One of the most well-known verses in John the apostle’s first letter is this: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). 

People tend to quote that verse to say we never have any need to be afraid of anything. 

However, the second part of the verse explains the context: “For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

John is pointing to the day of judgement. He had mentioned the day of judgment in verse 17 as well. The idea is this: If you trust Jesus, and if you are showing his love, you have no need to be afraid on the day of judgment.

That, my friends, is very good news! 

John Climacus lived in the late patristic period and had great insight into the human condition. He wrote: “Fear is the rehearsing of danger beforehand; or again, fear is a trembling sensation of the heart, alarmed and troubled by unknown misfortunes. Fear is a loss of conviction.”*

If you’ve ever been really, really afraid, you will know how true that is.

I share Climacus’ quote for this reason: As you and I think about the day of judgement, there is no reason to be afraid if we are in Christ. Our punishment has already come—but it has come upon Jesus. He has dealt with it. When we meet our Maker, we will find that we have been invisibly stamped with the seal of Jesus. It will be as if Jesus himself is standing beside us with his arm around us, saying: “He’s with me,” or “She’s with me.”

This knowledge liberates us from the fear of what will happen to us at the day of judgment. We will walk through the gates of heaven with a peace and joy beyond anything we could ever experience in our time on earth. This happens, not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ has done on our behalf. 

Let’s live in a way that is unafraid of death. In the power of the Holy Spirit, let’s be fearless for truth, fearless for love, and fearless for the kingdom come.

---

Notes:

-*John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Virgin Mary of Australia and Oceania, no year given), 92.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.