Simply and boldly put, we love Him. Oh sir, this is indeed a cowardly fear! (Spurgeon), iv. of Scripture. This is what we have heard. e. We have seen and testify: Speaking as one who has the Spirit of God (He has given us of His Spirit), John declares three essential truths about who God is and how He saves us. Weak relationships are made strong when both people draw close to the Lord! Some respond with wickedness (God loves me, so I can do what I want). iii. This is a fact for every true follower of Jesus. It is up to us to respond to His command with our will and whole being. A man can create a statue that looks just like him, but it will never be human. It is exciting when the world will listen to the gospel, but we must take care that they are not hearing us because we speak as of the world. Here, he shows why it is so important. As the two people draw closer to the top of the triangle, closer to God, they will also draw closer to one another. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. We were rebels and enemies of Him, even if we didnt know it. Knowing God the Father is invisible should make us more humble in our relationship with Him. Oh, if you do really believe that he has loved you so, sit down, and turn the subject over in your mind, and say to yourself, Jesus loves me; Jesus chose me; Jesus redeemed me; Jesus called me; Jesus has pardoned me; Jesus has taken me into union with himself. (Spurgeon). Love is an essential aspect of His character, and colors every aspect of His nature. The way to be saved for man, woman, or child is to trust Jesus for the pardon of sin, and then, trusting Jesus, love comes as a fruit. Can you say, I love Jesus? Facebook. It brings life to all who trust in Jesus and His work on their behalf, because He is the propitiation for our sins. You may know you are a sinner now; you will really, You may know now you are not a better person than those who are going to hell; you will really, You may know the reality of hell now; you will really, You may know the greatness of Jesus salvation now; you will really, Boice, James Montgomery "The Epistles of John: An Expositional Commentary" (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1979), Clarke, Adam "Clarke's Commentary: The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments with a Commentary and Critical Notes" Volume 6 (Romans-Revelation) (New York: Eaton and Mains, 1832), Marshall, I. Howard "The Epistles of John" (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1978), Poole, Matthew "A Commentary on the Holy Bible" Volume 3 (Matthew-Revelation) (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1969), Spurgeon, Charles Haddon "The New Park Street Pulpit" Volumes 1-6 and "The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit" Volumes 7-63 (Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1990). One might say, I want to love God more; I want to grow in my love for Him. He loved you when you could not have been worse or further from him than you were. 2. e. Everyone who loves is born of God He who does not love does not know God: This does not mean that every display of love in the world can only come from a Christian. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. f. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love: If our relationship with God is marked by this tormenting fear, it shows that we have not been made perfect that is, complete, and mature in His love. Many, when first encountering the reality of the spiritual world, are too impressed and amazed to ask whether they are of God. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. Pauline Epistles They face none of the rejection the child of God will face from the world (1 John 3:1), because they are friends with the world. Some think they will go there and judge God (When I see God, theres a few questions I have for Him!), but that is nonsense. This understanding gives great confidence and spiritual power. i. We easily think how this shows the love of Jesus, but John wants us to understand it also shows the love of God the Father: He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. But John rightly insists that our claim of loving God is false if we do not also love our brother, and that this love must be seen. i. We cant love God the way we should unless we are receiving and living in His love. In my text he explains and enlarges that statement. We love him from the influence of his own love; from his love shed abroad in our hearts our love to him proceeds. g. In this is love: Real love, agape love, is not defined by our love for God, but by His love for us. Of course, this love is not perfected in the life of a Christian on this side of eternity. Since no one has seen God at any time, this provides evidence for the presence of God. There is no exception to this rule; if a man loves not God, neither is he born of God. But it is not. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The Whole Bible If you had a pipe that was clogged water kept going into it, but never came out, that pipe would be useless. Now remember, we never make ourselves love Christ more by flogging ourselves for not loving him more. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . The first episode of "Barry" Season 4 established where Berkman, Cousineau, Fuches, Sally, NoHo Hank, and Cristobal are, both physically and mentally. I cannot imagine a true man saying, I love Christ, but I do not want others to know that I love him, lest they should laugh at me. That is a reason to be laughed at, or rather, to be wept over. i. Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. Historical Books That we might live through Him: The greatness of Gods love is shown not only in saving us from the judgment we deserved, but also in wanting us to live through Him. Of course, no one has seen God the Holy Spirit at any time either, though He has represented Himself in various ways. How is Jesus now? c. That we might live through Him: The love of the Father was not only in the sending of the Son, but also in what that sending accomplishes for us. What about the many passages of Scripture, Old and New Testament (such as Ecclesiastes 12:13 and 1 Peter 2:17), which tell us we should fear God? i. i. Love was the constant, greatest evidence of the presence and work of God in Jesus Christ. 1. We can know, and we can know now, on this side of eternity. John adds that believers overcome the powers in this world because of God's Spirit within them (1 John 4:4). He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world: The believer has a resource for victory, the vital presence of the indwelling Jesus, which makes victory always possible if we will rely on He who is in you instead of relying on ourselves. We never have to draw God to us; instead, He draws us to Himself. Today, there is a lot of curiosity about the true Jesus. Many modern academics say they want to discover the true Jesus and when they say this they often mean, The true Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible. Luke-Acts It is the fear that is the opposite of boldness in the day of judgment. You may know the greatness of Jesus salvation now; you will really know it in the day of judgment. ii. He showed this life to us. We know all the judgment we ever deserved past, present, and future was poured out on Jesus Christ on the cross. God is more pleased when you get it right with your brother, than if you bring Him a sacrifice of praise or resources. It is never to be received just because it is dramatic or given by a certain person. The gospel recognized that both Jesus' followers and his foes agreed that he was human, but not everyone could see God's work being revealed . No one has seen God at any time: John relates a basic principle about God the Father that no one, no one, has seen God at any time. If God had sent Jesus simply to be our example, that would have been good too and would have had some value But the wonderful thing is that God did not stop with these but rather sent His Son, not merely to teach or to be our example, but to die the death of a felon, that He might save us from sin. (Boice). 1 John 4:20 Vincent's Word Studies He that loveth not his brother, etc. There is a difference between the love of man, and divine love. Since this is Gods kind of love, it comes into our life through our relationship with Him. The Old Testament i. We never have to draw God to us; instead, He draws us to Himself. But it is there, and its presence is demonstrated by our love for one another and our agreement with Gods truth and that all serves to give us boldness. 1 John 4. Marvellous, O Christ, is thy strange love! (Spurgeon). Luke-Acts It is the spirit which both opposes the true Jesus and offers a substitute Jesus. This is about the Word of life. To believe in Christ and to love the brethren are not conditions by which we may dwell in God but rather are evidences of the fact that God has already taken possession of our lives to make this possible. (Boice). How is Jesus now? He loved some of you when you were in the dancing saloon, when you were in the playhouse, ay, even when you were in the brothel. a. Beloved, let us love: The ancient Greek sentence begins in a striking way agapetoi agapomen, those who are loved, let us love. We are not commanded to love one another to earn or become worthy of Gods love. If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: By this crucial measure, Jesus said the world could measure our status as disciples by the measure of our love for one another. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (1 John 4:4) The protection of the child of God. And we learn that Jesus' closest disciples are baptising the new followers. (1 John 4:17-18) The perfecting of love, both now and in eternity. As much as we can know the completeness of Gods love now, we will know it all the more in the day of judgment. f. For our sins: This shows the love of God. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. General Epistles No man could do it. (Spurgeon). John 3:23b & 26 ). Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. We can imagine Jesus being bold before the throne of God, but us? Preaching text: 1 John 1:1-4 God's Tangible Word of Life. He would put honour upon his disciples, by employing them to baptize. Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year. i. John makes it clear that error has a spiritual dynamic to it; it isnt just about being educated or smart. b. This means that there will be agreement and confirmation from the body of Christ, though perhaps (or probably) not everyone will agree or confirm. General Epistles We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:16-19 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Series Recaps April 17, 2023 'Queenmaker' Episodes 5 & 6: Recap & Ending, Explained: Did Do-Hee Find Who Had A Hand In Her Father's Death? Verses 1-42 in Chapter 4 of John seems to point out a simple outline of evangelism through the example of Jesus. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Yet in it all, that one may be like Cain, offering to God the fruit of his hands and not the fruit of the Spirit. John Chapter 4. ii. i. Some very educated, very smart people can still be influenced mightily by the spirit of error. This is not the only test, but it was the significant issue challenging the church in Johns immediate time. Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Though love springs forth from our abiding relationship with God and comes from our being born of Him, there is also an essential aspect of our will involved. In the day of judgment: This is when the completeness of loves work in us will be demonstrated. One may know the Word, may never miss a service, may pray fervently, and may demonstrate gifts of the Spirit. i. a. ii. Sometimes Jesus wasnt popular at all, but He was always full of love. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Scripture: 1 John 4:20-5:5. He loved us when we were still sinners: Every man that ever was saved had to come to God not as a lover of God, but as a sinner, and then believe in Gods love to him as a sinner. (Spurgeon), ii. b. There is no exception to this rule; if a man loves not God, neither is he born of God. If someone says, I love God: It is often easier for someone to proclaim his love for God, because that regards a private relationship with an invisible God. Luke-Acts He loved some of you when you were in the dancing saloon, when you were in the playhouse, ay, even when you were in the brothel. This language of fellowship transcends language, culture, class, race, or any other barrier. But on the cross, Jesus took the punishment our sin deserved His sacrifice turned away the judgment we would have received. EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES) Meyer's NT Commentary We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. If love is of God, then those who claim to be born of God, and claim to know God, must be able to love one another in the body of Christ. 1 John 4:18. Some think they will go there and judge God (When I see God, theres a few questions I have for Him!), but that is nonsense. ii. 1 John 3 1 John 1 John 5. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. The Bible says that one day, all of humanity will gather before Gods Great White Throne and face judgment. Poetical Books Though love springs forth from our abiding relationship with God and comes from our being born of Him, there is also an essential aspect of our will involved. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness . There is love in many places, like wandering beams of light; but as for the sun, it is in one part of the heavens, and we look at it, and we say, Herein is light. He did not look at the Church of God, and say of all the myriads who counted not their lives dear unto them, Herein is love, for their love was only the reflected brightness of the great sun of love. (Spurgeon). Show me a fire without heat, then show me regeneration that does not produce love to God. (Spurgeon). We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. If this were a mere individual talking, the claim would be presumptuous. Without God, there is no love because love . b. Minor Prophets And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Once any academic throws out the historical evidence of the New Testament and other reliable ancient writings, they can only base their understanding of Jesus on their own personal opinion. I have sometimes noticed that, in addressing Sunday-school children, it is not uncommon to tell them that the way to be saved is to love Jesus, which is not true. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. b. When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, and showed such great love and servanthood to them, we might have expected Him to conclude by gesturing to His own feet and asking who among them was going to do to Him what He had just done for them. We know all the judgment we ever deserved past, present, and future was poured out on Jesus Christ on the cross. Yet, if we abide in Him, and He in us (1 John 4:13), then our identity is bound up in Jesus: as He is, so are we in the world. Other tests already stressed in this first paragraph of the chapter were: (1) the test of confessing that Jesus was the Christ who came in the flesh; (2) the test of whether or not they were indwelt by the Father ( 1 John 4:4 ); and (3) the test of their life-style. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point Spiritually, we can have that same standing now, while we are in the world, because as He is, so are we in the world. And just as certainly, God the Son, Jesus Christ, has been seen John himself testified to this in 1 John 1:1-3. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Although Fuches was ready to frame Barry for all the crimes that he had committed in the past because that would have allowed him to walk out under FBI protection, he walked back on that . Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. The following comments draw much from Spurgeons work on this single verse. The principle of presenting a true Jesus is essential to the testing of spirits. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. But here, in 1 John 4, that carefulness and hesitation is thrown to the side and John writes, "God is love.". Major Prophets The Gospels Some people imagine that Jesus loved us because He knew we would love Him and come to faith in Him. Thank you for registering. a. Beloved, let us love: The ancient Greek sentence begins in a striking way agapetoi agapomen, "those who are loved, let us love." 2. Those who are not Christians still can display acts of love. