Git!

1 John 4:18 (NIV),

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Casteth out fear (εχω βαλλει τον ποβον — exō ballei ton phobon). “Drives fear out” so that it does not exist in real love. See εκβαλλω εχω — ekballō exō in John 6:37; John 9:34.; John 12:31; John 15:6 to turn out-of-doors, a powerful metaphor. Perfect love harbours no suspicion and no dread (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

When reading Robertson’s Word Picture above I see the passive effect of the power of God’s love driving out the essence of fear from my being in Him. A type or pattern can be seen in the Garden, Genesis 2:25. Neither Adam or his wife were fear-driven. Their consciences were undefiled, whole and pure.

Today, this verse has been unveiling itself more and more. This blogs builds a little more on a previous blog, Self & Fear. Also, if I am aligning with Hebrews 6:1-2, this topic would fall into “the foundation of repentance from dead works.” I believe this is Christ in you and the purged conscience in revelation and grace of Him and more.

So, what I saw was this:

• Perfect love casts out self (fear); the law enlivens the old man.
• Fear brings self. Self brings fear.
• No fear is emptying the selfishness of self.
• Self actually ‘desires’ to be offended to gain control and “be self” on the basis of fear, insecurity, ignorance, lack of revelation & grace and the like.

The above also seems to harmonize with Galatians 2:20. The old man is dead; dead to the judgment and penalty of the law. As partakers of the divine nature, where is self? Romans 7 talks all about bring the old man to life and how to.

I was at the gym. I have been teased more than once for my attire. Today, I was wearing white socks and black sneakers. It bothered me so I put my socks on half way. I think it looked much better. I asked myself, “Is this selfish?” I felt the Lord say, “No, its your preference.” In other words, it ties to my identity and expression of who I am. If I over-analyze this then I will self-deliberate¹ which Philippians advises not to do. I think the admonition in not self-deliberating, disputing, is so the person will not put themself under unnecessary self-imposed law.

The last bullet. I was in line to pick up my son. I asked the father in front of me if he was in line? I felt his response was curt in tone. Walking out, I thought to myself, “Why did that bother me?” The answer, “Self attaches to offense.”