UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
When we look at 1 John 4:16?, it affirms that God loves us with unconditional love, and Christmas is the culmination of that love revealed in Jesus Christ. This love then calls us to remain in that love and manifest it toward others.
1. Knowing and Believing His Love
This verse begins with the statement that we have “known and believed the love God has for us,” meaning God’s love is not just a concept but a personal experience—something to be trusted and held as the foundation of life. Christmas shows that God took the first step: He came near and loved us while we were still sinners and unworthy. Therefore, believers are encouraged to see Christ’s birth as living proof that God’s love never depends on human merit or achievement.
2. God Is Love – the Heart of Christmas
The declaration “God is love” in 1 John 4:16? reveals that love is not merely one of God’s attributes but the very essence of His being and all His works. At Christmas, this essence becomes tangible: God, who is love, reveals Himself by sending His Son into the world to save. Thus, the celebration of Christmas is not primarily about atmosphere, but about God’s character—His humility, self-giving, and complete devotion to humanity’s salvation.
3. Abiding in Love: The Response of Christmas
The verse ends with a call to “remain in love,” meaning the life of believers must continually be formed, moved, and measured by the love they have experienced from God. In the context of Christmas, abiding in love means:
Receiving Christ as the center of life, not merely as a symbol of celebration.
Showing concrete love to family, the congregation, and the marginalized—as a reflection of the God who came to seek and save the lost.
