Thunder and Love part 2 – John the Apostle of love!
Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21:
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Love – biblical love comes from God
Those who love are born of God and they personally know God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The opposite is also true a person who does not love does not know God – because when we know God we are wrapped up in His love and that love pours out onto others.
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
God showed love through sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for us! This is love manifested for all to see and embrace.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
It’s the pay it forward principle!
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us.
God is seen and revealed through love – Jesus’ love for the unlovable reveals God to others to see – Jesus is the manifest presence of Love in the flesh – you see Jesus you see a God.
13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because 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 acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
God through his act of love has given us the Spirit – the Spirit comes and lives in us when believe and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior!
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 him.
We rely on God’s love for salvation, for the Spirit – He is love – he is the creator of love – those who chose to live in His love – live with and in connection to God – through His spirit.
17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 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.
When we walk in God’s love – embrace God’s love and love others like Jesus we know that judgment day has nothing on us and we can live at peace – embracing God’s love – creates in us a “No fear” mindset – Love has the power to cast our all fear! If we live in fear then we have not embraced all that love has for us – we all keeping love still at a distance rather than embracing it and immersing ourselves in it.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), 1 Jn 4:1–21.
If we live and are immersed in God’s love we will love others – especially our brothers and sisters in Jesus – love is a key the world is looking for – genuine God type love and that love needs to be seen in all Christians – if we do not manifest love – we do not have God in our life – we are Christian in name only!
Illustration: LOVED, TO BE LOVE from sermoncentral.com Jason Bonnickson shared this story:
One of the neatest gifts I've ever received was this little, hand towel. I was given this during my seminary commencement, and have cherished it ever since. The towel has a little saying on it: "Blessed to be a blessing" Isaiah 61:1. Isaiah 61:1-2 says: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives... to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn."
Days after we arrived here, I unpacked my boxes and placed this towel on my bookshelf. I've kept it there to serve as a reminder of God's calling on my life. And, as I gazed upon this towel these last, few days, I've thought, Yes, I am blessed, and for that I need to be a blessing to others. But more than this, I am also so loved by God, and because I am loved by him, I need to love because of him. For, without the love of Christ, what does it mean to be a blessing anyway?
You know, in some ways, I think it would be equally fitting if the towel read, "Loved, to be love" (John 13:34).
Thesis: Today we are going to focus – maybe refocus on Love – John was called the apostle of Love and He knew love and truth had to be linked together to be able to live in a world which distorted both love and truth!
T.S. – Let’s take a moment and review truth for a moment from John’s writings.
Introduction and Summary of last few sermons:
The Bible – God’s Word reveals Truth – It is the bestselling book every single year in the world – it’s sold more copies than any other book in history – The Bible reveals God’s truth – reveals God’s mission – for the salvation of mankind – This revelation from the Word of God brings freedom from sin – it breaks the chains of sin off us and gives us the grace and mercy of Jesus.
John’s writings in the New Testament were dominated by speaking absolutely about Truth! Jesus is the way the Truth and the life.
He speaks frequently about truth and emphasizes how black and white it is in knowing truth. He uses the word Truth 25x in the Gospel of John and in his three Epistles it is used 20x.
John is second only to Jesus in speaking so much about truth. But truth must be spoke in connection with love – the two go together like:
• James and John
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Adam and Eve
• Eggs and Bacon
• Jospeh and Mary
• Bread and butter
MacArthur states this about John’s focus on truth: “John's zeal for the truth shaped the way he wrote. Of all the writers of the New Testament, he is the most black and white in his thinking. He thinks and writes in absolutes. He deals with certainties. Everything is cut-and-dried with him. There aren't many gray areas in his teaching, because he tends to state things in unqualified, antithetical language.”
John does a lot of this is the way it is talk in his writing – listen to his Gospel:
He sets light against darkness
Life against death
The kingdom of God against the kingdom of the devil
The children of God against the children of Satan
The judgment of the righteous against the judgment of the wicked
The resurrection of life against the resurrection of damnation
Receiving Christ against rejecting Christ
Fruit against fruitlessness
Obedience against disobedience
Disobedience, and love against hatred.
John loves dealing with truth in absolutes and opposites. He understands the necessity of drawing a clear line. He gives you the divine principle then the opposite to make the point. Have you learned that you to must draw a clear line in sand so people can understand the Gospel and Message of Jesus?
The above is adapted from MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (pp. 97-98). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
John revealed truth very plainly in His Gospel: Biblically, truth is defined as God's self-expression, the way things truly are, and the Word of God. It is the standard by which all truth claims should be evaluated and is rooted in God's character and being. Truth and love are linked together with the chains of Heaven – unbreakable.
