It is up to us to respond to His command with our will and whole being. The mature Christian will be marked by love. c. And this commandment we have from Him: We have a commandment to love. c. He who knows God hears us: Those who are of God enjoy fellowship with other believers; they speak the common language of fellowship with God and with each other, because one flows from the other (1 John 1:3). Can you say, I love Jesus? ii. The Samaritan woman. I stand here to preach illimitable love, unbounded grace, to the vilest of the vile, to those who have nothing in them that can deserve consideration from God, men who ought to be swept into the bottomless pit at once if justice meted out to them their deserts. (Spurgeon). iii. That indwelling Spirit is greater than he who is in the world Satan and all of his allies. 1. Confession of faith and love for one's brothers and sisters Continue reading "Commentary on 1 John 4:7-21" Historical Books Pauline Epistles Some think they will go there and judge God (When I see God, theres a few questions I have for Him!), but that is nonsense. We are called to take the love and grace God gives, to know it by experience and to believe it. This is one of the apostles citing the collective testimony of all the apostles and making that testimony the measure of truth and sound doctrine. (Boice). GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Love is an essential aspect of His character, and colors every aspect of His nature. Johannine Writings To believe in Christ and to love the brethren are not conditions by which we may dwell in God but rather are evidences of the fact that God has already taken possession of our lives to make this possible. (Boice). They are of the world: Those who are of the world are evident because they speak as of the world; the influence of the world is evident in their speech. ii. i. We can think of someone paying a great price to save someone deserving, someone good, someone noble, someone who had done much for them. If God had merely sent Jesus to teach us about Himself, that would have been wonderful enough. The New Testament And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. (1 John 4:5-6) The contrast between those in the world and those who are of God. Can you say, I love Jesus? It is only the common sense response to knowing and receiving the love of God. e. Everyone who loves is born of God He who does not love does not know God: This does not mean that every display of love in the world can only come from a Christian. This job is to be done using the gifts of discernment God has given to Christians in general, especially the leadership of a congregation. 1 John 4:4, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 5:13, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." But John rightly insists that our claim of loving God is false if we do not also love our brother, and that this love must be seen. ii. i. Major Prophets i. Wisdom Literature If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? If we are born of Him and are abiding in Him then the resources for love are there. 1 John emphasizes that God's love is not some abstract concept. But of God the Father, it can truly be said, no one has seen God at any time. 1. Some respond with wickedness (God loves me, so I can do what I want). Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. God is fundamentally and essentially LOVE: not merely is loving, for then John's argument would not stand; for the conclusion from the premises then would be this, This man is not loving: God is loving; therefore he knoweth not God IN SO FAR AS GOD IS LOVING; still he might know Him in His other attributes. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. As the two people draw closer to the top of the triangle, closer to God, they will also draw closer to one another. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? The first episode of "Barry" Season 4 established where Berkman, Cousineau, Fuches, Sally, NoHo Hank, and Cristobal are, both physically and mentally. The Word existed before the world began. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. I have sometimes noticed that, in addressing Sunday-school children, it is not uncommon to tell them that the way to be saved is to love Jesus, which is not true. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point b. God gave His Son to die, and to die for sinners. 80.) b. Earlier, when she had gone to visit her friend at the beginning of "Doctor Cha" Episode 1, Mi-Hee had mentioned that Jeong-Suk looked sick and tired. That God has sent His only begotten Son into the world: John is careful to call Jesus the only begotten Son. Pentateuch You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: The child of God need not fear the spirit of Antichrist, even though they should be warned of it, because they have the indwelling Spirit of God (1 John 3:24). Everything God does, in one way or another, expresses His love. ii. We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:16-19 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. b. Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. a. The fear John writes of here is not the appropriate reverence we should all have of God, but the kind of fear which involves torment that agonizing kind of fear which robs our soul of all joy and confidence before God. This day is coming! It is the seed whence our love springs. (Clarke), ii. The Old Testament He is so rich in love and compassion, that it can be used to describe His very being. The present section, 4:1-6, is one of three units within the letter (the other two are 2:12-14 and 2:15-17) that virtually all interpreters would regard as a self-contained unit. People respond to the love of God differently. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. There was nothing better God the Father could give to lost humanity than the gift of the Son of God Himself. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. Johannine Writings It is up to us to respond to His command with our will and whole being. Wisdom Literature Pauline Epistles We can know, and we can know now, on this side of eternity. His Commandments Are Not Burdensome. He that is first in love, loves freely; the other therefore loves under obligation. (Poole), iii. We easily think how this shows the love of Jesus, but John wants us to understand it also shows the love of God the Father: He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. One may know the Word, may never miss a service, may pray fervently, and may demonstrate gifts of the Spirit. Where God is present and working, there will be love. (1 John 4:13-15) Assurance of the work of the Triune God in us. He purposed that all who believed on Christ would be endowed with strength from above. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. When we say God is love, we are not saying everything about God. John has been speaking of boldness, and that naturally suggests its opposite--fear. John is saying when we really experience God it will show by our love for one another. According to 1 Corinthians 14:29 (let the others judge) and 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (Test all things; hold fast what is good), testing the spirits is the work of the body of Christ. ii. As Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. She also mentioned that Jeong-Suk's skin was . We love him from a sense of obligation and gratitude. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. f. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love: If our relationship with God is marked by this tormenting fear, it shows that we have not been made perfect that is, complete, and mature in His love. Love has been perfected: For perfected, John doesnt just use the Greek word teleioo (which has the idea of maturity and completeness); he writes teleioo teleioo speaking of love that is perfectly perfected or completely complete.. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. The reason for discernment: Discernment is essential because Satan and his forces are at work in the world (4:1). And just as certainly, God the Son, Jesus Christ, has been seen John himself testified to this in 1 John 1:1-3. Spiritually, we can have that same standing now, while we are in the world, because as He is, so are we in the world. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. d. Boldness in the day of judgment: How can anyone have such boldness? You can also change some of your preferences. 1 John 4 - Abiding in God and His Love A. T he spirit of truth and protection against the spirit of error. This language of fellowship transcends language, culture, class, race, or any other barrier. Ben stitches the wound while Homm drinks from the single-malt whiskey bottle that Ben had been drinking from earlier. JOHN 4:1-3 1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. a. General Epistles Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. Jesus and the Samaritan woman - John 4:1-4. He loved us when we were still sinners: Every man that ever was saved had to come to God not as a lover of God, but as a sinner, and then believe in Gods love to him as a sinner. (Spurgeon), ii. Love is the proof we are taught to look for. Not only is this position ignorant (ignoring the confirmed historical validity of the New Testament) it is also arrogant. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Show me a fire without heat, then show me regeneration that does not produce love to God. (Spurgeon). i. Oh, but I have been insulted. Just so: so was God: all the wrong was towards him, yet he sent. He first loved us: This verse not only declares our love for Jesus, it also tells us when He loved us. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN. He teaches us that the benefit of sacraments depends not on the hand that administers them. by-Verse Bible Commentary. v. The Bible also tells us that God is spirit (John 4:24), God is light (1 John 1:5), and that God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). The Whole Bible This statement would be directed against some form of Docetism, the view that Christ was a spirit who only seemed to be a true man. (Boice). But, apart from this truth, we have no hope at all. Oh sir, this is indeed a cowardly fear! (Spurgeon), iv. Some respond with a sense of self-superiority (Im so great, even God loves me!). By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35). If we do not love one another, how can we say that we have received the love of God and have been born of Him? In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES) Meyer's NT Commentary Are you embarrassed to say it? 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 . If anyone is afraid of judgment they only need to ask themselves if they love God . There is a difference between the love of man, and divine love. Prophets God is more pleased when you get it right with your brother, than if you bring Him a sacrifice of praise or resources. If he does not hear it, he has the spirit of error. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Verse- by-Verse Bible Commentary1 John 4. Note the striking inversion of the clauses: He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, God whom he hath not seen cannot love. John Chapter 4. Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. He loved you when you could not have been worse or further from him than you were. b. a. Beloved, let us love: The ancient Greek sentence begins in a striking way agapetoi agapomen, "those who are loved, let us love." 2. (Read John 4:1-3) Jesus applied himself more to preaching, which was the more excellent, 1 Corinthians 1:17, than to baptism. iii. But Jesus is the only begotten Son, meaning His Sonship is different than ours; He was and is of the same essential nature and being as God the Father. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. b. One may be a spiritual dwarf because one lacks love. Here, he shows why it is so important. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. Charles Spurgeon was a man who preached the whole counsel of Gods Word, and was careful to not excessively repeat himself in any one area. The following comments draw much from Spurgeons work on this single verse. We are therefore commanded to love our brother in Christ. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent His only begotten Son: This shows us what love is and what it means. Love is by no means the root. iii. They knew the Father sent the Son as Savior of the world. 1:1-4 That essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had been from the beginning, from eternity, as equal with the Father, and which at length appeared in human nature for the salvation of sinners, was the great subject concerning which the apostle wrote to his brethren. Love describes the character and heart of God. The thrust of these verses is not so much her conversion but that Jesus is Messiah (verse 26). In its official doctrines, the Roman Catholic Church has claimed to be the us in He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. b. Poetical Books We love him because we find he has loved us. He is glorified, justified, forever righteous and bold, sitting at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus, it can truly be said, no one has seen God at any time towards,! God had merely sent Jesus to teach us about Himself, that it can truly be said, out the... 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