God seeks the most intimate fellowship with those who serve him. Through the Apostle John God tells us, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15 ASV)
When he tells us, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God,” it means that it is not enough to know and believe that God visited mankind in and through Jesus Christ, we must be willing to openly acknowledge that truth.
For the person who is courageous enough to openly acknowledge the truth about Jesus Christ, “God abideth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15 ASV) This epistle was written to those who openly followed Christ. They had already surrendered their lives in obedience to Christ and had been baptized. Because of that, as the Apostle John said in 1 John 4:13, the follower of Christ knows “he [God] hath given us of his Spirit.” Through his Spirit God abides in the follower of Christ. If the follower of Christ will continue to “confess that Jesus is the Son of God,” then “God abideth in him, and he in God.”
In the heart of every honest person, knowledge of the truth leads to faith and trust. Thus the Apostle John could say, “We know and have believed.” (1 John 4:16 ASV) In an honest heart belief grows in response to the facts and the truth which one knows. In this case it is faith growing out of the knowledge of God’s love. As this passage says, we “have believed the love which God hath in us,” (1 John 4:16 ASV) That love is evident all around us but it has had its culminating expression in the coming of Jesus Christ who gave his life to redeem the whole world from the penalty of our sin.
How does one know whether he or someone else is enjoying the mutual and reciprocal indwelling which is clearly indicated by the words, “God abideth in him, and he in God.”? (1 John 4:15) One way to know, as we have already seen, is because the follower of Jesus knows God dwells in him, “because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13 ASV) In this verse, (1 John 4:16) there is a method to test whether God abides in a person. The person who “abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.” The change of character from indifferent, or from envious, or from malicious to loving is proof that God is abiding within the changed person and is in control of his or her life.
The mutual fellowship of one who abides in God and in whom God abides yields beautiful fruit. “Herein is love made perfect with us,” (1 John 4:17 ASV) “Herein,” that is love will be perfected because God who is love abides in the follower of Jesus. “The perfection of love comes from this divine indwelling.”
God works in the believer in Christ to produce love so “that we may have boldness in the day of judgment;” (1 John 4:17 ASV) As the love which is in the heart of the follower of Jesus is made perfect, it gives him boldness as the day of judgment approaches.
God-inspired love manifests itself through a unique life style. The Apostle John wrote: “because as he is, even so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 ASV) God, who is love, resides in the heart and life of the follower of Christ. That brings the follower of Christ into mutual union and indwelling with God, on the pattern of Christ’s union with God. This completely transforms one’s life style. Because the power of divine love changes behavior, the behavior of the follower of Christ is changed from being self-centered to being God-centered. Thus, “as he is, even so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17 ASV) This means the true follower of Christ by divine power is patterning his life on the model of God’s life. Obviously that will give such a person great boldness in the day of judgment.
The consequences of a life which is motivated by God-inspired love may be expressed both negatively and positively. As we have already seen, when expressed positively, such a person will, “have boldness in the day of judgment;” (1 John 4:17 ASV) Now, to make sure we understand these invaluable consequences, God through Christ’s Apostle John expresses them negatively. He tells us, “There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear,” (1 John 4:18 ASV) Obviously, then, love and fear are mutually exclusive. Fear involves not only the absence of love but also the anticipation of punishment. Expressing the consequences of God’s love working in us through Christ, we say positively we will have boldness but negatively we will not have fear!
The Apostle John tells us, “fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18 ASV) This means, “Love has not reached perfection in one who is still afraid.”
In the expression, “fear hath punishment;” the word “punishment” comes from the original Greek word (kolasis) which often means the kind of punishment a parent gives to a child to correct him. It also is used to describe the pruning process a gardener uses to give trees a better shape or to make trees produce more fruit or better fruit. One translation [Concordant Literal] has correctly translated the word, “Chastening.”
This passage means that until we are “made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) God will continue to discipline, chastise and correct us. It will be a painful process. But for many of us, it is the only way we can reach the level of perfection in love which God wants for us.
We must remember the, “word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.. Moreover, we have all had human father who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 125-11 NIV)