1 John 4:17 In this has this love been brought to its goal with us, that we have boldness in connection with the day of the judging because even as that One is, we on our part also are (although still) in this world. (Lenski) [1]
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. [29] If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. (KJV)
A Review of God's Love Perfected in the Believer
This is the third of three objectives of God's Love in us.[2] Lenski calls them the goals of God's Love. This is taken from the original teteleiotai which means "...that which is complete or fully developed, reaching its intended goal." [3] The first objective of God's Love is found in 1 John 2:5 where the believer is obeying the Word of God. The very first act of obedience the believer has performed was that of obedience to the Gospel. This obedience has its beginning in the New Birth and continues in obedience to God's Word in the Christian walk - John's reference to guarding God's Word. Please note the passage in 2:28, 29. John always has in the background of his epistle the beginning of this Christian walk as starting from the New Birth. The first objective of God's Love is met when we come to Him in repentance and confess our need of a Savior and as a result of our conversion we keep on guarding His Word. This is the first objective of God's Love.
Paul expressed it this way: "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted." (Romans 6:17, NIV ). Obedience to God's Word started at conversion and continues throughout one's Christian Walk.
1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
The second objective of God's Love is found in 1 John 4:12 where believers are to express or demonstrate God's Love among one another. John puts a special conviction on his assertion that we Love one another in this text. He is essentially saying "since God greatly Loved us with infinite intensity we should Love one another with that same intense, enormous Love - His Love. Here, for example, is where the Christian marriage has a distinct advantage over the marriage between the unsaved. When a marriage relationship is strained over a conflict between the egos of the partners, a battle between the two could ensue. The unsaved have no resources other than love that marriage offers and their ability to resolve the conflict amicably through mutual compromise. The Christian marriage has in addition to the love that is found within it the power of the Love of God that is in the hearts of each spouse. Christian marriage has the resources of God's Love as found in 1 Cor. 13 and Galatians 5 to bring the two egos under control of the Holy Spirit and thus, to resolve any conflict in such a way that a wonderful testimony toward each spouse is presented and also to the children. In fact, conflict in a Christian marriage can be a blessing as the children see Christ's Love being manifested such selfless resolution. The same can be said for any Christian organization or the local church. Any time God's Love resolves conflict within Christ's Body - God's Love is presented to those believers involved in a very unique way. The world, also, can benefit from such a testimony.
Confidence at the Judgment Seat of Christ
The third objective of God's Love is found in 1 John 4:17, 18, our present text. God's Love properly exercised, produces a confidence within the soul of the believer. This confidence is the result of the communion that the believer has had down through his years of walking with Him.
Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. [16] Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV, my emphasis).
Please reference this passage to 1 John 2:1, 2; 3:19-22. Prayer, for example, is not the "real thing" until we are willing to bring our whole life before Him. This confidence that the writer of Hebrews speaks of is that of a believer who is entirely honest with himself and the Lord. Prayer is a very important part of God's Love. Confidence does not come from "magic bullet" passages of scripture quoted to a believer who is having great difficulty and looking for a "quick fix." No. Confidence comes from a life-time of deep commitment to the Lord in study of the scripture, "passing the tests" of applying God's Word to life's circumstances and close communion with Him. It means a life-time of obedience to His will in every area of our lives.
Comments on "The Day of Judging." The first application of this term brings to mind the Return of Christ where all believers will be ushered into the presence of Christ - and well it might. John certainly believed in the imminent return of Christ and looked forward to it - but he and the other apostles certainly knew that death was the probable way that believers would be ushered into this "day."
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
God holds all men accountable to His Lordship. To the unsaved, Christ offers no protection from the raw unadulterated wrath of God, for they have rejected the saving work of Christ on the cross - their judgment will be hell. For the saved, the day of judging is different. Christ will be able to present all believers spotless to the Father (Eph 5:26, 27). However, there are those who are saved who have not followed the Lord in faithful discipleship. The scriptures given above apply particularly to believers. The writer of Hebrews was concerned with believers who were considering renouncing their relationship with the Lord and returning to the "legal" religion of Judaism. The author points out the severity of judgment that will fall on any who would abandon their Lord and fall back into a life of denying Christ.
Paul's Commentary:
Romans 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. [12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (KJV).
But He does expect more than a casual relationship from every believer - the believer will face what is frequently called the Bema Seat of Christ - where all actions especially those of service to the Lord will be brought into accountability. Paul makes a very important point here and that is this: no believer will be ushered into eternal bliss who has not bowed the knee to His Lordship. Positional truth must never be used to give the believer an option of full service to the Lord (Rom 12:1, 2) or a casual relationship with Him. No! We all must give an account of our obedience and loving service to Him - period. The time spent before our Lord in this judging will, for some be wonderful vindication - for others painful realization of their neglect of and restoration to their Lord as sovereign in their lives - see also 1 Pet 4:17, 18.
Dying Grace:
When the final "test" of facing death comes, the Lord has a special confidence for the believer who has been committed to the Lord - let us call this confidence "dying grace." Here's what the psalmist says about the Lord's attitude concerning the death of a child of God:
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (KJV)
A life-time of grace being poured out on the believer comes to the head when a child of God is dying. God freely gives His grace to His dying child. The Lord seems more precious than ever before. Scripture verses come into focus that didn't have a great deal of meaning until then. Loved ones for whom our dying saint has been praying become even more of a burden - Love for them becomes very intense! The energetic Love of God must shower His Grace and Mercy a dying saint as his death is that precious in His sight.
1 John 4:17 In this has this love been brought to its goal with us, that we have boldness in connection with the day of the judging because even as that One is, we on our part also are(although still) in this world. (Lenski, my emphasis)
