1 John 4_17_21

1 John 4:17-21 “The test of perfect love”

A little boy came to his mother, saying, `Mummy, I am as tall as Goliath! I am nine feet high!'Why do you say that?' asked his surprised mother. 'Well, I made a little ruler of my own and measured myself with it and I am just nine feet tall.'

Often times we measure ourselves by our own standards, but what about the standard that God gives us? Here is a test that can be used to measure your relationship with the Lord. It’s the measurement of love.

Now imagine a tape measure, it is as tall as God’s infinite love and as wide as God’s infinite love and you are standing against it. Would you measure up?

As John continues to contrast the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the antichrist he lays out the test of perfected love. The one who is of God has fellowship with God and in that fellowship love is brought to completion with that person. Not that he/she is perfect but that God has made them complete in the Love of Christ Jesus, therefore they have confidence in death and Christian fellowship in life.

Perfect Love is measured by Confidence in Death. Vs. 17-18

Fellowship with God brings love to perfection

What is man’s greatest fear? If you were to poll mankind I think you would find death is at the top of the list. The fear of dying, the fear of what awaits us after death, The Bible teaches that man must die and that man must be judged. (Hebrews 9:27). While saved man may fear how death comes, he doesn’t have to fear what comes after death.

GOD LOVES YOU! Living in fellowship with God brings the love of Christ to completion in you. It is only in this fellowship that one can truly come to know the great love God has for you. In this fellowship comes concentration on the Love of God, you can’t come to know anything until you focus on that thing. Focusing on this great love that God has for you expels the fear found in death because you have ASSURANCE that God’s Judgment does not fall on you because of God’s love your judgment took place on the Cross at Calvary.

Here in? (back to 16)

Dwell (Resides, lives) Fellowship! WHEN WE ENJOY UNBROKEN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD WE COME TO TRULLY KNOW THE LOVE (agape 3X) GOD HAS FOR US!

Perfect (3x)

Complete; finished (2X) Mature (1X) in the Love/Likeness of Christ. AS JESUS IS PERFECT RIGHTOUSNESS IN HEAVEN, WE ARE THE RIGHTOUSNESS OF GOD ON EARTH. (2 Cor. 5:21).

(NB) We are in this world to manifest Christ to the World!

Perfection of Love brings confidence in the day of judgment

Boldness/Fear CONTRAST

Fear – [Phobos] Where we get the word “Phobia” from. = Terror. Arachnophobia (Spiders), Mysophobia (Germs), AcroPhobia(heights) [Jump School]

Boldness – [parresia] not to be confused with brazenness or brashness but means TO HAVE CONFIDENCE.

The one who is perfected in love grows in his confidence toward God. He has reverential fear of God but not tormenting fear! He respects His father he is not a prisoner who cringes before a judge

Casting (powerful metaphor)

Cast – To turn out of doors. Drives fear out… Casts out every trace of terror so that it does not exist.

By grace alone, through faith alone, in Chris Jesus alone we know the Love of Godand through fellowship we become more and more like Jesus in this world and the one who is like Jesus doesn’t have to fear the approaching judgment seat of Christ. You see fear expects punishment but the one who loves expects to receive love. By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone you will not experience God’s judgment because YOUR SIN WAS JUDGED AT CALVARY’S CROSS!

Perfect Love is measured by Christian Fellowship in Life. Vs. 19-21

Like all things good, love’s origin is of God. God is love! Love is of God! We see that perfect love in the life of a Christian begins in God’s love for us! We love because He first loved us!{Love (Agapeo) for Emphasis “Listen to me”} What an amazing love to understand, those who dwell (are fellowship) with God did not love God on their own initiative but God’s own initiative! He loved us when we were unloving and unlovable. He has been seeking and soliciting our love at the expense of His Son’s blood!

Now you know that I do not subscribe to worship song theology but I think these lyrics are right on. “When I was your foe, still your love fought for me. You have been so so good to me. When I felt no worth, you paid it all for me. You have been so so good to me.~ The over whelming, never ending, reckless love of God. It chases e down, fights till I’m found, leaves the ninty-nine. I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it,still you gave yourself away, the overwhelming, never failin, reckless love of God.”

He loved us before we loved him (John 3:16) and our love is in response to His love. John tells us since God loved us which such a unconditional love we should love His children in the same manner. Who is God’s children? Our brother and sister in Christ! How can you claim to love God with the totality of your being and not love your fellow Christian. John says it is impossible; he even goes so far to say that you are a liar! You can’t love God and not love the saints its an impossibility!

I have four senses, did you know that? I can see, I can touch, I smell, and I can hear. And, did you know that I can see my brother in Christ, I can touch him, I can sometimes smell him, and I can hear him. In our body’s we are the love of God in manifestation to this world. Revealed, we are what others see of God. How ever, I have never seen God. The Bible teaches no man has seen God but Jesus declared Him. How can I love something I can’t see? Through Faith! But if through faith I love God how do I love my brother? Through faith!!! Through faith the Love of God is spread abroad into my heart!

We are commanded to love our brothers in Christ, what is this command that is found in Verse 21… To love the disciples as Jesus loves them. Do you love your brother/sister in Christ? Examine your heart, measure yourself against the standard of God and look into your heart and recall the way you have treated your brothers in Christ. I have lifted him/her up? Have you helped provide for needs? Have you shared the burden of your brother in Christ? Have you laughed with them, have you cried with them? Do you spend time on your knees in prayer for your brother/sister?

Close your eyes and imagine yourself standing against the measuring tape of God and recognize that loving your brother is difficult for you. I recall a story of a lady speaking with her pastor, she said “Pastor I have a hard time loving, loving God and loving others, what should I do? The Pastor said focus on the Love God has for you and I am certain this will change in your life.

Conclusion: Friends, the Love of God is so wonderful, it keeps us from judgment and the fear of judgment… It makes appropriations to love God Himself and your fellow Christians. The question is how do you measure up against the love of God.