1 John 4:17

We are joined up with God, and we have God’s love in us. We are like Jesus in this world. So later, on the day when God will judge everybody, we will not be frightened, because we know that God will not punish us.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

Herein 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.

In Context

16That’s right. We know that God loves us very much, so we trust him. God properly loves people all the time. If anybody loves God and loves other people, then they are joined up with God, and God is joined up with them.

18Yes, we know that we have God’s love in us, so we don’t have to be frightened of God at all. Some people are frightened that God will punish them. Those people don’t properly understand God’s love. God’s amazing love means that we don’t have to be frightened.

Read all of 1 John 4

Cross References

John 15:20Remember that I told you before, ‘A worker is not more important than their boss.’ Well, I am your boss, and you are my workers. And people made a lot of trouble for me, so people will make a lot of trouble for you. But some people listened properly to me, so some people will listen properly to you too.

1 Peter 4:1Remember that Jesus Christ got trouble while he lived on earth. Well, you will get trouble too, so get ready for it and don’t get upset about it. If you get trouble because you belong to Jesus, that shows that you want to live God’s way and don’t do bad things any more.

Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:15-17

The Divine Love. ( a. d. 80.) 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Since faith in Christ works love to God, and love to God must kindle love to the brethren, the apostle here confirms the prime article of the Christian faith as… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 John 4:17