Here's a more detailed look:
• God is the Source and Standard of Truth: There is no other standard! The Bible portrays God as the ultimate source and determiner of truth. Why because He is the Creator of this world we live in. Truth reflects His character and His Word and it’s the foundation for truth.
• Truth is Revealed in God's Word: The Bible itself is considered the "Word of God" and a source of truth, with Scripture serving as a benchmark for evaluating truth claims. The Bible was given to mankind by God so they could determine what is truth and what is a lie.
• Truth is Objective and Immutable: Biblical truth is not dependent on individual belief but is objective and unchanging, meaning it exists independently of human opinions or feelings.
• Jesus as the Truth: Jesus, as God's Word made flesh, is also identified as "the truth," representing the embodiment and fulfillment of God's reality.
Truth – What is the opposite of truth? A common antonym for 'truth' is 'falsehood. ‘While 'truth' refers to the quality or state of being true, 'falsehood' denotes a false statement or a lie, representing the opposite of truth.
The world – the flesh and the devil seek to distort truth so as to deceive people and rob them of their joy, their destiny and the position in the Kingdom of God. But just as the world, the flesh and the devil seek to distort truth so has the same forces sought to distort what love is. The world in which we live defines love totally different that what God tells us love is. Let’s explore the truth of God’s love and see how the enemies of the truth have sought to pervert and distort love today.
T.S -We need Thunder and Love to sound – to echo – to roar over our society again and God wants to use us to beat the drum of thunder and love for all to hear and see.
I. The Apostle of Love! Thunder and Love!
a. John wrote the most about Love giving him the name “Apostle of Love”
i. John mentions love 80x in his Gospel and Epistles. John wrote more than any other New Testament author about the importance of love — laying stress on these subjects:
1. Christian's love for Christ, Christ's love for His church, and the love for one another that is supposed to be the hallmark of true believers.
a. John listened to Paul in 1 Cor. 13: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
i. Paul even said God’s real love - does not rejoice in iniquity (sin) but rejoices in the truth.”
ii. We need to remember that Paul wrote this chapter to a divided and fighting within church – not to two people who have fallen in love!
b. The theme of love flows through his writings. But love was a quality he learned from Christ, not something that came naturally to him. In his younger years, he was as much a Son of Thunder as James but age and the Spirit helped to balance him out.
i. The above from MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 96). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition
ii. John changed over the years from being The Son of Thunder (very aggressive for guarding the name of Jesus and the mission) to the Apostle of Love.
iii. We all need to learn this lesson of the balance of Truth and Love. It’s the equilibrium we need to become mature Christians!
1. I have met too many unbalanced professing, Christians.
a. They are the TRUTH Hammers: They speak truth with a hammer - harsh, judgmental attitudes and demeanors. They beat people up with the Bible and feel God is with them. I see in these individuals a lack of love and empathy for others and usually a self-righteous spirit with them. The Pharisees were like this!
i. Tell the story of the Redneck Christian!
b. Then there are the LOVE cupids: They speak about love all the time and flutter around shooting their arrows of love into others. But their concept of love is not a biblical love. It’s a demeanor where God is love and he does not care about truth - no one will be judged or go to Hell. This out of balance and distorted love makes excuses for people who willingly choose to sin against God’s Word. These love deceived cupids will even rewrite the Word of God to justify people’s sins and therefore in the process they reject God’s truth. We see today these out of balance individuals telling you they are good just the way you are – living in sin or not.
iv. John learned from Jesus – that you must declare equally Truth and Love – and maintain the balance Jesus did in confronting evil in this world.
1. He was a man of thunder and love – we need to be too!
II. The Love of God and our role in loving others.
a. God’s Love and Ours: 1 John 4: 7-21
i. Yes, John preached the most in the New Testament about love – Yes at the same time of being aggressive with the Gospel speaking about truth he spoke on love too. This is how John becomes known as the “Apostle of love.” And “The Son of Thunder!”
1. In his own Gospel, he refers to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20, 21:21-25). He also at the end of the book identifies himself as this disciple see 21:20-25.
a. He is depicted as the one leaning against Jesus’ chest at the last supper. His brief second epistle is filled with expressions of his deep love for those in his care. His close relationship with Jesus taught John the importance of truth and love!
ii. John addresses his first epistle to a group of believers “Whom I love in the truth” and exhorts them to “love one another” by walking in obedience to Jesus’ commands (1 John 1:1, 5-6).
