Question: 1 John 4:18, which tells us that love drives out fear, used to be my go- to verse for times when I was living in fear. Then a preacher told me that this verse means that one should not fear unless they are not "obeying" God. Now I just live in fear. Can you help me understand how 1 John 4:18 should be interpreted. Response: Your question is real and authentic.  Many people, if they are honest, live in fear.  In some respects, we all do to some level.  But a Christ-centered understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ explains that fear is the motivational factor of all that is anti-Christ, and I use that term not in some ...