1 John 4:13-21 Series

1 John 4:13-21

13 By this (love) we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

Love is one of the indications that the Holy Spirit is in us, and we know that love is the greatest of all things, and that all we do as a Christian is encompassed in love and motivated by love.

But what we don't want to do is take this understanding of love and throw out everything else God and Christ teach us. I've said before sharing the gospel which in part is helping a non believer to understand their sin and the need for a savior is the most loving thing we offer, because we don't want them to spend an eternity in hell.

Satan on the other hand says that it isn't loving at all, and if we say anything to another which then makes them aware of their sin that is hateful and isn't Christ like. That's how Satan deceives believers.

John 8:11, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 12:41, Mark 1:15, Luke 3:8, Luke 5:32, Luke 13:5, are all verses where Jesus directly says repentance is required for salvation and there are far more that say it in other ways. So we can't leave it out because salvation cannot happen unless repentance is a part of it.

Love is helping others to understand what salvation is and what it requires, and we say it lovingly.

Paul says in Acts 20:18-21 ~ “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Even the Apostles and disciples taught repentance, and they all did it out of love for others and as a command. The greatest thing you can do is share the gospel and repentance, there is nothing greater.

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

John is giving his first hand testimony of Jesus which is extremely important. In court you cannot submit hearsay as evidence to something, it has to be a first hand account or the judge will most always not allow it. So we need to understand the many first hand accounts we are given in scripture as to the truth of Jesus because that is authentic evidence of his life.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

Do you have confidence of your salvation based upon the love you show others, the love of sharing the gospel? This is so important, and my hope is that every Christian has this confidence.

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

This is a great verse. I mentioned before about unbelievers needing to fear God and that it is in some ways a step to salvation because if you fear God then you fear hell and you are aware of your sin.

Romans 3:18 ~ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

But here speaking about believers it says that “perfect love casts out fear”, fear of what “punishment” it says or Hell. That if we truly love Hell isn't something we should truly fear, meaning that we won't fear it because verse “17” says we may have confidence that we won't be sent there.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

When scripture says “brother” that is usually and indication it means fellow believer. You must love your brother and sister in Christ.

But we also know we are supposed to love unbelievers as well. So are you loving unbelievers? Are you sharing the gospel and the fear of God and hell and the need for Christ? If you are you are again you are showing the greatest form of love there is.