Text: 1 John 4:1-11
(1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (5) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. (6) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) 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. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Today, “The Challenge to Love.”
A challenge issued by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John which helps us see how to fulfill the Great Commandments “Love God and Love Others” and the Great Commission.
The Context: 1 John 4:1-21
John warns about false doctrines concerning Christ’s words and work.
Throughout the Epistle, he has issued several tests to help show the difference between the Believer and the Non-Believer.
John issues a Great Challenge in our text with “A Test of True love.”
NOTE: God’s people must be ever cautious concerning false teachers that may arise to deny the incarnation, deity, and atonement of the Lord Jesus, and must accept none of their claims without testing them by God’s Truth in the light of the Holy Spirit’s teaching.
The spirit of truth is known not only by doctrine, but by love.
God’s LOVE “Agapa” is the natural fruit of the Spirit.
God’s love witnessed through the Believer’s life provides a true and just testimony of salvation, and such love can never deny the Lord Jesus.
A quick glance at this chapter reveals several tests of true doctrine, 1 John 4:1-15.
The litmus test of True Bible Doctrine:
1. Does it confess Christ’s true humanity? 1Jn_4:9, 1Jn_4:15.
2. Does it support His vicarious atonement? 1Jn_4:10, 1Jn_4:14.
3. Does it tend to worldliness? 1Jn_4:4, 1Jn_4:5.
4. Does it find agreement with spiritually minded people it? 1Jn_4:6.
5. Does it witness to the spirit of divine love? 1Jn_4:7, 1Jn_4:8.
6. Does it accord with the teaching of the Holy Spirit? 1Jn_4:13.
Notice the truths about Love that John teaches: 1-11
I. The Confession of Truth about confessing Christ, (4:1-3)
II. The Contrast of Spirit of Truth to spirit of error, (4:4-6)
III. The Clarity about God’s Love, (4:7-10
IV. The Challenge of Love, (4:11)
I want to focus primarily on verse 11 and “the Great Challenge of Love” as given by the Apostle John.
We shall look at this Challenge in two parts.
I. John’s Love Challenge, part one… 1 John 4:11
(11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
The first part of John’s challenge: “Beloved, if God so loved us…”
Does God love us?
Question: This may seem silly, but Does God love us?
One passage we never grow tired of hearing.
These few verses sum up so much about God’s Love.
Let’s them again… Joh 3:16-19
(16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Word Study: In John 3;16, “Loved” agapao¯, a noble word used for the highest form of love.
God’s Love is what brought Redemption! John 3:16, notice the couplets…
God and the Son
loved and gave
the world and whosoever
believe and have
not perish but have everlasting life.
NOTE: The judgment is already in process, and the turning point with each who has known the gospel will be his attitude toward the light he has enjoyed. However, evil men avoid the light, as one quickly turns his eyes from the brilliant light of the sun.
A. God’s Love removes Fear, bringing Spiritual Boldness! 1 John 4:17-19
(17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (19) We love him, because he first loved us.
No Fear!
There is “no fear” in this love.
No true heart fears Christ.
Souls who come to Christ discover Fear replaced by the Love of God.
B. God’s Love brings Life! Eph 2:4-10
(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
C. God’s Love comes through the ministry of the Holy Spirit! Rom 5:1-8
(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Returning to the first part of John’s challenge: “Beloved, if God so loved us…”
We can settle the “IF” once and for all!
Does God love us?
If you have answered yes, then hopefully you also know Christ and His love through personal salvation.
II. John’s Love Challenge, part two… The second part of John’s challenge:
(11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Word Study: “So” is EMPHATIC! “Ought” (opheilomen). As in 1Jo_2:6. Noblesse oblige. “Keep on loving,” (agapa¯in) as in 1Jo_3:11.
The Challenge of Love: "Beloved if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
There is a tremendous challenge in that.
The New Testament teaches how to go about fulfilling this Challenge.
Love not just today, but every day of our lives we work on fulfilling this Challenge!
Love not just the lovable, but as God loved the world, so ought we!
God’s love is the key to everything from Genesis to Revelation.
If these things are true, the sum of the Bible is vital union with God in Christ, and that union only possible through God’s love!
John’s Great Challenge is a challenge as to our relationship with Jesus Christ which only come about because of God’s Love!
The test of that relationship is here resolved into a matter of love.
John asked several questions which help us to take an Inventory of our lives…
NOTE: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar" (1 John 4:20)
If a man doesn’t love his brother, then he does not love God.
So, you see, the test of our relationship with God is this matter of love.
NOTE: Everything hangs on the “IF.”
A. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
B. This “Love” relationship with God and in Christ is brought about by an act of the Holy Spirit's incoming, in our receiving Him.
C. The Holy Spirit given to us and brings about our relationship with God and His children.
D. The immediate result and seal of that relationship by the indwelling Spirit is that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.
LOVE, then is the test of relationship.
The very basis of our spiritual and vital union with God is this matter of the God’s Divine Love in us.
NOTE: John challenges us again in 1 John 3:14, "We know that we have passed out of death into life (i.e. that we are in vital union with God) because we love the brethren.”
The Word of God makes this love a test of our having received the Spirit.
Are you a recipient of God’s Love? If you and I are objects of God's love, then those whom He loves should be also the objects of our love!
John issues “The Great challenge” 1 John 4:11, 19
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another...” (1 John 4:11)
“We love, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
If God has loved our fellow Christians and brethren to such a degree, as to send his Son to die for them, we ought to love them too.
If we are interested in the same love, the obligation is still the greater; and if God loved them with so great a love, when they did not love him, but were enemies to him, then surely, we ought to love them now since they became friends of God, and ours also.
SUMMARY: As God loved them freely, and when unlovely, and us likewise in the same manner, and under the same circumstances, then we ought to love, and continue to love the saints, though there may be something in their temper and conduct disagreeable:
God is to be imitated in his love.
Therefore, “The Great Challenge” we have learned today, should be practiced not just today, not just this Sunday, but today for all our lives!
Additional Scriptures related to the Challenge of Love:
• Mat 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
• Joh 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
• Joh 15:12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
• Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
• 1Jn 3:16-18 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
• 1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
• Eph 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (2) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
CONCLUSION:
As you think about God’s Love and your salvation, your peace, your assurance, your joy… you have received these, not because you deserve them, but because God loved you!
Now, if you have received God’s Love, would you in turn love others?
Remember, God loved you and me that He might love others through us.
Would you accept the Love Challenge? Would you start today!
John’s Love Challenge,
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
The old hymn, “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship” written by George Atkins, in 1819 sums it ups nicely for us:
Brethren, We Have Met to Worship”
1. Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
2. Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumb’ring on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
3. Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
4. Is there here a trembling jailer, seeking grace, and filled with fears?
Is there here a weeping Mary, pouring forth a flood of tears?
Brethren, join your cries to help them; sisters, let your prayers abound;
Pray, oh, pray that holy manna may be scattered all around.
5. Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
