Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 4:18

"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 4:18 (ASV)

The other side of confidence is “fear” (GK 5832). If we truly abide in the Father’s love, we will be without fear. That “perfect love drives out fear” should be taken as a Christian truism as well as an allusion to the fear of God in judgment. Love and fear are incompatible. They cannot coexist. For the Christian love is first an experience of the Father’s love for us. That “love” is so powerful and life changing that when we know it, we are forever removed from the “fear” of God.

The fear spoken of here is not to be confused with reverence for God.

Reverence will only deepen through the experience of God’s love. The experience of the holiness of God’s love makes us desire to be even more obedient to his commands. But it also removes us from the power of fear. Whatever may take place in this world cannot nullify the power of his love or separate us from it. Similarly, if we experience fear in any portion of our lives, to that extent we deny God’s love and fail to trust him.