Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11
I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books. Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 4:7-12.
Per the commentary for this text:
Main idea: "The Father of Jesus is the God of Love, whose love is manifested in the sending of Christ and is perfected in the love displayed among His people."
Excerpts from the introduction:
- Love is a focus in several places in scripture, including Songs of Solomon 8:5-14, 1 Corinthians 13, and here in 1 John 4:7-21 (as well as 1 John 2:7-11, 3:11-24).
- "John will take us to the very origin and source of love: God Himself. In fact, love is His very nature, and acting in love is His essential character. How do we know? The cross! The cross of Golgotha is an everlasting monument to the truth that our God is love."
Divisions:
- Love Has Its Origin in God (4:7-8): While non-believers may have love, and they often love more than believers so (sadly), believers must follow the example of God's love - first loving Him, then loving others (see also Matthew 22:34-40 on the two greatest commandments). V7 imparts that as believers we experience a new birth and as a new creation, God deposits in our hearts Himself and this includes love - which is from God and is God. It therefore follows that our love of others is evidence that we love God and seek to love as He does (see also John 13:34). It also follows that if don't love God and others then we don't know God. We are also cautioned "[that] “God is love” does not equal “love is God” (a form of pantheistic thinking), any more than “grass is green” means “green is grass.” Love does not define God, but God does define love. This is John’s beautiful logic: (1) God is love. (2) Those who have been born of God and know God are God’s children. (3) God’s children have God’s nature. (4) God’s children therefore will love."
- Love Is Seen in the Atoning Death of Jesus (4:9-10): Christ's death on the cross and God's plan to send His Son to die on the cross provide the perfect example of love for us to follow and for which me must aspire as believers. "This world of humanity was in rebellion against its loving Creator. God sent His Son. This world of humanity was not looking for God and even hated Him. God sent His Son." God sent His Son to save humanity from the sting of sin and death - this is love.
- Love Is Perfected in Us When We Love Others (4:11-12): "[W]e must go to those who don’t want us there. We must share a gospel they don’t want to hear. We must love those who may hate and even kill us in return. Because we are connected to Jesus through the new birth, we must go and live like Jesus among our friends and our enemies....Loving others is just what we do because the love that has rained down on us now fills us as we abide in Him....when we love one another, (1) it is proof that God abides continually in us, and (2) His love (God’s love for us; His kind of love) is “perfected,” brought to complete maturity. It reaches its intended goal."
Comment and discuss this post.
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loved me while I was still hostile and an enemy to You. Thank You Jesus for saving me even though I did not deserve my salvation. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You. Help me love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
