No Fear in Love
1 John Bible Study, Part 11
1 John 4:14-21
Introduction
- A person saved by love (Christ’s love for us) must be able to show love
-- We may have trouble loving perfectly, but there is a difference between:
• Loving perfectly, and,
• Not loving at all
- Greek word used is “hilasmos” which means atoning sacrifice or propitiation
-- It literally means “an offering to appease (satisfy) an angry, offended party
- Fortunately, God’s gift to us was not His response to how we treat Him
-- This gift was initiated by God; not dependent on how we would or will respond
- Challenge: The way the world sees God’s love is shown through His people
-- It is the true mark of the faith when we demonstrate love to one another
-- Sure, we will get angry and frustrated … but how long do we hold onto that?
- Read 1 John 4:14-21 / Pray
∆ Point 1 – God is Love
- There is something interesting here that we must understand in this letter
-- Remember, John is writing it to a church that believed false doctrines/teachers
-- They had a real problem with allowing nonsense to be taught in the church
-- APP: Therefore, his letter is a timely encouragement to remain faithful
- Those who are reading this probably never saw Jesus in the flesh
-- They have many first/second hand accounts of Him, but never saw Him
-- However, the teachers at this time claimed “heavenly journeys/revelations”
-- At their core, they were click salesmen who capitalized on human needs
- Why? Simple: Each of us understands there is something wrong with us
-- There is a problem, a God-shaped vacuum in our hearts that is void
- Capitalism has figured this out and makes trillions each year on it
-- Q: What is the largest section of books you’ll find in a book store?
-- A: Self-help! Everyone has a solution that they want to sell you!
- The teachers of this time were selling them some sort of watered-down gospel
-- They were more interested in promoting themselves; than God
- Therefore … John’s words in v14-16 are directly pointed at them/us
-- “We have seen and testify …” – firsthand account from the church leaders
-- Also, their faith has moved them to settle in their hearts forever one thing
-- God has sent the Son; and He is the Savior of the world (period)
- APP: John reminds: You do not have to see Jesus in order to believe this
-- You don’t have to have lunch with Him to testify about what He’s done
-- Our testimony is based on what we’ve personally experienced
-- Therefore, if (v15) we acknowledge who He is; then He lives within us
- And when He lives in us, there is more (don’t miss this) … read v16
-- We RELY on the love of God that He has for us; b/c it’s strengthening
- Testifying about Jesus does more than just recap a story of what He did
-- Yes, He offers humanity salvation and rescues that which is lost
-- But, it also encourages us that He is the Son of God; sent for God’s purpose
- Therefore, if we remember what He has done; and live like He lived …
-- IMP: We show love for one another because we demonstrate what He is!
- TRANS: “God is love.” It’s a statement, a fact, a settled argument for us!
∆ Point 2 – No Fear in Love
- The judgment seat of Christ will be far more severe than anything known
-- It will be day of final conviction/sentence/punishment for all non-believers
- John’s encouragement is simple: You can face that day confidently
-- Why? Because in Christ, you are complete – because you are His
-- APP: We live like Him (v17): literally, we are His witness to others
- John says (v18), “There is no fear in love” … but what does this mean?
-- Mature love has no fear; it’s unafraid of the actions of immaturity
-- A Christian who fears the judgement seat has not reached maturity
-- Those who live in fear of Christ misunderstand what He’s given us
- He has already set us free; already provided all that we will ever need
-- A person who lives with love towards God has nothing to fear
- “The one who fears is NOT made perfect in love”
-- IMP: If we still fear the judgement seat and know Him, we have work to do
- We are called to live in love towards those around us (brothers/sisters)
-- But even more so – to live in love towards those outside of the church
-- APP: IF we live this way, we have nothing to fear when we see Jesus
- His love casts out our fear (v18) … Why? Because fear = punishment!
-- We should not live in fear of seeing Jesus if we live rightly for Him
- TRANS: The true sign of maturity it found in our understanding of this
∆ Big Ideas
- Don’t tune out here … this is where it all comes together for us today
- v19 … We love because He first loved us: especially when we were unlovable
-- It is God who made our relationship with Him possible
-- We had absolutely nothing to do with it – we weren’t even consulted
-- He knew we had a void that needed filling …. And He provided the way
- If we claim to love – yet live with hatred ... what we are is … liars!
-- It’s the most vivid word picture we can see reflected in life today
-- Say “I love you” to your face; “I hate him/her” to someone else about them
- It’s difficult to prove our love for God based solely on our actions
-- Primarily because … we cannot see Him and see His reaction
-- But, our love for God IS reflected in how we treat those He loves (Jn 3:16)
-- IMP: Whoever loves God must love unconditionally those that He loves
- Matt 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
- Pray
