1 John 3 & 4

In this letter John uses the word love twenty-six times; twenty times in chapters three and four. Eight times John discusses belonging; do we belong to God, or to the world, to truth or to a lie. Over and over again John stressed that a Christian is in God and God is in the Christian.

John wants the Christian to be fully grounded in their identity: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! Dear friends, we are already God’s children” (3:1-2)

John is teaching the church that because God loves His children, His children love others. Because of the love of God, “Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (3:16)

(We know John didn’t divide his letter into chapters and verses and number them. Even so, the similarity between John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16 is quite stunning!)

John is using his repetitive style because he wants the church to not just mouth these affirmations, but to live them out in their daily lives. James emphasized this teaching as well: ““I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” (James 2:14-20) So also the Apostle Paul, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus . . .” (Philippians 2:4-5)

Could it be any clearer? “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. We love each other because he loved us first.” (4:8, 19)

Over the centuries the church has legislated love and purity: Do this, don’t do that, say this, and don’t say that; but that missed John’s point entirely. When you are in a relationship where you love and you are loved, you do not need rules to tell you to be faithful. Your life is shaped by love and your fidelity is a natural fruit of your love. Your love not only shapes your life in your loving relationship, it shapes your life entirely. Your love overflows into all the people you encounter.

John is showing us that God meets our every need to be loved, accepted and to be valued. When we open ourselves to this love of God, His love overflows out of our lives and into the lives of others.

Bottom line? If you tell your spouse you love them and then neglect the needs of others, you are “a liar and (are) not living in the truth.” (2:4)

God’s love for us was not just empty words. Christ died for us. Our love for others should not be just empty words. We are the children of God.

What word or phrase in these verses

Attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

Reading for  23-Apr-12      1 John 5