god’s love – and ours! 1 john 4:7-21 forest hills bible chapel 22 april 2007

God’s Love – and Ours!God’s Love – and Ours!1 John 4:7-211 John 4:7-21

Forest Hills Bible ChapelForest Hills Bible Chapel

22 April 200722 April 2007

Some Themes of 1 JohnSome Themes of 1 John

1 John gives us the proper relationship 1 John gives us the proper relationship among three Christian Virtues:among three Christian Virtues:

Righteousness – practicing the truth.Righteousness – practicing the truth.Love – loving God, and loving one Love – loving God, and loving one

another.another.Belief – believing, committing oneself Belief – believing, committing oneself

to the truth as God has revealed it.to the truth as God has revealed it.


Love

Righteousness Belief

Some Themes of 1 JohnSome Themes of 1 John To have only RIGHTEOUSNESS and To have only RIGHTEOUSNESS and

BELIEF is to reduce Christianity to a mere BELIEF is to reduce Christianity to a mere creed, and to foster legalism.creed, and to foster legalism.

To have only RIGHTEOUSNESS and To have only RIGHTEOUSNESS and LOVE runs the risk of a mere human LOVE runs the risk of a mere human standard, that accepts anyone and standard, that accepts anyone and everyone.everyone.

To have only LOVE and BELIEF runs the To have only LOVE and BELIEF runs the risk of not have a valid standard for godly risk of not have a valid standard for godly living.living.


Righteousness – God expects us to live lives Righteousness – God expects us to live lives of holiness and godliness.of holiness and godliness.

Belief – God expects us to believe the truth Belief – God expects us to believe the truth – that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and that – that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and that He has come in the flesh.He has come in the flesh.

Love – God expects us to love one another, Love – God expects us to love one another, even as He has loved us.even as He has loved us.


We know that we know Him if:We know that we know Him if:We believe that Jesus is the Christ – 1 We believe that Jesus is the Christ – 1

John 5:1 – John 5:1 – BeliefBelief..We obey His commands – 1 John 2:3 – We obey His commands – 1 John 2:3 – RighteousnessRighteousness..

We love our fellow believers – 1 John We love our fellow believers – 1 John 3:14 – 3:14 – LoveLove..

Who is God?Who is God?

God is Light – 1 John 1:5.God is Light – 1 John 1:5.

God is Spirit – John 4:24.God is Spirit – John 4:24.

God is Love – 1 John 4:8.God is Love – 1 John 4:8.

1 John 4:7-211 John 4:7-217 Dear friends, let us love one another, for 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for

love comes from God. Everyone who loves love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:7-211 John 4:7-2111 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought

to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 We know that we love is made complete in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. and God in him.

1 John 4:7-211 John 4:7-2117 In this way, love is made complete among us so 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so

that we will have confidence on the day of that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

God’s Love…and Ours!God’s Love…and Ours!

Our love for one another is evidence that we Our love for one another is evidence that we know God – vv. 7-8.know God – vv. 7-8.

Love is proactive and love initiates – God Love is proactive and love initiates – God showed His love by sending His Son for us – showed His love by sending His Son for us – vv. 9-10.vv. 9-10.

Our love for one another should grow out of Our love for one another should grow out of God’s love for us – v. 11.God’s love for us – v. 11.

We display God to one another by loving We display God to one another by loving one another – v. 12.one another – v. 12.


Our life of love is lived in the Triune God- Our life of love is lived in the Triune God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – vv. 13-16a.Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – vv. 13-16a.

We are to “live in love” because to do so is We are to “live in love” because to do so is to live in God – vv. 16b-18.to live in God – vv. 16b-18.

We cannot love God, yet fail to love (or We cannot love God, yet fail to love (or hate) or fellow believer – vv. 19-21.hate) or fellow believer – vv. 19-21.


A final anecdote about the Apostle John:A final anecdote about the Apostle John: There is a church tradition, which says, that when There is a church tradition, which says, that when

John was evidently an old man in Ephesus, he had John was evidently an old man in Ephesus, he had to be carried to the church in the arms of his to be carried to the church in the arms of his disciples. At these meetings, he was accustomed to disciples. At these meetings, he was accustomed to say no more than, "Little children, love one say no more than, "Little children, love one another!" After a time, the disciples, wearied at another!" After a time, the disciples, wearied at always hearing the same words, asked, "Master, always hearing the same words, asked, "Master, why do you always say this?" "It is the Lord's why do you always say this?" "It is the Lord's command," was his reply. "And if this alone be command," was his reply. "And if this alone be done, it is enough!"done, it is enough!"

god’s love – and ours! 1 john 4:7-21 forest hills bible chapel 22 april 2007

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