Faith Over Fear 3: Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Oct. 19, 2025: Faith Over Fear

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Let’s continue on in our series called, “Faith Over Fear” In this series we’re talking about overcoming fear’s, or how grace can help us overcome fear in our lives.

October as we know is filled with images of fear—ghosts, skeletons, witches and darkness, but for US believer’s, fear should have no power.

Remember this acronym 

FEAR:

F: False, 

E: Evidence, 

A: Appearing, 

R: Real

Remember, ”Fear sees the obstacle. Faith sees the way through. Fear looks at the giant. Faith looks at God.”

Fear always looks so real, but it’s a spirit that can be brought down.

Let’s look at our foundation scripture for this series.

Romans 5:17 (NKJV) 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Each week we looked at this verse in a different translation. NLT, Amp.  

Romans 5:17 (TPT) 17 Death once held us in its grip, and by the blunder of one man, death reigned as king over humanity. But now, how much more are we held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah!

Today I want us to see that God’s love can cast out fear in our lives.

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Remember that only God is perfect love.

Fear is one of the greatest tormentors of the human soul, fear of death, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, etc.

The antidote to fear isn’t courage, toughness, or denial—it’s the revelation of God’s perfect love.

The Truth: When we know God’s love, fear should be more afraid of us!

1. Fear Thrives Where Love Is Doubted

When a husband and wife are secure in each other’s love, there is no fear of unfaithfulness.

In Genesis 3:10,  Adam hid himself, because he doubted God’s heart.

Fear is the language of the world; Love is the language of sonship.

Romans 8:15 (NKJV) 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Hebrews 2:14–15 (NKJV) 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

When people don’t know God’s love, fear fills the void.

Think of a plant growing in the dark, it grows weak and twisted. 

Doubt of God’s love is the “darkness” where fear grows.

1 John 4:8–11 (NKJV) 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

2. God’s Love Was Proven at the Cross

Romans 5:6–8 (NKJV) 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s love was not just spoken, but shown.

John 3:16–17 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

The cross is the final proof that we are loved beyond our fear’s.

“When the enemy says God doesn’t love you, show Him the Cross, for it is the answer.”

3. Perfect Love Drives Out the Torment of Fear

Fear torments people with anxiety, panic, and insecurity.

Love doesn’t just soothe fear, it expels it.

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Think of light entering a dark room, darkness doesn’t “argue,” it leaves. God’s love doesn’t negotiate with fear, it drives it out.

I read this story and it show’s that we can come to a place of trusting God over fear:

Many years ago, a missionary named Daniel Crawford served deep in Central Africa. One night, he heard the growl of lions outside his small hut. Fear swept over him — he was alone, unarmed, and surrounded by danger.

As he trembled, he opened his Bible by lantern light and his eyes fell on 

Psalm 27:1 (NKJV): “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

He prayed, “Lord, You are my strength. I trust You.” Peace filled his heart. He laid down and slept through the night.

In the morning, he saw lion tracks circling his hut — but not one had come close enough to attack. Later, local villagers told him they saw the lions suddenly stop and run away as if frightened.

Crawford said, “That night, fear knocked. Faith answered — and there was no one there.”

4. Love Gives Us Security in God’s Presence.

Hebrews 13:6 (NKJV) 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (FEAR) I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

A child clings to their father’s hand in a busy crowd. The fear doesn’t disappear because the crowd is gone, the fear disappears because of the father’s hand.

I remember taking my kids when they we’re young to NYC around Christmas time.

5. Love Guarantees That Nothing Can Separate Us from God.

Romans 8:38–39 (NKJV) 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV) 17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Fear says, “You’ll be abandoned.” Grace says, “You are forever loved.”

Think of a wedding ring, it symbolizes unbroken covenant of love. God’s covenant love is the ring of security that no fear can break.

2 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT) 2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

6. Love Produces Boldness, Not Timidity.

Perfect love doesn’t just remove fear, it empowers us to live boldly. 

1 John 4:17 (NKJV) 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

God’s Spirit gives us love and a sound mind, not fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Like a soldier who knows their general is behind them—they move forward with confidence. 

Love makes us bold as lions.

When fear rises up, confront it with love: SAY:

“God loves me perfectly.”

“Jesus died for me—what can man do to me?”

“Nothing can separate me from His love.”

Meditate on Romans 8:38–39 when fear attacks.

Romans 8:38–39 (NLT) 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Closing Remember:

Corrie ten Boom, who survived the Nazi concentration camps, once said: “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” 

While in the concentration camp, she tell’s this story.

During World War II, Corrie ten Boom and her family hid Jews from the Nazis in their Dutch home. When the Nazis raided their house in 1944, Corrie, then 51, faced arrest and the terrors of a concentration camp. 

Fear gripped her—would she survive? Would her faith hold? In that moment, she clung to Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”

In the Ravensbrück concentration camp, amidst starvation and cruelty, Corrie and her sister Betsie smuggled a Bible, holding a secret worship services in their barracks. One night, as guards patrolled, fear threatened to silence her. But Corrie prayed, trusting God’s protection.

Miraculously, the guards never searched their bunk, and their secret services brought hope to countless prisoners. Corrie’s faith overcame her fear, shining God’s light in a dark place. She survived to share her story, inspiring millions.

Remember that perfect love cast’s out fear.

Psalm 27:1 (NKJV) 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

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