1. This is the balance of Truth and Love!
a. Quote by MacArthur “Truth without love has no decency; it's just brutality. On the other hand, love without truth has no character; it's just hypocrisy.”
i. MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 106). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
b. Love is the most excellent way! Paul said it and so did John agree with this thought!
i. To be able to love well means I must embrace the 4 letter word, “Love” in its original definition and its created application – Because that word “Love” has been twisted and distorted by this world – But the true meaning of love goes back to God’s meaning of love! God is love and he defines what true love is!
1. Scripture Text: John 13:34-35: Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
a. The witness to the world that we are Christian is the action of love! God’s Love!
b. It’s love for one another!
2. 1 John 4:7-10: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
a. LOVE’s original definition is spelled out in Scripture - “God is love” says 1 John 4:8 or to reverse this thought “Love is God” God created and defined what Love is and what it should look like and act like.
b. John 1:1 tells us Jesus and God are one which implies that Jesus is God’s love manifested in the flesh – in other words a recognizable expression of love in the flesh that all can see, touch and model (See 1 John 1:1-4).
ii. As we continue to explore the definition of “Real Love” all for the purpose to breathe life into that which is dead” We discovered the word love being used in all kinds of contexts and in connection with all kinds of things or objects today:
1. For example:
a. I say, “I love snow!” and many would disagree with this statement.
b. I say, “I love Dunkin Donuts Coffee” which I do! Some may disagree and say, “I love Starbucks Coffee!” I am not a big fan (Sorry).
c. I say, “I love Giordano’s Pizza” another person would say, “I love Luminate’s Pizza.” Vernon and Ashley.
d. I say, “I love donuts” another would say like Arnold Schwarzenegger, “Never eat a donut – they are bad for you!” I disagree 😊
i. They make me happy!
ii. My daughter Tiffany would say the same but my grandsons Ayden and Keagan would say “Grandpa let’s get donuts at Dunkin!”
e. I say, “I love White Castle cheeseburgers!” my wife says, “I hate White Castle cheeseburgers!” “She also says “How can you like those things!” They are disgusting!
f. I say, “I love oatmeal!” my wife says, “Gag me!”
i. I think that reaction comes from having Oatmeal for breakfast so much growing up on her parent’s farm in MN.
g. I say, “I love wilderness survival shows” my wife says “Why?”
h. In a given day we may say, “Love you” to our kids, spouses or even a friend! We may even tell our pets “I love you!” We may or may not get a response from them though.
i. I say, “I love going out to eat alone” my wife says, “No way I will never go out to a place to eat alone!”
iii. WHAT'S Real love got to do WITH using the word love in these many different contexts, statements or applications?
1. The Word love has taken on meanings that it was not designed for:
a. In Greek there are multiple words for Love:
i. Eros: Sexual passion.
ii. Philia: Deep friendship.
iii. Ludus: Playful love.
iv. Agape: Love for everyone – unconditional love – God’s type of love!
v. Pragma: Long-standing love.
vi. Philautia: Love of self.
vii. Storge: Familial love.
viii. Mania: Obsessive love.
2. Love has taken on several different meanings – you can see this by “Googling” the word love, and you must be very careful doing this, you will find all sorts of websites focused on love: I discovered 11,150,000,000.
a. Here are some examples that you will find:
i. I love Dogs.com
ii. I love Cats.com (Although this one is a plea to spay or neuter them – I ask the question do you really love them if you do this too them?)
iii. I love Cheese.com
iv. I love Lucy.com
v. Betterlove.com
vi. True Romance Dating Service.com
vii. Love Test.com
viii. Matchmaker.com
ix. The Love Calculator.com
x. On this site you type in your name and your mates name and it gives you the odds of your relationship lasting. John Harvey the person I pulled this statistic from said “Alana and I got 41%.” I was scared to do with Kathy and my name!
xi. The interesting observation from all these sites is love is seen as almost an entirely human endeavor – it’s really portrayed as an emotion.
c. The truth is you cannot love White Castle Cheeseburgers like you do your kids or even your spouse – well at least this not a good idea right? I suppose you could, but I don’t think that would go over very well with your spouse or your kids! They are two different views or objects of love.
i. If you look up the word love on dictionary.com this is what it says: a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. sexual passion or desire.
1. As you read the three definitions listed in dicitionary.com most people would agree with them and not think twice about it. But it portrays love as an emotion.
2. If you keep searching the word love you will discover around 28 different definitions of this word love.
ii. But these definitions of love don’t align with the real biblical meaning of love spoken about by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 and by the Apostle John in I John or the Gospel of John.
