Tag: 1st John 4
Dear Friends!
Scripture reading for November 23rd: 1st John 4
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st John 4:7-11 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 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. This is love: not that we loved God, but the He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
“Dear friends” is the term of endearment used by the elder John to address members of Christ’s Church that he was writing to. His emphasis was on love as a fruit of the Spirit and a conscious choice of believers to develop. God, Himself, is Love therefore His children must reflect His basic nature. He sent His Son into the world to show us what real love looked like–laying our life down for others! Anyone not showing love and growing in expression does not know God.
Observations for over-comers: Members of Christ’s body are to show love as a conscious decision and fruit of His Spirit. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared and honored His Name.” (Malachi 3:16)
No fear in love!
Scripture reading for November 24th: 1st John 4
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 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. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1st John 4:7-10)
The call to love is constant throughout John’s letter to the church. Love is a primary fruit of the Spirit of Christ. God, Himself, is love! Love is the choice of will and character to always do what is best for another, even if it costs everything! God demonstrated this for us by sending His only Son into the world to give His life for us, sinners without love for God or others. (Romans 5:8) The source of all true love is God. We can now love because He loved us!
Scripture states that all people have ‘eternity in our hearts’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We have a fear of death because of sin in our life. (Hebrews 2:14-15) We know that the judgment is coming and that we cannot stand before a holy God. But God wants us to have confidence on the judgment day because of relationship with Him. “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. 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.” (1st John 4:16-18)