Introduction
A. The Unfulfilled Love of the World
I am amazed at how much of secular music deals with the subject of love. However, the love expressed in those songs is basically unfulfilled. There seems to be a lostness--a love that never has any ultimate meaning. Compare that with divine love. The only conclusion is that human love is unfulfilled. At its best, it's imperfect.
Philosopher Jean Paul Sartre wrote a novel entitled Nausea. In it Roquentin, his main character, is trying to find the meaning of life. He looks in many places, and decides to give love a try. But all he knows is mechanical and meaningless sex. He concludes that man is egoistic and loves only to enslave his lover. Roquentin is so unfulfilled in love that the nausea of life becomes overwhelming to him. He says he contemplated killing himself in order to remove one more superfluous life.
B. The Fulfilled Love of Christianity
People long for a love that is perfect, complete, and fulfilling. First John 4 is the record of that kind of love. Verse 12 says, "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." Verse 17 says, "Herein is our love made perfect." Verse 18 says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear." Perfect love is available to men.
The New Testament uses many adjectives to describe the love of God: brotherly, unfeigned, believing, serving, abounding, forgiving, comforting, laboring love. But the greatest description is perfect love.
1. Regarded as perfect
What does John mean when he says love is perfect? In English we think of something that has no flaws. But the Greek word teleio[ma]o refers to something that is fulfilled. It means "completion" or "wholeness." When Jesus was on the cross, He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). He used a form of the same word. He finished the work God had committed to Him. John uses the word in the perfect passive, denoting the completeness of love in the life of an individual. There is available a love that is whole--a love that is the best it can possibly be in the human realm. It is not necessarily flawless in this life because we bring in flaws as a result of our humanness. Romans 5:5 says, "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts." God has committed His love to us.
2. Realized in obedience
God's love realizes its perfection in us only when we obey the Word of God.
a) 1 John 2:5--"Whosoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected." The obedient individual realizes the fullness of all that God's love means.
b) 1 John 5:3--"This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." Fulfilling love is not sentiment or mystical experience; it is contingent upon moral obedience.
The workings of perfect love are detailed in 1 John 4:7-21. That is John's third and last discussion of love in his letter. His two previous discussions were in 1 John 2:7-11 and 3:10-14. Love is the soul- searching, moral test of true Christianity. When someone claims to be a Christian, John says we're to find out if he loves his brothers and sisters in Christ.
First John 4:7 is the key to the passage: "Beloved, let us love one another." Verse 12 says, "If we love one another." And verse 21 closes the passage: "This commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also." The beginning, middle, and ending of this passage deal with loving one another. The first word in verse 7 is "beloved" (Gk., agapetoi, `divinely loved ones'). John is saying, "Since God loves you, let us love one another." That is one more use of the present tense to denote habitual action. Christians are to habitually love one another. Now when the Word of God says something once, it's divine truth. When it says something twice, that means it's very important. But when the Word of God says the same thing over and over, we'd better pay particular attention. God repeats the theme of love so much because we can easily forget to love. We need to be reminded to have a perfect, complete, and fulfilled love for one another. John gives several reasons for loving one another.
I. LOVE IS THE ESSENCE OF GOD (vv. 7-8)
A. Present in His Children (v. 7)
"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."
We ought to love one another because love is a characteristic of God. Since we are God's children, we should reflect the character of our Father. Those of you with children may have had someone say to you, "Your kids are exactly like you." A child will take on the traits of his parents, both from the standpoint of heredity and environment. We are born of God--that's our heredity--and we have experienced His presence in our lives--our environment. God's people are to bear His reflection.
Change Your Name or Change Your Behavior
There is a story about a soldier in the army of Alexander the Great. It seems he had misbehaved. As he came before the judgment seat, the presiding judge asked him his name. He said, "It is Alexander, the same as Alexander the Great." The judge replied, "Change your name or change your behavior." Do you name the name of Christ? If so, you ought to act like Him. Otherwise you bring reproach on His name. If we are the children of God, we should manifest His love. Everyone who habitually loves gives evidence of being born of God. Since love has God as its source, those who display that love give evidence of being born of God.