1. In the Bible, "love" (agape) is defined as a selfless, active commitment to the well-being of others, regardless of their response or if it's reciprocated. It's not just a feeling but a choice to serve and prioritize others' needs over one's own. Biblical love is also sacrificial, showing itself in action, and ultimately demands obedience to God's commands.
a. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the biblical understanding of love:
i. Agape Love: This term, often translated as "love" in the New Testament, is a selfless, sacrificial love, prioritizing the well-being of others.
ii. God's Love: God is love, and his love for humanity is a central theme in the Bible, demonstrating itself through his creation, the law, the prophets, and ultimately, Jesus Christ.
iii. Love as a Choice: Biblical love is not just an emotion but a deliberate choice to act in a way that benefits others, even when it's difficult or requires sacrifice.
iv. Love as Action: Love is shown through actions, not just words. It involves actively seeking the good of others, whether through acts of service, forgiveness, or compassion.
v. Love and Obedience: Loving God also means obeying his commands, which are not burdensome but reflect the path to true well-being.
vi. Sacrificial Love: Jesus's sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate example of biblical love, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to saving humanity.
vii. Love as a Virtue: Love is the greatest virtue in the Bible, exceeding other virtues like faith and hope.
viii. Love Fulfills the Law: Love is the fulfillment of the law, as it encompasses all of its commandments.
1. To love God means we listen and obey God’s Words of truth!
T.S. – We live in a world today that likes to redefine God’s Truth and God’s meaning for Love – I have discovered three forces which seek to redefine truth and love.
III. The three forces John and the Bible highlight to be aware of – these three will seek to deceive you and rob you of truth and love.
a. The three enemies you will face in your Christian Life according to the Bible and John:
i. In Christian theology, the three enemies of God’s truth and love, and of the Christian life, are traditionally identified as the world, the flesh, and the devil. These are seen as forces that actively oppose God's will and the spiritual well-being of believers.
1. These forces seek to distort Truth and Love – and even redefine these two core principles in the Bible!
ii. Here's a more detailed look at each of the 3 forces:
1. The World: This refers to the worldly system, values, and culture that often clash with God's principles. It encompasses things like the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, which are not of God.
a. The Moral Order Opposed to God: In addition to the physical and social dimensions, the word "world" also signifies the moral order that stands in opposition to God. In 1 John 2:15-17, we find a warning: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." This use of "world" points to a system characterized by sin and rebellion against God, urging believers to remain separate from worldly temptations.
2. The Flesh: This represents human nature's inherent tendency towards sin and self-centeredness, rather than seeking God's will. It is the "old sinful nature" that believers inherit at birth.
a. In the New Testament, "flesh" is used to describe the sinful element of human nature, opposed to the "Spirit".
b. Being "in the flesh" means being unrenewed and living "according to the flesh" is to live and act sinfully.
c. The Bible often highlights the conflict between living "according to the flesh" (following selfish desires) and living "according to the Spirit" (obeying God's will).
3. The Devil: Is the personification of evil (He is real and at work in this world). He is often depicted as a fallen angel, who actively seeks to deceive and lead people away from God.
a. In the Bible, the devil, also known as Satan, is portrayed as a powerful, spiritual being who is God's chief enemy and the leader of fallen angels. He is seen as the originator of evil, who tempts humans and opposes God's will.
b. He is a real entity at work in this world!
b. These three enemies are seen as constantly working together to hinder believers' spiritual growth and relationship with God. Overcoming them requires Thunder (God’s Word and Truth), It requires love (acting and living like Jesus did and having a love so strong for God you obey His word and truth), it also requires faith, prayer, and obedience!
i. Ephesians 3:15: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
1. When we speak truth and love like God says to, we will spiritually grow!
a. Choosing not to do these two things will cause you to drift and fall away from the Lord!
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
John wants us to know how to live and abide in Truth – how to live in the World with Love – We do this by resisting and fighting against the three enemies of God and us?
It is a battle we must fight!
Why do we need to know this truth?
We need to know Truth = God’s Word = Jesus’ Christ’s teachings = these are the Thunder – they are the power of God to transform people and communities. The power is unleashed through the Word, and we model it with love. We speak the truth in love – it’s the dynamic duo!
We must have this dynamic duo in operation in our lives daily!
What do they need to do this?
We need to speak the truth in love – to grow in our relationship with Jesus and become mature Christians!
For Christians, both truth and love are paramount because they are intertwined aspects of God's character and are central to the Christian life. Truth is essential because God is truth, and Jesus is the embodiment of truth. Love is essential because God is love, and love reflects God's character. When Christians speak the truth in love, they are mirroring God's own character and demonstrating the gospel's message of reconciliation and redemption.
