FIRST JOHN

The Theme of Love (Part Two)

1 John 4:7-21

INTRODUCTION

Several things before we look at this passage in depth. First, just for a moment think about the following question before you try to answer it: Sometime in the past an event occurred in which we have actually already seen a glimpse of the future. What event would that be?

That event would be the resurrection of Jesus Himself. How is that a glimpse of the future? Just like Jesus was resurrected 2,000 years ago, so we too shall be resurrected when He returns.

More though is operating in the resurrection of the believers in Christ's resurrection. Jesus' body was not the only thing raised at His resurrection. Who He was, His life, the way He lived were also resurrected. Just like His body is now eternal, the kind of life He lived is eternal too. Jesus was kindness and love itself (Titus 3:4); when He rose from the dead, He resurrected also kindness and love. These are permanent and eternal, and as such, I should give my life to kindness and love.

Next, as we look at love in the passage, we need to remember some of the teachings we gleaned from part one on this subject:

• Whereas in English there is only one word for love, in Greek there are 4 words used for love: affectionate love, friendship love, romantic love, and God's kind of love (agape). This passage focuses on God's kind of love.
• Agape, God's kind of love, is sacrificial love, for example the sacrificial love of Christ demonstrated on the cross.
• You can exercise the first three kinds of love and yet never demonstrate God's kind of love. But that is the kind of love John is commanding us to exercise.
• John focuses on love for Christian brothers.

Finally, just a brief note here: although 1 Cor. 13 gets the title The Love Chapter, when it is all said and done 1 John 4 either rivals or even eclipses 1 Cor. 13 on the theme of love. It is true that 1 Cor. 13 is a more beautiful description of love; however, the depth of 1 John 4 is so much greater than that found in 1 Cor. 13. This is NOT to take away from 1 Cor. 13; it is rather to exalt 1 John 4.

LOVING OTHERS, KNOWING GOD (4:7-8)

According to John why should we love one another with God's kind of love (agape)?

In verse 7 John is picking up on a major theme Jesus taught in John 8:39-44. According to that passage how do we know that God is Jesus' Father and yet the Devil was the father of the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus' day?

That same idea is operating here. The principle is that children are like their parents. We see that in our lives in a physical and psychological way; however, it is also true in a spiritual sense. Just like our children look like us their parents physically, so people resemble their spiritual father spiritually. If they love with agape love, then they are truly sons and daughters of God; if not, then they are not spiritual sons and daughters of God.

What is true about the person who loves his brother with God's kind of love (4:7)?

Just like there are different meanings to the English word "love," so there are different meanings to the word "know." There is knowledge in an academic sense: "I know how to do that mathematical problem." On the other hand, there is the knowledge of relationship: "Adam KNEW Eve, not simply in a sexual sense but also in a deeply personal intimate relational sense." The second meaning of the word "know" is the one John uses in verses 7 and 8. According to John what is true about the person who does not love his brother with God's kind of love (4:8)?

It is interesting to note that in Eph. 5:25 Paul uses the word "agape" in the command for husbands to love their wives. This does not negate the romantic or sexual aspects of marital love; however, it takes this relationship to an even higher level. The true Christian husband loves his wife sacrificially. He dies for her not just once but daily, putting her needs before his own. That's the kind of husband a woman will truly love and respect (there will be exceptions though!).

LOVE AND EVANGELISM (4:12)

Because earlier we touched on the themes in verses 9-11, we are going to skip them and move to verse 12. When John uses the word "God" in an absolute sense, he is normally referring to God the Father. According to John who has seen God the Father?

On the other hand, if we love one another one, what happens?

What John is implying here is that when Christians love one another with God's kind of love, then people will detect that God is alive and in our midst. Why? Because this kind of love is not human. People love others with the first three kinds of love mentioned at the beginning but not normally with this fourth kind of love, especially when we love our enemies this way. When they see us loving this way, they will know that something greater than human is working in our midst.

We are so right on whenever we structure our churches to be seeker friendly. We are so familiar with church "lingo" that we fail to see many times how strange it is to those not a part of the family of God. However, we are not to seek to bring people in the kingdom, only to abandon them the moment they enter. Who would want to join that kind of kingdom? The early church was one of the greatest evangelistic forces in the history of the world. What is interesting is that one of the chief comments made about the early Christians was: "How they do love one another." Just maybe there is a connection. Loving other Christians with God's love is a great evangelistic tool.

THE NEED FOR GOD'S SPIRIT IN LOVE (4:13)

In the passage above John makes the claim that when we love one another with God's love, then God is seen in our midst. There is a reason for this. According to John what has God given us that lets us know we abide in Him and He in us?

John's connection is this: you can't love God's kind of love in your own strength and power. Agape love is not human; it requires God's Spirit living in a person for that person to be able to love that way. As a result, whenever I love God's kind of love, I will do so only in the might and power of the Holy Spirit. When that happens, people will detect the Spirit of God living in me. That is one of the great evangelistic tools we can use.

NO FEAR IN JUDGMENT (4:16-18)

Earlier John claimed that God is light, that is, 100% good. Here what does John also claim about God (4:16)? In other words, in addition to God being light, He is also what?

According to v. 18 if you are perfected in love, you will be able to have confidence in what day?

Again, John is not dispensing some kind of generalized, watered-down version of judgment. Judgment is going to be a harsh reality for many people. It doesn't have to be though for Christians. If we are perfected in God's kind of love, then we should have no fear facing God in judgment. If we are loving God's kind of love, judgment actually is going to be a day of great joy, not fear. According to 4:18 what casts out fear of judgment?

LOVE FOR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS (4:20-21)

It can be so easy to mistake feelings for the real thing. For example, I may claim that I love God because I have all these gushy feelings swirling within me. What though shows us whether or not we truly love God?

C. S. Lewis once was asked why he attended to church. He replied that it was not because of the music or because of the sermon. He went because of the person standing next to him in the pew. Each Christian in that chapel was nothing less than the presence of Christ upon the earth. He went to church to be with his fellow Christians, that is, with Christ.