The phrase "everyone that loveth is born of God" (v. 7) should be rendered, "everyone that loveth has been begotten of God." That is a past action with continuous results. Remember, John is attacking the heretical teaching of the Gnostics. In verse 7 John points out that it isn't those who claim to know God who are true, but those who love that give evidence of being born of God.
B. Absent from His Enemies (v. 8)
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
It doesn't matter what someone claims--if he doesn't love, he doesn't know God. The Gnostics knew a lot of speculative theology and had a superficial knowledge of Scripture, but they didn't know God because they didn't love others. They had so elevated themselves by their intellectual attainments that they had contempt for everyone who supposedly knew less than they did. They were the opposite of love.
1. The cooperation of God's love
God is love itself, however love does not define God; God defines love. All God's activities are expressed in love because all His attributes work in cooperation. Even in judgment God's love shines through. To prove that ask yourself: Where is God's judgment the most demonstrative? At the cross. He poured out His wrath on His own Son as the punishment for sin. But where is God's love displayed most? At the cross. God's justice and love operate together.
That God is love explains the following:
a) Creation
Why would God create a world that brings Him so much trouble? Because God is love, and love does not exist in isolation.
b) Volition
God gave man volition because a love relationship necessitates the ability to choose.
c) Providence
Since God is love, His creative act was followed by His constant care. His love sustains and upholds the world. He makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45).
d) Redemption
If God cared only about the law, He would leave man to the consequences of his sin. But because God is love, He seeks to save. Love provides a remedy.
e) Eternal life
Why will believers be in heaven forever? Because God loves you and wants you to be there with Him.
It Can Be Hard to Believe God Is Love
Some people find it hard to believe that God is love. They say, "If God is a God of love, how can He allow so much injustice in the world?" The backcover of John Wenham's book The Goodness of God (Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP, 1974), reads as follows: "Look at the world around us: History is a long tale of man's inhumanity to man. Spain had its Inquisition, Britain its Atlantic slave trade, Germany its gas chambers, Russia its Siberian labor camps, the United States its Indian reservations. And the world is still swept by fear and lust, greed and racial tension.
"Nature too seems twisted. Babies are born deformed. They inherit diseases and tendencies to insanity. Ours is a world of preying animals, parasites, viruses and bacteria.
"The Bible itself even raises the question. It records tyranny, cruelty, mutilation--eyes gouged out, hands lopped off--deceit, licentiousness, war. Not only war but God-sent war. Assyria, one of the cruelest nations of history is called the rod of God's anger."
Wenham writes, "Easy answers could not possibly be right .... we [must] realize that we are children, that we are fools, that we are at heart conceited, stiff-necked rebels, who will get everything wrong, unless we are prepared to give up telling God what he should like and what he should do" (p. 10).
Objectors simply tell us what sin has done, not what God has done. People ask "If God is a God of love, why doesn't He stop all the wars?" The obvious answer is He didn't start them. The Word of God says God is love. I believe it. All you have to do to prove it is look at the cross.
2. The character of God's love
a) It is unconditional
There are no conditions to God's love. He loves everyone the same.
b) It is tough
When many people think of someone who is loving, they think of someone who doesn't make waves. But that's not true. Parents love their children, yet they discipline them. God loves us, but does not indulge us.
c) It is compassionate
In Jeremiah 13:13-16 God tells the people He will destroy them if they don't change their behavior and give Him glory. Then in verse 17 he says, "But if ye will not hear it ... mine eye shall weep bitterly." He feels for His people and wants what's best for them.
By nature God is love. If we are His children, we will love. Our love will be unconditional--no one will have to earn it and it will be available to all. Our love will be tough and not indulgent. Love does not tolerate sin; it rebukes sin. Our love will be like God's--it will be compassionate even in judgment.
Ephesians 5:1 says, "Be ye, therefore, followers of God, as dear children." God is our Father; we are to manifest His character. Verse 2 says, "Walk in love." Why? Because that manifests God's character. We are to do that which manifests God.
II. LOVE WAS MANIFESTED BY CHRIST (vv. 9-11)
A. The Expression of God's Love (vv. 9-10)
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
We are to love one another based on God's gift to us: His Son. The origin of love is in the being of God, the manifestation of God is in the coming of Christ.
