Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 4:17-18

"Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love." — 1 John 4:17-18 (ASV)

In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment.

That is a servile fear, of course, for there is a fear which has no torment in it, that holy fear which even angels feel when they veil their faces in the presence of the Most High. There is no torment in that reverent awe; and the more we have of love towards God, the more of that filial fear we shall have; but that slavish dread, that awful terror which begets within itself dislike, cannot live where true love is planted within the soul: Perfect love casts out fear.

Wherein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment.

He who fears is not made perfect in love. Questioning, mistrust, unbelief, doubt—all these die when we come truly and heartily to love our Lord; and in proportion as our love to him burns like a flame of fire, it burns up all this wood, hay, and stubble of trembling, slavish fear.