Relying on God’s Love
1 John 4:13-21
Introduction
Apostle John is often called the “apostle of love” because he spoke about the subject on love more than the other New Testament writers. The manner of John’s discourse seems to tell us that the believers did not understand the true message of loving God and loving one another. Sadly, this lack of understanding on the subject of love still prevails today.
Beginning in chapter 2 John laid out the spiritual principles that:
· Love is of God
· Loving one another
· God sent His Son that we might live through him
· God loved us first
· Jesus is the propitiation of our sins
· God’s love is perfected in us
John repeats these principles over and overt to the point that it seems redundant. Yet every time he speaks of love he gives a new principle about the power of God’s love and the command to love one another. So much so that by the time you finish reading chapter 4 you promise yourself to love others.
Yet it is not easy. Is it? Another one of those “easier said than done” thing. Many of us struggle with the command “Love One Another”. We hear comments from the brotherhood that sometimes loving others is difficult when we see their inconsistencies, ignorance, selfishness, and a host of behaviors that falls below our standards. We discriminate, we are subjective, and we want others to behave like we do.
This is the very reason why John reiterated his call for a change in our attitude concerning the command of loving one another. This can only be achieved when we rely on God’s love instead of relying on our selfish love.
In the final verses of chapter 4 (v 13-21)
· John reiterates the reasons why Christians should love one another.
· John reiterates that God gave us a way so we can love one another with all sincerity of heart.
Today we will discuss 3 points that the apostle John reiterated in the last verses of 1 John chapter 4, as though he was making a final appeal that “we ought to love one another” because of the following compelling reasons:
a) God lives in us and we live in Him
b) God’s Love is Perfected in Us
c) We Love God because He loved us first
Main Points.
I - God lives in us and we live in Him (v 13-16)
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us:
· He has given us of his Spirit.
· 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
· 15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
· 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1. He has given us His Spirit
· The Spirit of God is evidence that God indwells and living in our hearts.
· It is only by the Holy Spirit that we live with Him and through the same Spirit that He lives with us.
· It is through the Spirit that we can bear fruit of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” etc., Galatians 5:22-23
2. He sent us His Son to be the Savior of the world
· The apostles witnessed Jesus in the flesh
· Jesus Christ is the evidence of God’s great love for us. “When we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
· Although Peter said that the end-result of our faith is the “salvation of our souls” (1 Peter 1:9), Christians are enjoying the fruit of their salvation right now.
· We were also saved from temptation, bad habits, burdens, trials, fears, frustrations, and anxieties.
3. God Lives in them and they in God for anyone who confesses that Jesus is the Son of God
· We live in Him and He in us when we confess that Jesus is the Son of God.
· Confession of faith is not simply making a statement of our faith but it is followed by an act of obedience to the Gospel.
· Note Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
· Faith is followed by confession and confession is followed by an act of obedience. (Acts 8:37)
· After Philip preached the good news to the eunuch, the eunuch asked: “Here is much water. What hinders me to be baptized?” Philip answered: “If you believe with all your heart you may.” The eunuch confessed: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” With his confession, they went down into the water and Phillip baptized him.
4. We know and rely on the love God for us. (v 16)
· This is the key to the entire message today. We rely on the love of God, not on our selfish love.
· God’s love is unconditional. (Forgiveness is conditional)
· Therefore, as we rely on God’s love, our love for others should be unconditional as well. This is the reason why we need to rely upon God’s love. We cannot rely on our selfish love, because our love discriminates and is subjective.
· The love we give is the fruit of our LIVING with GOD and God LIVING in us through the Holy Spirit
· Note: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
· Selfish love
· love is not self-seeking
· love does not envy
· love is not easily angered
· love does not keep record of wrongs
· What is the love of God? (fruit of the Spirit)
· love is patient
· love is kind
· love rejoices with the truth
· love protects
· love always trusts
· love always hopes
· love perseveres
· When we rely on our selfish love this is what happens: Luke 6:32-36
· If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. When we rely on God’s love, we do not love in words only but more importantly, seeking the welfare of others. And as we abide in Christ, we can provide the love for others with sincerity of heart. This is AGAPE kind of love.
II – God’s Love is Perfected in Us (v 17-18)
17 This is how love is made perfect among us
· so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
· 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1. We have confidence on the Day of Judgment.
a. It is GUILT that makes people fear what is to come; but he whose sins are forgiven, and whose heart is filled with the love of God, has nothing to dread in this world or the world to come.
2. It is LOVE that inspires us to obey the commands of our Lord Jesus. Our obedience should not be prompted by compulsion or coercion. We obey the commands of Jesus because of our love for him. (John 14:15)
a. As we live with Jesus in abiding love, we will be like him as we are transformed into his image day by day.
b. To those who are "in Christ" and who abide in him, loving him, following him, obeying him - to all such persons shall be given an assurance to face the judgment without fear.
c. We obey him so that we will not sin, but if we do sin, we have an advocate in Jesus whose blood purifies from all sin. (1 John 1:1)
d. Hebrews 13:5 – He will never leave us or forsake us.
3. Verse 18. There is no fear in Love.
a. We do not fear punishment of Jesus who pardoned our sins and who continues to forgive when we have failed.
III - We Love Him because He first loved us. (v 19-21)
19 We love because he first loved us.
20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.
· For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1. He first loved us.
a. He gave His Son to die for the forgiveness of our sins.
b. He loved us because of His mercy, not because we are worthy. This is the reason why we love Him.
c. God is Love
i. We were once sinners: Titus 3:3-6
ii. We do not boast: 1 Corinthians 1:26-28
iii. Not wanting anyone to perish – 2 Peter 3:9
iv. God does not delight in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 18:23
2. We do not want to be called liars. Do you?
a. Yet if we say we love God and hate our brother or sister makes us a liar. Because the Spirit testifies.
· One who claims to know God and walks in darkness is a liar.
· One who claims to know God but denies the Son of God is a liar.
· One who claims to love God and hates his brother is a liar.
· Warning: LIARS GO TO HELL. Rev 21:8)
SUMMARY:
· God gave us the evidence of His Love:
1. He sent us His Spirit
2. He gave us Jesus as our Savior
3. When we obeyed the Gospel (Confession)
· God’s Love is Perfected in Us
1. We are the vessels that God uses to express His wonderful love for mankind
i. We will not fear the judgment
ii. We will not fear punishment
iii. Because we love God in Jesus Christ by obeying his commands
· We Love God because He loved us First.
· Finally, God did all these things for us so we can live with Him and He lives with us. God is Love. Let us
then RELY on HIS great and wonderful love.