1. Christ's supreme act
There have been many manifestations of God's love, but the greatest is the death of Christ. Romans 5:8 says, "God commendeth his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2. Christ's supreme role
John says Christ is God's "only begotten [Gk., monogen[ma]es] Son." What does that mean? It does not refer only to Christ's birth or His humanness. Here it means, "the supreme one." There is none greater than Christ. He is God's unspeakable gift (2 Cor. 9:15).
3. Christ's supreme sacrifice
To provide life for us, Christ had to become "the propitiation for our sin" (1 John 4:10). God is a God of justice who cannot tolerate sin. The Greek word translated "propitiation" is hilasmos, which means, "satisfaction." Christ's death satisfied God's requirements for dealing with sin. Hebrews 9:5 translates a form of that word as "mercy seat." In Old Testament times, blood from a sacrifice was taken into the Holy of Holies once a year and poured out on the mercy seat. That satisfied God's righteous requirements.
B. The Example of God's Love (v. 11)
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
1. The pattern
God gave us the example of Christ to follow. In John 13:34 Jesus says, "Love one another; as I have loved you." How has He loved us? By giving of Himself, In self-sacrifice, and that's how we're to love one another.
2. The principle
Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Be ye, therefore, followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice." How are we to love? In the same self-sacrificing manner that Christ loved. Love is not an emotion; it is an act of self-sacrifice. It takes no effort to say "I love you" to someone. John addresses that issue in 1 John 3:18: "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." We are to love as Christ loved--we are called to make sacrifices for each other. First John 3:17 says, "Whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassions from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" That verse defines love as simply giving to someone who has a need. We're to love each other sacrificially.
III. LOVE IS THE CHRISTIAN'S TESTIMONY (v. 12)
A. The Invisible Glory of God (v. 12a)
"No man hath seen God at any time."
When someone says he had a vision, you can tell him that no man has seen God at any time. John 4:24 says, "God is a Spirit." Jesus said, "A spirit hath not flesh and bones" (Luke 24:39).
1. Unseen by Moses
Some object, saying Moses saw God in Exodus 33:22. But God Himself told Moses, "No man [shall] see me, and live" (v. 20). Moses saw only a manifestation of God reduced to visible light. Similarly the Son of God unveiled His flesh at the Mount of Transfiguration and gave His disciples a brief glimpse of His glory (Matt. 17:2). God is light (1 John 1:5), and there is no way anyone could ever gaze into absolute and total light without being totally consumed. No man has ever seen God in His entirety.
2. Unseen by Isaiah
Scripture tells us Isaiah saw "the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up" (Isa. 6:1). He may have see a representation of God, but he didn't see the unveiled God. First Timothy 1:17 says God is invisible.
If God can't be seen at all, the only hope the world has in recognizing God is if He becomes visible in human flesh. And that's just what He did! John 1:14 says, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth." God chose the body of the Lord Jesus Christ to manifest Himself. But He also chose another body.
B. The Visible Manifestation of God (v. 12b)
"If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."
Scripture says the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12). We are here to manifest the invisible God to the world. How will the world see Him? When we love one another. In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another .... By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples." The revelation of God exists through the love of the church. Is it any wonder the world is having difficulty figuring out where God went? We have a tremendous responsibility, but we fall so short of it. Love is our strongest apologetic.
I was approached by someone who said, "I'm very concerned about someone at Grace Church. I don't see love in his life. All I see is bitterness, a critical spirit, and hatred. He tosses unkind words toward others. I'm not too sure he's even a Christian." Now I don't know whether he is a Christian or not, but it's certainly hard to tell when love isn't present in his life. Why? Because love is the manifestation of the indwelling of God. When I love my brother, God's love is perfected in me.
Jesus isn't physically present in this world; He's seated at the right hand of the Father (Heb. 1:3). The church is the collective representation of God in this world. That's why our testimony is critical. Our love is that testimony.
IV. LOVE IS THE CHRISTIAN'S ASSURANCE (vv. 13-16)
One ongoing struggle Christians have is doubting their salvation. You can ask certain Christians if they have ever invited Christ into their life and they will say, "Yes! Thirteen times in the last week." We like to sing hymns like "Blessed Assurance" so we can feel better afterwards.
