By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. Being born of God and abiding with Him give us the ability to love; but it is a choice of our will to draw upon that resource and give it out to others. This day is coming! Prophets Today, some groups deny that Jesus is really God (such as the Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, and Muslims). 4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Pauline Epistles a. return to 'Top of Page' Verses 1-3 Historical Books Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. John knew that we would never find in ourselves the faithfulness God requires. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN. There is a difference between the love of man, and divine love. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. The only way to have boldness in the day of judgment is to receive, and walk in, the transforming love of God today. Just so, God puts His love into our lives that it might flow out. When {1} therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (1) This balance is to be kept in doing our duty, that neither by fear are we terrified from going forward, and neither by rashness procure or bring dangers upon ourselves. iii. Pentateuch Every human relationship is like a triangle. Today a person might confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh yet deny that He is God as the Bible teaches He is God. Instead, we know the holiness of God is loving, and the righteousness of God is loving, and the justice of God is loving. Commentary on 1 John 4:7-13. Johannine Writings (A.D. i. God is love, and because we are made in God's image, we are to love God and love our brothers and sisters. We know all the judgment we ever deserved past, present, and future was poured out on Jesus Christ on the cross. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. He was touching upon matters of the most vital importance, and her depraved heart naturally shrunk from the lancet, From the truth which was becoming inconveniently personal she flew to that natural resort of the carnal mind, namely, to religions discourse upon points of outward observance. No one has seen God at any time. We trust in the principle that God will never contradict Himself, and we know what He has already said in His Word. Wisdom Literature It comes from Him. But it is there, and its presence is demonstrated by our love for one another and our agreement with Gods truth and that all serves to give us boldness. Do you believe it? Secondly, it is the testimony of the Holy Spirit within us that makes it possible for us to know that we abide in Him. This is one of the apostles citing the collective testimony of all the apostles and making that testimony the measure of truth and sound doctrine. (Boice). Again, John insists that there is something that is given to the believer when they are born of God; a love is imparted to their life that they did not have before. ii. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. JOHN 4:1-3 1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. They are of the world: Those who are of the world are evident because they speak as of the world; the influence of the world is evident in their speech. His Commandments Are Not Burdensome. We watched it. In my text he explains and enlarges that statement. Although Fuches was ready to frame Barry for all the crimes that he had committed in the past because that would have allowed him to walk out under FBI protection, he walked back on that . This is because love does not define everything in the character of God, and because when most people use the term love, they are not thinking of true love, the God-kind of love. Oh, if you do really believe that he has loved you so, sit down, and turn the subject over in your mind, and say to yourself, Jesus loves me; Jesus chose me; Jesus redeemed me; Jesus called me; Jesus has pardoned me; Jesus has taken me into union with himself. (Spurgeon). Biblical Commentary (Bible study) 1 John 4:7-21 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: This is a pastoral letter to churches in conflict--written to address the conflict and to prevent its spread. It is passion expressed in action. c. His love has been perfected in us: Perfected uses the Greek word teleioo, which doesnt mean perfect as much as mature and complete. If we love one another, then the love of God is mature and complete in us. This love will lead to practical action. Johannine Writings Sometimes Jesus seemed weak and lacking in power, but He was always full of love. God is more pleased when you get it right with your brother, than if you bring Him a sacrifice of praise or resources. 1 John 3 1 John 1 John 5. 1 John 4:20 Vincent's Word Studies He that loveth not his brother, etc. The Bible says that one day, all of humanity will gather before Gods Great White Throne and face judgment. This language of fellowship transcends language, culture, class, race, or any other barrier. We keep in the spirit of truth by clinging to Jesus, the One who said I am the truth (John 14:6). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. I cannot imagine a true man saying, I love Christ, but I do not want others to know that I love him, lest they should laugh at me. That is a reason to be laughed at, or rather, to be wept over. First, it is the Spirit of God in us that is the abiding presence of Jesus the presence of His Spirit is how He abides in us. Just because the world is hearing the message doesnt prove that the message is Gods message. Minor Prophets i. Many, when first encountering the reality of the spiritual world, are too impressed and amazed to ask whether they are of God. He first loved us: This verse not only declares our love for Jesus, it also tells us when He loved us. i. i. Faith alone occupies that place. (Spurgeon). In such a desperate situation, Phil is taken by Pat to a bar, and on the wall of the bar washroom, he locates a shady-looking advertisement for a company named "Plan B," which claims to offer second chances. We love him from the influence of his own love; from his love shed abroad in our hearts our love to him proceeds. Tests of False Prophets. One may know the Word, may never miss a service, may pray fervently, and may demonstrate gifts of the Spirit. The Old Testament You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Once any academic throws out the historical evidence of the New Testament and other reliable ancient writings, they can only base their understanding of Jesus on their own personal opinion. i. i. Now remember, we never make ourselves love Christ more by flogging ourselves for not loving him more. Now remember, we never make ourselves love Christ more by flogging ourselves for not loving him more. But how can I love a God who is invisible? God would say to us, Learn to love Me, Whom you cannot see, by loving My children, whom you can see.. a. