right to be His children (John 1:12) and are seen as righteous and holy because He sees us in Christ. The blood of Jesus that was shed for us gave us the right standing with God. Therefore, as Jesus is, so are we in this world. This is the love of God and what Jesus has achieved for us. It is a positional truth that is given to us in Christ, and it does not change.
God’s perfect love has cast out the fear of death, and death has lost its sting. If God accepts us, we are not afraid or fearful of death. This truth is foundational, and knowing it will grant us the entrance to having peace with God and experiencing the peace of God in the storms of our lives.
Romans 5:1 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Sermon Series: Keep the Peace (Part 1)
没有惧怕就是平安
约翰一书4:17-19 这样爱在我们里面得以完全，我们就可以在审判的日子，坦然无惧。因为他如何，我们在这世上也如何。爱里没有惧怕。爱既完全，就把惧怕除去。因为惧怕里含着刑罚。惧怕的人在爱里未得完全。我们爱，因为神先爱我们。
当遇到困难时，有些人喜欢问上帝是否因为他们的所作所为而惩罚他们。 提出这样问题的人会受很痛苦，因为他们不确定神的爱。 因此，我们要明白神如何看待我们和知道祂不是抵挡我们的，这对于我们经历完全的平安是至关重要的。
如果我们相信被接纳是基于Phileo的爱，就是那有条件的爱，那么我们就会一直感到不确定和恐惧。 我们总是担心自己不够好，或者做得不够，以致不值得被爱和被接纳。 然而，神并不是以有条件的爱来运作，而是以无条件的爱，Agape的爱。 当我们还作罪人的时候，神就先爱了我们。 祂知道我们的状况，但祂选择差派耶稣来付上代价，以便我们能够为祂所悦纳。
神完全的爱使我们在祂的爱中十分的平安和有绝对的安全感。 因此，它从惧怕中释放了我们，因为神若不是抵挡我们的就是支持我们的，就没有什么可惧怕的。 因为我们的救恩纯粹是神对我们的恩典，而不是靠行为，我们不能为我们的救恩添加任何东西，也没有什么可以使我们与祂的爱隔绝。
我们因着耶稣的宝血蒙救赎，罪得赦免。 我们有权柄作祂的儿女（约翰福音1:12），并且被视为公义和圣洁，因为祂在基督里看到我们。 耶稣为我们流的宝血使我们得以与神同在。 因为耶稣如何，我们在这世上也如何。 这是神的爱，也是耶稣为我们所成就的。 这是在基督里赐给我们的地位真理，它不会改变。
神完全的爱把对死亡的惧怕除去，死亡也失去了它的毒钩。 如果神悦纳我们，我们就不会害怕或惧怕死亡。 这是基要真理，了解它将使我们有机会与神相和，并在我们生活的风暴中能经历神的平安。
罗马书5:1 我们既因信称义，就藉着我们的主耶稣基督，得与神相和。
讲章系列：保持你的平安 (第一部分)
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