Believers can be assured of their salvation when they see deeds of love manifest in their life. First John 3:18-19 says, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. By this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." When you can see visible evidence of love in your life, then you know God is in it. Continual deeds of love are evidence of salvation. Your love brings about your assurance.
A. The Presence of the Holy Spirit (v. 13)
"By this know we we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
The first confirmation we have is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts crying, "Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15). Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." The Holy Spirit is our witness.
B. The Confession of Jesus Christ (vv. 14-15)
"We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."
When you doubt your salvation, the first guarantee is the presence of the Holy Spirit and the second is your belief that Jesus is God in human flesh. Someone said to me, "I don't know if I'm a Christian." I asked him if he believed Jesus is God if he had ever been led by the Holy Spirit to do anything. Romans 8:14 says, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." The Holy Spirit doesn't lead unsaved people.
C. The Manifestation of God's Love (v. 16)
"We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
The third and climactic confirmation of your salvation is when your life manifests the love of God. Satan does not produce deeds of love in believers.
V. LOVE IS THE CHRISTIAN'S CONFIDENCE (vv. 17-18)
A. Perfect Love Produces Boldness (v. 17)
1. Absence of fear (v. 17a)
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment"
"Day of judgment" is a general term. I don't think we can pin it down to the rapture, the b[ma]ema judgment, or the Great White Throne judgment. The point is we don't need to worry--we will have boldness when the time comes because we've seen perfect love manifested in our lives. The Greek word translated "boldness" is parr[ma]esia, which means "confidence." We have confidence in the future. When love is made perfect in our lives, we don't fear the coming of Christ.
A Phony Rapture
There are some Christians who don't want Jesus to come because they're afraid of the rapture. They're worried they'll be left behind. That reminds me of one of the dumber things I participated in while in college. One guy was terrified of the rapture, so the rest of us in the dormitory decided to pull off a fake rapture. We went to the soundstage and picked up a large aluminum sheet that made thunderclaps. We got a trumpet. And we found a press camera with a large flash. Then we prepared the rooms around his. We caved in the pillows and tucked in the covers of the beds. In the middle of the night we went into his room while he was asleep in his bunk. One guy held the camera right over his face. One hit the aluminum sheet, another blew the trumpet, and someone yelled out, "Come!" As he opened his eyes, the flash went off, blinding him. We all hid down the hall. He came wandering out of his room and went into one room and then another. Then he came screaming down the hall, "I'm left! I'm left!" We tried to justify our fun as a lesson to teach him that such fear was foolish.
a) The fear of some
Some people don't want to come to the b[ma]ema because they're afraid they won't receive any rewards. They think all they have accomplished is wood, hay, and stubble, which will be consumed (1 Cor. 3:12-13). My grandfather wrote this in his Bible: "When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ and He shows me His plan for me--the plan of my life as it might have been--and I see how I blocked Him here and checked Him there and would not yield my will, will there be grief in my Savior's eyes--grief though He loves me still? He would have me rich, but I stand here poor, stripped of all but His grace while memory runs like a haunted thing down a path I can't retrace. Then my desolate heart will well nigh break with tears I cannot shed. I will cover my face with my empty hands; I will bow my uncrowned head."
b) The confidence of others
Actually, there is no need for the Christian to worry. Every man shall have his reward (1 Cor. 3:8). I like the attitude of Paul, who said he and a lot of other people "love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8). Do you know why Paul had such confidence? Because he had the kind of visible love that gives a believer confidence.
2. Union with Christ (v. 17b)
"Because as he is, so are we in this world."
God has made us one with Christ. Romans 8:1 says, "There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." But you'll never have security, even though you may know your theology, unless you can see visible deeds of love in your life.
B. Perfect Love Eliminates Fear (v. 18)
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
If you're afraid, then your love is not yet perfect. Love that is mature and fulfilled has no fear of punishment, only confidence. Because you love your brothers and sisters in Christ, you can look forward to the coming of Christ.
VI. LOVE IS REASONABLE (vv. 19-20)
A. The Progression of Love (v. 19)
"We love him, because he first loved us."
We have the ability to love each other because God manifested His love to us in Christ, and then placed His love in us through the Holy Spirit. It is logical for the Christian to love in response.
