"When love comes, fear goes.” —William Barclay

"Sinner, thou thinkest that because of thy sins and infirmities I cannot save thy soul, but behold my Son is by me, and upon him I look, and not on thee, and will deal with thee according as I am pleased with him.”

—John Bunyan

"Fear is a sign that he considers himself worthy of punishment, because it is punishments that instil fear.”

—Philo of Alexandria

Sermon Summary: Is it possible to live in confidence of God’s love even when we are confronted with our weakness and failures? Come and hear how God’s love overcomes our fear as we continue to study 1 John.

Passage to Consider: 1 John 3:19–20; 4:16–19

3:19-20

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

4:16-19

16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

Confession of Sin:

Compassionate God, you love us with unfailing, self-giving mercy;

Forgive us for not returning your love.

-silent confession-

Jesus Christ, you ask us to love others sacrificially;

Forgive us for walking away from our neighbors in need.

-silent confession-

Holy Spirit, you equip us to love unconditionally;

Forgive us for caring more for our own concerns than for the concerns of others.

-silent confession-

God of grace, we repent of our lack of love for you and others and receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.  Amen