"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."
This totally perfected love is never 100% experienced in this life (be-
cause of our flesh). But this does not mean that the sincere churchman may not have real and palpable (felt) assurance. The Puritans were the great theological expositors of divine assurance, in the souls of the saints. (They recognized that not all true believers would have the same levels of this confidence.)
Still, to fear eternal punishment, after having the blood atonement clearly applied to one's soul, is not noble, but God-dishonoring. It denies and decries the work of the Redeemer. It is a form of atheism. If our hope is not in ourselves or our works--but in Christ alone, then let us be fully-assured churchmen, who know that God loves us.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Let this take up your thoughts as the greatest business that your hearts can be set upon, that you may be found of Him [God] in peace." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Reconciliation"]
