Defined and Delivered in Love
1 John 4: 7-10
Our text this evening again deals with the continuing theme of love John has presented throughout this epistle. In fact, the remaining verses of this chapter deal with love. John was originally known as one of the “sons of thunder,” but through an intimate relationship with Christ, he had experienced the gracious love of God and developed a compassionate love for others.
No doubt we have all experienced love, but real love, genuine love cannot be defined by the world’s standards. Much that is expressed or thought of today as love does not represent love as God intends. In fact we will discuss the source of love in a moment. Genuine love fits within the biblical standard for love.
"Someone has asked “What is love” and then gave the following answer:
It is silence--when your words would hurt.
It is patience--when your neighbor's curt.
It is deafness--when a scandal flows.
It is thoughtfulness--for other's woes.
It is promptness--when stern duty calls.
It is courage--when misfortune falls." (i)
As we consider our text this evening, I want to examine the evidences of love John reveals as we think on: Defined and Delivered in Love.
I. The Exhortation to Love (7-8) – Here we discover an exhortation to love one another. John doesn’t offer this exhortation simply because it is socially acceptable, but biblically expected. Notice:
A. The Submission in Love (7a) – Beloved, let us love one another: That in itself is a simple statement, but it bears our attention. I thought of leaving this point until last so we would have a deeper understanding of what is expected of us concerning love. As we move through these verses, keep in mind we are expected to love one another.
As the children of God, we are expected to love one another. (I have met some who claimed Christ as their Savior who apparently didn’t get the memo.) John doesn’t say love when we feel like it, or when we think it is deserved. He doesn’t say love those who agree with our position always. He doesn’t ask us to love only those within our circle of influence. We are to love one another. I am convinced this applies to our love for all people, especially those within the body of Christ. Jesus revealed this was the second great command: love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Surely you would agree we need to show love to one another!
B. The Source of Love (7b) – for love is of God. This is something the average biblical student knows, but do we fully comprehend its depth. Love is of God. Love is one of the great character traits of God. It reveals part of His very essence. He possesses love and offers that love to those He will. Since God possesses love, and is the distributor of love, we can rightly discern that one cannot truly love apart from a right relationship with God.
Much that is considered and displayed by this world is not love at all, at least in a biblical sense. We wonder why our world is in the shape it is today. Why is there so much violence and neglect? Why is there no compassion or generosity? It is simple: many lack genuine love.
Let’s go a bit further. Why is there so much turmoil and division in so many church congregations today? The answer remains the same: a lack of genuine love. We cannot love as God would have us too and carry bitterness or anger toward our brother. We cannot love as God does and have a self-consumed, self-righteous attitude. Genuine love would solve the majority of problems we encounter today!
C. The Significance of Love (7c) – and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. John reveals one of the characteristics possessed by believers: the presence of love. Those who love as God would have us to is born of Him and knows Him. Our love for one another is a genuine mark of salvation.
Really this should come as no surprise. When we are born again in Christ, reconciled to God through Him, we become a new creature. The anger and hatred of the past is replaced with the love and compassion of God. Love revealed from someone is just an outward manifestation of the inward change wrought thorough salvation. Christians will be known and recognized for their love for one another. That love stands as a genuine testimony of one’s conversion. We are simply reflecting the attributes of our Father and Savior. 1 Peter 1:22 – Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
D. The Scrutiny of Love (8) – He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Just as there is a positive affirmation of the new birth through love, there is the negative affirmation of a lack of conversion through the absence of love. John reveals plainly, those who do not love do not know God, for God is love. We cannot be in a right relationship with the Lord and not show forth the very essence of who He is in love. If there is never any love felt or shown for others, it is a good indication that one has never been converted from sin in salvation.
Our fleshly nature doesn’t like that because it convicts, but it is true nonetheless. Our world suffers much of what it does due to an absence of love and that can be directly traced to an absence of a genuine relationship with Christ. Our world, our lives, and our churches would be much different if the love of Christ was shown by all. Sadly it isn’t and it never will be because all are not born again in Christ.
II. The Emancipation in Love (9-10) – These verses reveal that love is not just an emotion we feel and express, but also a force of liberation and peace. Consider:
A. The Manifestation of Love (9a) – In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world. As believers we are well aware of the coming of Christ into this world to offer Himself the atoning sacrifice for sin, and yet it is still amazing. God knew, prior to creation, that sin would enter the human race. He knew there would have to be a perfect sacrifice to atone for sin. He knew His only begotten Son would be the only one worthy to atone. He loved us enough to send His Son to this world in order to bear our sin and suffer the judgment we deserved. God didn’t just tell us He loved us through His Word, He showed that great love as He sent His Son to die for our sin.
There is no greater manifestation of love than this. God could’ve left us to ourselves and forced us to endure the wrath we deserved. He could’ve condemned us all to hell, but in His great love He offered His Son!
B. The Reconciliation through Love (9b) – In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Isn’t that amazing? God loved us enough to provide eternal life through His Son. In Christ we live!! While in sin we were separated from God and destined for eternal death and destruction, but in Christ we inherit eternal life. We no longer have to fear death, but have the assurance of life.
That in itself is enough to shout about, but I rejoice that we don’t have to wait until we depart from this life to enjoy living. The saved are alive in Christ as this very moment! He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. We don’t have to wait until we close our eyes in death down here to enjoy living in Christ. We really begin to experience eternal life at the very moment of conversion. That is available to us through Christ!
C. The Conception of Love (10a) – Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. This reveals the birth of love within our hearts. This passage deals with agape love, God’s love. It is impossible to love apart from God, and we would never know love had God not loved us. God offered His love, and in turn we too can express that love. We could never have loved God or anyone else had He not loved us first!
D. The Propitiation through Love (10b) – Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. We have talked much about the propitiation of Christ for our sins. His sacrifice on the cross fully satisfied the righteous demands of holy God. He paid the debt we owed for sin. It totally removed the condemnation we deserved and the judgment we faced. The saved by grace are viewed in light of the holiness of the Son rather than the guilt of our sin. We are reconciled to God, made acceptable to Him, and heirs of the promise through the propitiation of Christ.
It is impossible to consider the foundational truths of the Bible and miss the love of God for fallen humanity. He spared not His only begotten Son, sending Him to become the propitiation for our sin. What love was bestowed upon sinful men, providing the means of salvation and reconciliation to God! 2 Cor.5:21 – For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Gal.3:13 – Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Conclusion: I rejoice for the love of God that is shown to humanity. There can be no doubt of His great love for us. Christ revealed His great love as He suffered in our place on the cross. This was all done to provide for our salvation. Had God not loved us, Christ would never have come to earth to die for sin.
We ought to share this great love with others. Do you love as God would have us to? Do you know Christ as your Savior? Have you experienced this great love? If not, you can!
i http://www.kentrivette.com/1john20.htm
