The law with all it’s perfection couldn’t change me. It takes love. When Jesus came He opened a new era of closeness, He became Emmanuel and was -with- us. i.e. Abiding with us. So His love abides with us, and what is necessary is for us to abide in his love. There is no more fear of judgment because of His love. Why? Because His love has already changed us to the point where ‘as he is so also are we in this world’?
Does to abide in his love mean that we keep resting in the knowledge of that love? To let the fear and striving cease, and so to be changed by his love?
The source of power to change is his love. It’s not a show of power that will change our hearts. He aims to transform our hearts by love and not by a show of power as in the law. The show of power only generates the fear of judgment whereas the show of love begets love.
The motivation for change is also his love. We are no longer motivated to change based on a fear of judgment, which does not reflect the reality of Emmanuel, wherein we are motivated by His love for us.
To the Jews, there was always this sense of fear. So John had to correct this. For us, when we know His love, we will change. And we realise that we no longer need fear judgment, because love has changed and rescued us.
When it says that love is perfected with us, is it talking about God’s love or our love? If it speaks of God’s perfect love for us, then it’s all about knowing believing and resting i.e. trusting in that love -which is abiding.
The issue returns to the expectation that we are supposed to be exactly like him in order not to fear this judgment. How?
God, I don’t love you as I should. Your love for me in sending Emmanuel to abide with us should be more than enough to make me want to abide with you. That love should persuade and change and empower me. But I can’t stir up that sort of love now. Remind me of your love through your word. Cut me to the heart and return me to my first love. I need that motivation to love and that power to love. Help me to love you and be changed by that love. Please Lord, in Jesus’ Name and for His sake.