B. The Pretenders of Love (v. 20)
"If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?"
This is the seventh time John has used the phrase "If a man says." Each time it refers to some illegitimate claim to faith. It is a warning against some pretender. In this case someone claims to love God, yet he hates his brother. Where does God dwell in this world? In us. How can I love God and hate another believer when God lives in that believer? It's impossible. The person is obviously a liar.
I don't care how cantankerous and obnoxious another Christian may seem to you, God still lives in him. Don't say you love God but hate him. How can you claim to love the invisible God and not love His presence in His people? It is easier to serve a visible man than an invisible God. If you can't serve a visible man, you certainly can't serve the invisible God. A claim to love God is an obvious lie if it is not accompanied by unselfish love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Conclusion
John sums up his thoughts in verse 21, "This commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also." Don't say you love God if you don't love your brother. We are to love because love is the essence of God's nature. We are His children and we are partakers of the divine nature. We should love because it is a manifestation of Christ, and He is our example. We should love because it is the Christian's testimony, assurance, and confidence. Love is the only reasonable option for believers.
How Does God's Love Function?
1. It is unrequited
Christian love doesn't need anything in return. It doesn't say, "I love you because you love me." One person doesn't love someone because he does him favors. He loves him independent of any return.
2. It is unconditional
Love doesn't care how much it is offended, abused, and sinned against. We need to forgive and forget. There are no conditions to perfect love.
3. It is vicarious
It gladly bears the pain of others. We should be willing to bear one another's burdens, weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice.
4. It is self-giving
It is synonymous with sacrifice. If I have one meal and two of us need food, I give it to you and I go without.
5. It is righteous
It tolerates no sin. When my child sins, I discipline him. When a believer sins, the church disciplines him. When you truly love someone, you will point out their sins to them in a loving way.
God's love for us was unrequited--He loved us when we hated Him. It is unconditional--it didn't matter to Him what we had done, He forgave all of it. His love is vicarious--He substituted His Son in our place. His love is self-giving--He made the ultimate sacrifice. He gave His supreme gift: His Son. Finally, His love is righteous--He loves us so He chastens us. Let's follow His example by loving one another.
Focusing on the Facts
1. What are some of the adjectives the New Testament uses to describe the love of God (see p. 1)?
2. What does John mean when he describes love as perfect (see p. 1)?
3. What must happen before love can be perfected in believers (see p. 2)?
4. According to 1 John 4:7, why should believers love one another (see p. 2)?
5. Which is correct: Love defines God (or) God defines love (see p. 3)?
6. What does knowing that God is love explain (see p. 4)?
7. Describe the character of God's love (see p. 5).
8. What basic principle is stated by Ephesians 5:1 (see p. 5)?
9. What is the greatest manifestation of God's love (see p. 6)?
10. What does "propitiation" mean in 1 John 4:10 (see p. 6)?
11. What pattern are believers to follow in their practice of love (see p. 6)?
12. Why can't God be seen (John 4:24; see p. 7)?
13. In what two ways is God made visible to the world (see pp. 7-8)?
14. What ongoing struggle is experienced by many Christians (see p. 8)?
15. According to 1 John 4:13-16, what three aspects of the Christian life provide assurance for the believer (see pp. 8-9)?
16. Why can believers have confidence in the day of judgment (see p. 9)?
17. Why do some believers fear the rapture (see p. 10)?
18. According to 1 John 4:19, why do Christians love (see p. 11)?
19. When is a claim to love God an obvious lie (1 John 4:20; see p. 11)?
20. Describe God's love (see p. 12).
Pondering the Principles
1. Read through 1 John. Record each passage that discusses obedience. How many of those verses relate to love? Based on what you have read, what do you need to do to see love perfected in your life? Is love being perfected in your life, or is disobedience preventing that from happening? What areas of your life need to be more aligned with God's standard before you will manifest perfect love? Make the commitment to institute changes today.
2. Our love should be a God's love--unrequited, unconditional, vicarious, self-giving, and righteous. On a scale of 1-10, rate the degree that each characteristic is displayed in your life. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Begin to work on improving your weakest characteristic. What are some things you can do to make improvements in the other areas? Ask God to give you guidance in the application of those things.
Written by
John MacArthur