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. We trust in the principle that God will never contradict Himself, and we know what He has already said in His Word. If there was to be reconciliation between God and man, man ought to have sent to God; the offender ought to be the first to apply for forgiveness; the weaker should apply to the greater for help; the poor man should ask of him who distributes alms; but Herein is love that God sent. He was first to send an embassy of peace. (Spurgeon). Afraid of being laughed at? e. There is no fear in love: The completeness of love means we do not cower in fear before God, dreading His judgment, either now or in the day of judgment. The New Testament c. And this commandment we have from Him: We have a commandment to love. Our love for God is always in response to His love for us; He initiates, and we respond. i. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. d. He who is not of God does not hear us: Understanding just who hears what God has taught us through the apostles, as recorded in the New Testament, helps us to know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son: This shows us what love is and what it means. Today, some groups deny that Jesus is really God (such as the Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, and Muslims). d. Is now already in the world: Though it will have its ultimate consummation in an end-times political and economic ruler, the essence of this antichrist spirit is present with us today. Yet, if we abide in Him, and He in us (1 John 4:13), then our identity is bound up in Jesus: as He is, so are we in the world. We want the Lord to clear us and fill us so that His love can flow through us. There is a difference between the love of man, and divine love. Again, the true measure of maturity is not the image of power, or popularity, or passionate feelings but the abiding presence of Gods love in our lives, given out to others. i. The thrust of these verses is not so much her conversion but that Jesus is Messiah (verse 26). Love is by no means the root. The meaning is, that many had gone out into the world pretending to be true teachers of religion, but who inculcated most dangerous doctrines; and it was their duty to be on their guard against them, for they had the very spirit of antichrist, 1 John 4:3. Prophets Sermon. And we have known and believed the love God has for us: This is the Christians proper response to who God is, and how He loves us. If anyone is afraid of judgment they only need to ask themselves if they love God . Believers must be discerning in spiritual matters. Confession of faith and love for one's brothers and sisters Continue reading "Commentary on 1 John 4:7-21" We have many spiritual enemies, but not one of them is greater than Jesus who lives in us. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. Instead, we have to place complete trust in the work and grace of God, believing that He will certainly conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus. We touched it with our hands. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a This day is coming! This is because love does not define everything in the character of God, and because when most people use the term love, they are not thinking of true love, the God-kind of love. We abide in Him, and He in us: Our abiding in Jesus is not a one-sided affair, with us struggling to abide in Him, and Jesus trying to escape us. It would have been far more than we deserved. Here, John suggests that there are forces of spiritual darkness that guide and influence the world. One of the ways Jesus abides in us lives in us is through His word. A worldly attitude listens to unbelievers and ungodly spirits, and ignores God. Now, just forget your own love to him, and think of his great love to you; and then, immediately, your love will come to something more like that which you would desire it to be. (Spurgeon), iii. But He needed to go through Samaria. Some people imagine that Jesus loved us because He knew we would love Him and come to faith in Him. Let us love one another, for love is of God: Johns emphasis on love among the people of God (shown in passages like 1 John 2:9-11 and 3:10-18) is powerful. In its official doctrines, the Roman Catholic Church has claimed to be the us in He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. Exegetical Commentary on 1 John 4:1-6. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. It is a positive statement, not a wishful hope. d. Love is of God: The love John speaks of comes from the ancient Greek word agape; it is the concept of a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting re-payment it is the God-kind of love. Luke-Acts She also mentioned that Jeong-Suk's skin was . (1) The fact of false prophets and the need to test the spirits. Are you embarrassed to say it? Jesus loved you when you lived carelessly, when you neglected his Word, when the knee was unbent in prayer. We need to discover the true Jesus behind the myths of the Bible.. Verse-. Since error has a spiritual dynamic to it, keeping in the spirit of truth is a spiritual issue. The Old Testament b. Love describes the character and heart of God. f. For God is love: This is a glorious truth. Show me a fire without heat, then show me regeneration that does not produce love to God. (Spurgeon). The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series created, directed and co-written by filmmaker Dallas Jenkins.It is the first multiseason series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.Primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the 1st century, the series centers on Jesus and the different people who met and followed him.The series stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus . His is the fountain love, ours but the stream: his love the inducement, the pattern, and the effective cause of ours.