1 John 4_7_16

1 John 4:7-16 “Examination of Love”

I recall the story of the homeless mother and her baby in a war torn East European Country, it was a cold winter night and both were laying on the frozen ground. A passerby saw the two and reached into her bag and gave them all she had, a cooked sweet potato. The woman’s strength was gone but her tired eyes acknowledged the gift. She took a bite, chewed it carefully then placing her mouth over the tiny mouth of her infant forcing the warm soft food into the tiny little throat. All though the mother was starving she used the entire sweet potato to keep her baby alive. Exhausted from her efforts, she dropped her head on the ground and closed her eyes. Later that night the lady’s heart stopped but the baby survived.

Love is a costly thing, it cost God his only begotten and His only begotten His life. What a great love He loved us even before we ever loved Him He died for us. By grace through faith in Jesus Christ we are to pay His love forward!!!!

Here in Chapter 4 John continues in his test of the Spirit of Truth. He makes a stark contrast between the Spirit of God and the spirit of error by moving back and forth between the three test found in Chapter 1,

The doctrinal test: Believing what is right, namely JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH”

The moral test: doing what is right by obeying God’s Word, namely CONFESSING THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH.

THE SOCIAL TEST: the test of one’s love, namely, love for your brothers and sisters in Christ! As Jesus had previously taught John and the other apostles. THEY WILL KNOW YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER (John 13:35)

CPS: God’s love is one way, it started before it could ever be reciprocated; does the teacher pass the love test, do you pass the love test?

God’s Love Pronounced Vs. 7-8

God’s Nature

God is Love (Agape) (Seen in all He does)

Love is of God – origin

Man’s nature

Man’s father (Adam) Romans 5:12

Man’s need (Born again) 1 Jn 4:7, John 3:1-8 You must be born of the Spirit

Man’s proof of Spirit (He loves as God loves)

God’s Love Proved Vs. 9-10

Love Revealed (Manifest) (Sent – apŏstĕllō) His Unique Son) Descended from Heaven (John 3:13)

Love Offered (*He loved us 1st*)

Love Offering (Propitiation) (Savior vs. 14)

God’s Love Practiced Vs. 11-16

Love one another (Disciples) John 13:35

God’s love assured (In us by the giving of His Spirit)

God’s love manifested in this world (the saint) (active love)

God’s love trusted (We have put our trust in God’s love)

Conclusion: As the homeless mother loved her Child and starved herself to death so the baby could live, God loved the world that He did not spare His Son so that by grace through faith you can live. What a love you are loved with! My question to you today is, do you live according to this love? Do you pronounce it, Do you practice it. You should because God proved it!