The writings of the Apostle John give three definitive statements about God. "God is Spirit" (John 4224), "God is light" (1 John l:5), and now, in this passage, " God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16).
John was overwhelmed with the thought that God loved him and proved His love by sending the Lord Jesus into the world to pay the price for his sins. He refers to himself through-out his gospel as "the disciple Jesus loved." The truth that really gripped his heart was that Jesus loved him.
When the famous theologian, Carl Barth, was asked in a Q & A session of a conference to sum up his theological perspective, he answered, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Truly, the wonder of the Christian faith is wrapped up in the thought that we are loved by God! Such a thought defies our ability to understand. An ancient poet put it this way: "How thou canst think of us so well and be the God thou art; Is darkness to my intellect, but sunshine to my heart."
We can never fully understand the depth of God's love, but we can, nevertheless, experience the reality of it and rejoice in the goodness of it. John speaks to us here about the love of God and the difference it should make in each of our lives.
1. Love Proclaimed - vs. 7-8
John tells us that the reason we ought to live a life of love is that if God has truly impacted our lives, He will have left His mark on us. Since God is love, we should love one another. Love ought to be the chief identifying mark of the Christian.
During the presidency of George H. W. Bush, there was a humorous story reported in USA Today about the president's encounter with an eight year old by the name of Anthony Henderson. Bush was visiting Anthony's school, and during the course of his visit, sat down with Anthony to read a book.
While the Bush was reading, Anthony asked him, "Are you really the president?" The president replied, "Yes. Did you think that I was just a pretend guy or something? Let's see how I can prove it to you.” The president then proceeded to produce some I.D. He pulled out his driver's license and said, “See here? B-U-S-H, Bush. George Herbert Walker Bush."
The president then showed Anthony his American Express card. Then a picture of his grandson. He offered to give Anthony his autograph, but Anthony said the teacher said they weren't allowed to ask for an autograph.
A picture also appeared in USA Today along with the story that showed a puzzled president sitting beside Anthony, as Anthony examined his American Express card.
The story concluded, "Bush, at the school to praise Marine .volunteers who tutor there, gave up. And Anthony's still waiting and wondering.”
I share this story in the effort to make a point. The point is that an unbelieving world looks at us and our claim to be a follower of Christ and asks, "How do I know that you are really a Christ follower? How do I know that God has really changed your life and that you belong to Him?" John proclaims love as being the chief evidence of the fact that we belong to God. How convincing is your testimony?
2. Love Proven - vs. 9-10
John tells us how God has proved His love for us and in so doing, lets us know how we might prove our love for God in the way we relate to others. As he speaks about God proving His love for us, he speaks of:
A. God's Intention - v. 9
God's intention in demonstrating His love for us was to lead us to life. God wanted the best for us: a growing relationship with Him.
God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way!
Likewise, we ought to love others with the desire to see them find life. We should want the best for them: a growing relationship with God!
B. God's Initiative - v. L0
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." - Romans 5:8 (NLT)
A pastor told about coming home as a kid one day and finding his parents feeding a homeless person at their kitchen table. He overheard the conversation between the man and his mother. The man said, "I wish there were more people in the world like you. " She replied, "There are. You only have to look for them. “But lady, he said, “I didn't look for you, you looked for me!"
As recipients of God's love, we should demonstrate His love to others by wanting them to find life and taking the initiative to share that life with them! There are folks around us who will respond to the love of God we have to share, if we will only look.
“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” – John 4:35 (NIV)
3. Love Practiced - vs. 11-16
John concludes by sharing two practical ways we can demonstrate God's love to a world that knows so little about what true love is.
A. Through participating in Christian Community - vs. 11-12
John says through believers living in community - demonstrating love for one another - the world can see the reality of God at work!
Perhaps you've heard the term "Friendly Fire?" It refers to the fact that in war, troops can accidentally be wounded by their own forces.
Well, this too often happens among God's people - we can wound each other if we are not careful. Sadly, however, whereas being wounded by friendly fire is accidental on the battlefield, it can often be intentional within the church. It can happen over serious issues, but too often, it happens over the silliest of issues.
Thom Rainer wrote about a survey he did on causes of church fights. Several where ones heard often: temperature of the worship center, color of carpet, order of worship. But some were downright absurd. He shared some of his "favorites." Churches have argued over: the appropriate length of the worship pastor's beard; whether a clock in the worship center should be removed or not; whether a new filing cabinet should be black or brown, or have 2, 3, or 4 drawers; which picture of Jesus should be put in the foyer; whether the church should purchase a weed eater or not (It took two business meetings to resolve); what type of green beans they should serve; whether they should allow deviled eggs at the church meal or not; whether they should use the term "pot blessing" instead of "potluck"; and whether the church should allow people to wear black t-shirts, since black is the color of the devil.
These issues are silly; but they become serious when God's people wound each other. Contrast this reality with the reality of how the early believers are said to have treated one another.
"And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. All the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people." - Acts 2:44;2:47a (NLT)
"It is incredible to see the fervor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator (Jesus) has put into their heads that they are brethren." - Lucian, an unbelieving Greek writer (A.D. 120-200)
The same Holy Spirit who enabled them to love one another as they did can enable you and I to love one another as we ought - taking initiative in our relationships with one another to encourage one another to live the life that is ours in Christ!
But if the world is going to see the reality of God's love, it will not only be through our participating in Christian community. We must also seek to demonstrate the reality of God's love to the world . . .
B. Through participating in the Great Commission - vs. 13-16
Again, as we consider the example of the early church, we find that in the same places where their experience of Christian community is mentioned, their obedience to the Great Commission is also mentioned.
"The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." - Acts 2:44; 47b (NLT)
We need to love the lost as God loved us, desiring to see them find life, we should take the initiative to let them know of God's love for them!
Conclusion: Every Christ follower is called to demonstrate God's love within the church and without the church as God has loved us – by taking the initiative to share God's love in the effort to encourage others, both inside the church and outside the church to have a growing love relationship with God.
In their book, "Romancing The Globe," authors Dan Harrison and Gordon Aeschliman say, "There is a call of the wild that stirs deep from the heart of God This cull is a protest against ordinary, complacent existence. It is a call to 'live inside the pain of this world, to place ourselves among those who are overcome with hopelessness and despair and evil. It is a call to become incarnational Christians who are the 'hands, feet, and arms of Jesus.' Those who respond to God's call of the wild are committed. They make a choice of activism for Jesus' sake rather than comfort for their own sake. Their reason for all of this is love - 'a love that is worth the price of everything we own and are."'