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. One may be a spiritual dwarf because one lacks love. d. Boldness in the day of judgment: How can anyone have such boldness? For whatever reason, they wont receive His love and let it transform their lives. c. That we may have boldness in the day of judgment: This shows the greatness of Gods work in us. John states (1:1) that he is writing "concerning the Word of Life," and then adds (1:2), "and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us." In verse 1, the emphasis is on the humanity of Jesus Christ as He came in the flesh. In its official doctrines, the Roman Catholic Church has claimed to be the us in He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. i. Pentateuch The New Testament They had a hard time believing that he was a real man. In the day of judgment: This is when the completeness of loves work in us will be demonstrated. i. 1 John 1:1-4 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touchedthis we proclaim concerning the Word of life. Charles Spurgeon was a man who preached the whole counsel of Gods Word, and was careful to not excessively repeat himself in any one area. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. We have many spiritual enemies, but not one of them is greater than Jesus who lives in us. He loved you when you could not have been worse or further from him than you were. c. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world: This means the Christian has no place for fear. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible One may be a spiritual dwarf because one lacks love. i. If there isnt real love for Gods people in your life, then your claim to know God and experience God isnt true. i. He is glorified, justified, forever righteous and bold, sitting at the right hand of God the Father. How can a decree of absolute, unconditional reprobation, of the greater part or any part of the human race, stand in the presence of such a text as this? (Clarke), iii. John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible ii. (1 John 4:19) The reason for our love to Jesus. ii. i. We cant love God the way we should unless we are receiving and living in His love. But He needed to go through Samaria. of Scripture. We can know by experience that we live in God, if His love has been perfected in us. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Prophets Minor Prophets And the world hears them: Those who are of the world are also evident because the world hears them. It is never to be received just because it is dramatic or given by a certain person. His is the fountain love, ours but the stream: his love the inducement, the pattern, and the effective cause of ours. God made love real and present by sending Jesus to live among us and to die for us. If this were a mere individual talking, the claim would be presumptuous. Some very educated, very smart people can still be influenced mightily by the spirit of error. Luke-Acts Why did Jesus leave "Judea" (John 4:3)? d. He who loves God must love his brother also: We can also learn how to love God by loving people. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Though love springs forth from our abiding relationship with God and comes from our being born of Him, there is also an essential aspect of our will involved. i. d. We have seen and testify: The we who give testimony in this verse are those who saw Jesus originally, the eyewitnesses to His presence. But He loved us before that, and even before the worlds were created, when our only existence was in the mind and heart of God, Jesus loved us. Pauline Epistles I cannot imagine a true man saying, I love Christ, but I do not want others to know that I love him, lest they should laugh at me. That is a reason to be laughed at, or rather, to be wept over. Bibliographical Information i. Jesus said in Matthew 5:23-24, Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. But God did all this for rebels, for sinners, for those who had turned their backs on Him. Yet in it all, that one may be like Cain, offering to God the fruit of his hands and not the fruit of the Spirit. Our love for God doesnt really say anything great about us. Poetical Books Barry and Fuches were shown to be in the same jail. a. We might be satisfied to merely survive the day of judgment, but God wants to so fill our lives with His love and His truth that we have boldness in the day of judgment. But how can I love a God who is invisible? God would say to us, Learn to love Me, Whom you cannot see, by loving My children, whom you can see.. We can imagine Jesus being bold before the throne of God, but us? To feel Gods love is very precious, but to believe it when you do not feel it, is the noblest. (Spurgeon). a. This day is coming! Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . People respond to the love of God differently. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God: Some think that this is the only test of false doctrine. a. Wisdom Literature The Gospels How is Jesus now? b. i. g. God is love: There are few people who really know and really believe that God is love. iv. Concerning Antichrist. e. There is no fear in love: The completeness of love means we do not cower in fear before God, dreading His judgment, either now or in the day of judgment. The following comments draw much from Spurgeons work on this single verse. We are therefore commanded to love our brother in Christ. Therefore we are given a command to love, that he who loves God must love his brother also. Are you embarrassed to say it? It brings life to all who trust in Jesus and His work on their behalf, because He is the propitiation for our sins. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. Oh, but the party is so unworthy. So are you; but God loved you and sent his Son. Go write according to that copy. (Spurgeon). 1 John 4 In this chapter the apostle exhorts to try spirits ( ver 1 ), gives a note to try by ( ver 2, 3 ), shows who are of the world and who of God ( ver 4-6 ), urges Christian love by divers considerations ( ver 7-16 ), describes our love to God, and the effect of it, ver 17-21. But He loved us before that, and even before the worlds were created, when our only existence was in the mind and heart of God, Jesus loved us. (Read John 4:1-3) Jesus applied himself more to preaching, which was the more excellent, 1 Corinthians 1:17, than to baptism. c. And knows God: There are several different words in the ancient Greek language translated know into English. God is fundamentally and essentially LOVE: not merely is loving, for then John's argument would not stand; for the conclusion from the premises then would be this, This man is not loving: God is loving; therefore he knoweth not God IN SO FAR AS GOD IS LOVING; still he might know Him in His other attributes. He first loved us: This verse not only declares our love for Jesus, it also tells us when He loved us. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. He loved you when you were at hells gate, and drank damnation at every draught. But here, in 1 John 4, that carefulness and hesitation is thrown to the side and John writes, "God is love.". Confession of faith and love for one's brothers and sisters Continue reading "Commentary on 1 John 4:7-21" God is more pleased when you get it right with your brother, than if you bring Him a sacrifice of praise or resources. And we learn that Jesus' closest disciples are baptising the new followers. 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