By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

(Read: 1 John 4:12-21)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16).

The Rev. Ron Purkey

First, The Spirit Witnesses To Us (1 John 4:12-16). People cannot see God, but they can see God’s children revealing him in their love for one another and for those in need. This love is not something that we work up; it is the work of the Holy Spirit within (Romans 5:5).

God’s love flows from us as we yield to the Spirit. Christians do not love each other because of their good qualities, but in spite of their bad qualities. As we abide in his love, we have no difficulty loving others.

Second, Christ Is Coming For Us (1 John 4:17-18). Christians who obey God have boldness with God now and Christians who love one another will have confidence when Christ returns. Where there is true love for God and his people, there need be no fear of future judgment.

God never meant for people to live in terror. There was no fear on earth until Satan and sin entered the world (Genesis 3:10). Adam and Eve were afraid and hid. Judgment is coming, and anyone who has never trusted Christ ought to be afraid. But Christians need never be afraid to meet their Lord (2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:15).

Third, God Loves Us (1 John 4:19-21). The theme of God’s love began in chapter 3, and here it closes the chapter: “We love, because he first loved us.” By nature, we know little about love (Titus 3:3-6); God had to show it to us on the cross (Romans 5:8) and plant it in our hearts (Romans 5:5).

Note 1 John 4:10. “There is none who seeks after God,” says Romans 3:11, so God came seeking man (Genesis 3:8; Luke 19:10).

John shows the contradiction between saying we love God while hating other Christians. How can we love God in heaven when we do not love God’s children here on earth? John uses the term “brethren” or “brother” 17 times in his letter, referring, of course, to all of God’s children, male and female.

Christians are expected to love each other because they have experienced the love of God in their own hearts.
God commands us to love one another; see 1 John 3:11; John 13:34-35; John 15:17; Colossians 1:4. It is too bad that our hearts are so cold that he must keep reminding us of this obligation.

Keep in mind that Christian love does not mean we must agree with everything a brother or sister thinks or does. We may not like some of their personal characteristics. But, because they are in Christ, we love them for Jesus’ sake. Read James 4 to see what happens when selfishness reigns instead of love.

Remember: “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. … Yes, Jesus loves me!.” (See John 3:16).

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines free at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.