Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21
Introduction
- Someone told me the other day how much they appreciated me because I seem to love them and this congregation.
- It feels good to hear that and know that I am appreciated.
- And I really can’t think of a better thing to be appreciated for.
- There are a lot of things I could do: I could be a good administrator. NOPE
- I could be a good organizer? NOPE
- Being a pastor who loves and cares about his congregation: that’s the best.
- There is real power in love.
- Not a power to control or manipulate; power to inspire and encourage.
- This is the power of God because God is love. Love comes from God.
- Today we are hearing from “the disciple that Jesus loved”, John.
- I am a IT business systems analyst and project manager by trade.
- So, what I am telling you today is counterintuitive to my training.
- If I have a business problem to solve, there are tools I can use to solve it.
- Love is not one of those tools. But, maybe it should be??
- This is John’s first letter to believers near the end of the first century AD
- John’s letters are addressing enemies of the Gospel including false prophets and those who deny Christ’s divinity.
- Written like a sermon or literary text it is meant to be distributed to believers
- Various forms of the word “love” are used 46 times in this letter and 32 times in this short section alone.
- In confirming Jesus’ confession to be the Messiah and true Son of God, John is anchoring the essence of Jesus in the main defining attribute of God: love
- First let’s be specific about what we mean by love.
- The Greek language has four different words that can translate to the English word love:
- Eros: Passionate, romantic love.
- Philia: Close friendship, brotherly affection, or deep companionship.
- Storge: Natural familial affection or parent-child love.
- Agape: Unconditional, devoted, and benevolent concern for the highest good of another.
- The Greek word used as basis for this Scripture is Agape
- Let’s unpack the testimony of John about God’s Agape love in this passage.
Message
- V7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
- This phrase: “dear friends” is translated from Agapetoi which is a form of Agape.
- What are some other English words we could use to describe this Agape love? Compassion, mercy, consideration, empathy, kindness
- In this usage of Agape, we are connected and share a bond with God’s essence and energy
- V8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
- If you do not share in these characteristics, you lack connection to God
- V9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
- The ultimate expression of God’s love was sending His Son as an example of God’s Agape love
- V10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
- This Agape love originated with God and His ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to atone, or pay for our sins.
- V11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
- Again, beloved, since we are connected to God, we should love each other.
- Do we always do that? Are we always happy-happy joy-joy to each other?
- V12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
- Is this entirely true? Let’s look back at John’s own words in 14:7-11:
If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
- V13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
- Jesus promised us that when He left, He would give us a helper, the Spirit.
- V14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
- As an original Apostle, John is giving firsthand testimony of the physical work of Jesus in the world.
- V15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.
- This is the key to our salvation and eternal unity with God.
- V16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
- This Agape love energy is what unites is with God – it’s the glue of life.
- V17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.
- Jesus has left us behind to represent Him and testify to Him.
- V18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
- Love is power. Love overcomes the evil intentions of hate.
- V19 We love because he first loved us.
- Again, we are reminded that Agape love originated with God.
- V20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
- Can hatred and love coexist in any given moment? NO
- Where does love go when hate enters in?
- Where does hate go when love enters in?
- One will always drive out the other.
- V21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
- When did He give us this command? Matthew 28:36-40:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- If you are like me, this is a wake-up call that maybe the way we work and live needs some more tools in the box.
- Maybe it’s time that our problem-solving in life should start with love.