1 John 4:13-21

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

John’s lessons on love continue.  There are some basic truths about love that help us identify the reality of our relationship with God.  They also show us the impact that love should have on our daily lives.  Since love is an essential part of our identity as believers, we have amazing benefits and responsibilities.  These truths should both comfort and challenge.

LOVE ABIDES IN BELIVERS: Love is part of our basic identity as believers because of the Spirit of God abiding in us.  John was an eyewitness of the life and teachings of Jesus.  He, along with the other apostles attest to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God and was sent to the earth to save us from our sins.  Jesus, in turn, sent the Spirit to all who believe as a testimony to the truth of Christ’s coming and purpose and to fill us with the love of Christ.  We know of God and His love for us because of the testimony of the apostles, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the sacrificial demonstration of love displayed by Christ in His life, death, and resurrection.  All who believe this truth abide in the love of God and have the love of God abiding in them.

LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR: Because of the love of God that abides in us, we are able to walk in the Spirit of God in this world.  We may face persecution and hardship just as Jesus faced when He walked on this earth. However, the trials we face on earth should not cause us to live in fear that we will be judged by God as we are being judged by unbelievers on earth.  We are to live with a reverential awe of God.  But, if we are in Christ, we need not fear His judgment.  The perfect love of God for us and that abides in us should cast all fear from us.  Judgment will fall on all of mankind because of sin.  Jesus came to forgive and free us from sin.  He was judged in our place.  Because we have trusted in Christ and His loving sacrifice on our behalf, we have no reason to fear the judgment of God.

LOVE DEMANDS RESPONSE: The expected response from the love of God for us is that we would love one another.  God loves each of us and since it is His love that abides in us, it is only to be expected that we would love those that He loves.  So, if we say that we are abiding in God’s love, but we are not loving one another, we are deceiving ourselves.  If we cannot love the people of God that we have seen, it is not possible to claim that we love God who we have not seen.  God’s love for us demands that we love one another.  This is a commandment from God.  We cannot pretend to love God if we are not willing to obey His commandments.

APPLICATION: Recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and understand that He lives in us to affirm the Gospel and fill us with the love of God.  Rejoice in the freedom we have from God’s judgment because of the love He has for us.  Love our brothers and sisters in Christ in a sacrificial and unconditional manner.

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