1. Fear is driven out by our position in Christ. (vss. 16-17)
16 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.17 In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world.
Three things that prompt fear:
· A past that haunts
· A present that upsets
· A future that threatens
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 37–39, CSB)
2. Fear is driven out by the protection of His love. (vs.18)
18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love.
· Love protects us from the fear of discouragement.
“…the Father of mercies and the God of .” (2 Corinthians 1:3)
· Love protects us from the fear of danger.
2” Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust him and not be afraid, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my song…” (Isaiah 12:2)
· Love protects us from the fear of defeat.
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
· Love protects us from the fear of death.
“…that through his death he might destroythe one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
3. Fear is driven out by the promise of God’s purpose. (Romans 8:28)
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted …” (Psalm 119:71)