A STUDY OF 1 JOHN (27)

 

DEEP TRUTHS ABOUT OUR LOVE FOR GOD

1 John 4:17-21

Victor M. Eskew

 

          In 1 John 4:16, John noted that one of the proofs that we have a relationship with God is that we dwell in love.  The mention of love sparked John to write another section regarding the subject in 1 John 4:17-21.  We have entitled this portion of John’s epistle, “Deep Truths about Our Love for God.” 

          John begins this discussion writing about PERFECT LOVE (1 John 4:17-18).  Listen to the opening words of 1 John 4:17:  “Herein is our love made perfect…”  The word “perfect” means “complete, full grown.”  John has told us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8).  As His children, we are to do all we can to love as He loves.  To do this takes knowledge, experience, and time.  As we mature in Christ, our love develops.  In time, it reaches a state of maturity.  This is perfect love. 

          The question that could be asked is:  “When do we know that our love is complete?”  John answers that question for us.  “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment…” (1 John 4:17).  Every Christian knows that one day he will give an account unto God in the day of judgment (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 9:27).  When he contemplates that day, fear can rise within.  Or, he can face the day with confidence and great boldness.  Those who have no fear of the judgment are those whose love has been made perfect.  They love God and keep His commandments.  They fervently love their brothers and sisters in Christ.  They are keenly aware that their love has been patterned after the example God has provided.  “…because as he is, so are we in this world.”  John continues:  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear…” (1 John 4:18).  It is a comforting thought to know that when we stand before God’s judgment seat, we have nothing to fear if we have perfected our love.

          On the other hand, John tells us that “fear hath torment” (I John 4:18).  The term “torment” involves punishment.  Those who fear the day of judgment have not been “made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).  These individuals cannot say:  “…as he is, so are we…”  Therefore, when they stands in the judgment, they know that they will face the retribution of God.  This thought fills their minds with fear.  Sadly, many harden their hearts to the reality of meeting the judge of all the earth.  However, when that day arrives, fear will swell in their hearts.  They will long for that day when they could have perfected their love.

          The second point John sets forth about love is that man’s love is PREDICATED LOVE.  “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).  Man did not love God first.  In fact, man had become an enemy of God due to his sinful lifestyle.  It was God who manifested His love first.  Remember John’s words found in 1 John 4:10:  “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  God saw the position we took against Him, and He loved us anyway.  That love was manifested when “God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).  This display of love has melted the heart of millions of people since the day of Calvary.  They have seen the riches of God’s love and respond with love in return.  They wonder:  “How can anyone reject a Father who has loved with such intense, sacrificial love?”  When they are asked:  “Why do you love God so fervently?”  they have only one response:  “Because He first loved me.”

          John’s final point about love found in 1 John 4:20-21.  It deals with PARADOXICAL LOVE.  The paradox is contained in verse 20.  “If a man say, 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?”  Loving God and hating one’s brother are two behaviors that do not mix.  They are like oil and water.  Barnes makes an wonderful comment on this verse in his commentary on 1 John.  He writes:  “ It is more reasonable to expect that we should love one whom we have seen and known personally, than that we should love one whom we have not seen. The apostle is arguing from human nature as it is, and everyone feels that we are more likely to love one with whom we are familiar than one who is a stranger. If a professed Christian, therefore, does not love one who bears the divine image, whom he sees and knows, how can he love that God whose image he bears, whom he has not seen?” (e-sword). 

          God knew men would try to love Him without loving their brethren.  It is imperative to understand that this should never be the case.  If we have perfected the love of God, that love flows from us to all men, especially to those of the household of faith.  Man, however, often falls short.  He tries to justify and rationalize why he can love God and fail to love his brethren.  Thus, we have a command given to us by God.  “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”  The matter is not optional.  We are not free to hate our brethren if we desire to do so.  We have a commandment.  Loving God and loving our brethren are eternally linked together.  If we love God, we will love our brethren.  If we hate our brethren, we cannot love God.