God Is Love
God Is Love. Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
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Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever
loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love
does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was
made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so
that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have
loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides
in us and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:7-12, ESV
God Is Love
What a very simple and yet very profound statement. In many ways, this passage seems to repeat many of the same concepts from 1 John 3. John repeats these concepts because these are basic concepts that we must understand. This is Love 101!
We again have a litmus test to find the difference between the true believer in Christ and the non-believer. Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. There is no place for hatred in the heart of a Christian. This is one of the reasons that Christians are often considered weak; they give in too easily, they forgive, they are patient even when being taunted by others, etc.
Next, we are again told why God is love. The only reason that God sent His only Son to this world was so that Christians might live through Him. Love is not defined by our love to God, but rather love is defined by God. Not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (The act of atoning for sin. Websters Online Dictionary) for our sin. Everything begins with God, not with man!
Our proper response to God is: Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. God is our example; He forgave us for ALL of our sins; therefore we have no right to be unforgiving to others no matter what they have done. Is that hard? Oh, yes! We don't want to forgive; we would rather seek revenge or at least be happy when something bad happens to our adversaries. Remember, this is the litmus test for a true Christian. Oh, I forgot to tell you - you can't do this on your own! Go to God; only God can change your heart.
What do verses 11 and 12 mean! 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
No one alive today has seen God, but in
actuality they CAN see God through us if we love one another. This
doesn't happen overnight! God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. All of our lives, as true Christians, we will continue to grow in love and obedience to the Lord. However, we will never reach perfection in this life. One of the great mysteries and glories of the life to come is knowing that we will no longer have our sin natures.
In
the end, the true litmus test of being a Christian is the heart! It is
not our feelings; many days you will not feel like a Christian. What is
our hope based upon? Our only hope is the love of God which enters our heart of hearts. We cling to Him and we long to be with Him.
Pray today that God will fill your heart with His love and give you a forgiving spirit.
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