Daily Thoughts from 1 John: True Doctrine, True Love (4:13-21)

Daily Thoughts from 1 John: True Doctrine, True Love

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.  (1 John 4:13-21 ESV)

Here is a repetition of the doctrinal test in somewhat different terms and the test of loving one another.

We know that we have a saving relationship with God because His Spirit has been given to us to enable us to discern the truth about Jesus (what he earlier called having an anointing).  So we believe and vocally confess the truth of the apostles’ testimony that Jesus is the Son of God.  Jesus is not just a human shell for the Christ spirit.  He himself is the Son of God sent by God’s love to rescue us.

Such love births love in us so that we love one another.  When we act like He acts in this regard, it gives us confidence for the day of judgment.  And knowing that He loves us removes any fear of punishment.  After all, He chose to love us first when we did not love Him.  Those who fear judgment do not respond to God’s light with openness and confession (chapter 1) but with hiding and they will not demonstrate love for the brothers and sisters.  They must lie about this.

True believers will experience times of not loving their brothers and sisters, but God’s light will expose that sin and they will confess it.  Loving God, whom we have never seen, cannot but help but result in loving one another whom we have seen.  No hypocrisy can be allowed here.

Though the love focused on hear is for other believers, God’s initiatory love teaches us to love all people.  God sends good things to his friends and his enemies, has perfect love (Matthew 5:43-48).

An old Rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun.  “Could it be,” asked one of the students, “when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it’s a sheep or a dog?”  “No,” answered the Rabbi.  Another asked, “Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it’s a fig tree or a peach tree?”  “No.” answered the Rabbi.  “Then what is it?” the pupils demanded.  “It is when you can look on the face of any man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother.  Because if you cannot see this, it is still night.” (Hasidic Tale)