1 John 4:7–21

1 John 4:7–21

If 1 Corinthians 13 is Paul's love chapter, then 1 John 4:7-21 is John’s treatment of love. While Paul outlines and categorizes love, John's approach is different. John is like a jeweler who examines this wonderful and beautiful stone first from one angle and then another. He begins by pointing out that love is the action of our life, has its origin in God, and is the means by which we are born again. In verse 8 he says something rather surprising: “God is love.” In the Greek world, the pagans would not blink an eye if someone said, “Love is God” or “is a god.” But John says something very different. We must be exceedingly careful with the phrase “God is love.” No human word could describe the totality of God, but love comes as close as is possible. This single word actually is a suitable argument for the doctrine of the Trinity. Love is not love without an object of expression. Who was the object of Father’s love and all eternity before creation? It was the Son and the Holy Spirit. In all eternity their mutual love of the Three is implied in this phrase. You can see why we must define love very carefully, however. (For detailed study, see C. S. Lewis’ book The Four Loves.) In this careful definition we will see that love does not exclude certain other aspects or characteristics of God. In fact, love helps us understand them. Love completes and complements the understanding of God is just, God is holy, God is a consuming fire, etc. We have dumbed down love to be a little more than a sentimental feeling or the fulfillment of our own wishes. Rather, love is a call to self-giving and to rising to the highest standard of righteousness and holiness. A bad and lower definition of love is used as an argument against God or biblical truth. For example, “A loving God would not send people to Hell.” Without a proper definition of love, such nonsense sounds good. Another example might be, “A loving congregation would never remove someone from their fellowship or discipline them.” That is a foolish statement made possible by a dumb definition of love. Before we can understand how love works in our lives, faith, churches, and witness, we need to understand very carefully what love actually is. Love is not the emotional feeling but the gracious, unselfish, and unmerited will that pursues the well-being and benefit of the other without ulterior motives. Even the best definitions will fail to reach the expanse of the meaning of love. But in practice we can do much to learn what love is. 

“Thank You God that You Love me. AMEN”