with us, through our abiding in Him and He in us. "Love is not simply perfected in man, but in fulfilling this issue God works with man" (Westcott). Compare 2 John 1:3 , "grace shall be with us" (true reading); and Acts 25:4 , "what things God had done with them." See also Matthew 1:23 ; 1 Corinthians 16:24 ; Galatians 6:18 . ????? with, is used constantly in the New Testament of ethical relations. See Matthew 20:2 ; Matthew 2:3 ; Luke 23:12 ; Acts 7:9 ; Romans 12:15 ; 1 John 1:6 . The present tense is very significant. Compare 1 John 3:7 , "is righteous even as He is righteous." The essence of out being as He is lies in perfected love; and Christ is eternally love. "He that abideth in love abideth in God and God in him." Compare 1 John 3:2 . {13} Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because {i} as he is, so are we in this world. (13) Again (as before) he commends love, seeing that by our agreement with God in this thing, we have a sure testimony of our adoption, it comes to pass by this that without fear we look for that latter day of judgment, so that trembling and torment of conscience is cast out by this love. 4:17 Hereby - That is, by this communion with God. Is our love made perfect; that we may - That