Love that Self-Examines

Introduction

I invite you to open your Bibles with me to 1 John 4. Today, we are going to finish chapter 4 and this long section that has dealt with the topic of love. I am going to read verses 10-12 and verses 19-21. If you would, notice how close these sets of verses are to one another. Our focus is going to be on verses 19-21. Read the verses.

As we consider the topic of love for the final time in chapter 4, I want us to get personal. The love that God has given to us and has provided for us works deep inside of us as we grow in Christ. This morning, I want us to see what I have titled this sermon as, “Love that Self-Examines.”

I want us to see self-examination in love three ways. First, in verse 19, Divine Examination, we must start at the top, second, in verse 20, Corporate Examination, or how self-examination works in the life of the church, and third, in verse 21, Eternal Examination. Everything we do on earth must bring our focus to eternity. For as R.C. Sproul famously said at the beginning of every Tabletalk magazine, “Right now counts forever.” We must have our focus fixed on ‘forever’ with Jesus.

1. Divine Examination (v.19)

We begin our time together in verse 19 where we start with the first of three kinds of examination and that is Divine. Notice that we begin these three verses with God. “We love because he first loved us.” This verse has everything to do about God’s work in our lives.

But where does the means for examination come from? Well, it comes from our ability to love coming from God himself. You could simply say, you know that you are in the Lord if you love as he did. Because we love as an outpouring of affection to God himself. The person in whom we are giving the love to or the one who is the recipient of our love is blessed, but we do so because we are reminded of the wonderful work that God has done.

Let us work from beginning to end. What does it mean that ‘we love?’ If it comes from God, then what does it look like in our lives? This is the close and intimate love that is shared amongst believers. This is the deep fellowship that we have for one another. This love extends outside of this building and goes along with each one of us throughout the week and is reignited each time we come together. This love that we have for one another, Mike Fabarez, pastor of Compass Bible Church in California, says, “can be difficult, involve sacrifice, and are sometimes downright painful.” How did Christ love us? By dying on a cross as an innocent man, being separated from the Father in the greatest relationship to ever have been had, he loved us this much!

Look with me at the end of verse 19. The end of verse 19 gives us the reason for why we love. The love of God that has been freely given to us is the sole reason why you and I love at all (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). This is especially true considering the love between us. John makes clear that the love we have for one another and for God comes from God. The Greek word for first is ‘protos’ which is where we get words like prototype or protocol from. In a far lesser way, a prototype is the first of a line of invention, food item, etc. Love in its fullness begins with God and that is what we see in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” We cannot be mistaken in that God has loved us first, because the Bible is clear in telling us this truth. With this verse in mind, we see the implication of 1 John 4:10, “not that we have loved God…”

Now, God’s love is fearless as we saw in verse 18 two weeks ago, the love that you and I are to have for one another is not to be rooted in fear. Therefore, it should not be a terrifying thing to love one another, to grow close to one another, to open up to one another, for “love bears all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Now, I am not saying that we need to bear everything upon first getting to know someone. There is a time and place for that. But we must not be completely closed off in fear. For God does not love us in fear.

What would be said of this church of new people that come in? Or rather, what do we want people to see in us that visit? Are we a loving people? Not just to those we are familiar with, but those who are new? Do people sense the love that God’s people have for one another here? The commonality of the local church in Acts is rooted in love for one another. Are you familiar with the example of this in Acts 4:32-37? It is familiar for some of us. In this passage, there was a unity to the local church in verse 32. And because of this, it caused them to give freely and willingly to one another. Why did they do this? They did it because of a deep affection that they had for one another. Verse 34 says that “there was not a needy person among them.” This does not mean that you and I are to give up everything and live like a desolate people (2 Corinthians 8:13-15). But out of love for one another we should be known by being cheerful givers (James 2:15-17). But what good does it do if we only take care of the physical needs? We must also come alongside of people for their spiritual needs as well. This is where the work of the elders in the local church comes into play. As elders of the church, it our calling to set an example to the flock regarding spiritual nourishment. However, it is not only on the elders to do this. If this is not encouraged to be done by the flock, we have failed. This is where the love for one another comes in! It covers care for the physical and spiritual needs. The love of God as experienced in salvation must produce a work of love in each one of us. Now, that love may look different in who it is given to, but this love is a deep love and care for one another, just as God has loved us.

So, does this love reside in you? Examine yourself against what the text says. We love because God first loved us! His love residing in you will be shown clearly as we love one another. This is the divine examination.

2. Corporate Examination (v.20)

We come to our second point, Corporate Examination which we see in verse 20. Look there with me. This verse jumps on the back of verse 19. We love because God first loved us. For those of us who say “I love God” our love for the brethren must back it up. What we see in verse 20 is another means of examination. And this type of examination can be clearly seen and heard within the flock of God in the local church.

There is a true love for God because of the love that he has bestowed upon us. But how many times have you heard people say, ‘I love God’, or something similar? Maybe it sounds like this, I believe in God, the Bible is a good book, or Jesus’ teachings are helpful. John is telling us that this was very common in his day as well. We hear this from a wide array of people. John helps us to make the distinction of the heart change by putting the condition of loving a brother as the means in which we also show our love to God. In other words, our love for God and the hatred of a brother is an impossible joining together.

Remember the verse in Titus 1:16 that similarly saying, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” With this in mind, let us consider the one who says he loves God, but hates his brother, not being a believer at all.

I want to think of this in a real-life scenario. You and I have heard many people say that they love God. How do we know if they really do? I would suggest that we ask questions as we get to the heart of the person. Now, they may check off the typical Christian questions. I love people, I am kind and compassionate, I help people in need, I go to church sometimes, I even own a Bible!

There was a time where I had a t-shirt that said, “Every knee shall bow” and I wore it to a restaurant several years back and the waitress looked at it and loved the shirt. She said, “isn’t that from a movie (I don’t remember which one), and I told her no it comes from the book of Isaiah found in the Bible. And she responded, “oh, yeah the Bible, that’s a good book, I like that book.” And off she went. It was a shock to her ears as I can recall her emotional response. But I left asking, is this how a believer in the Lord would respond? As we have seen in 1 John, it is clear that there is unity between all believers in the Lord, not just this church. So, we rejoice with other believers that are not of this assembly and encourage one another. This, being very different from the waitress’ response. I suppose that if I would have pressed her, it may have gone in a different direction.

Because when the tables turn to more pressing matters and more controversial matters, you and I see the true belief come out of the person. It goes beyond a mere love for God. How can we tell? In our day and age there could be a few questions asked that would give us the answer.

A conversation that you are in has led to a simple expression of a love or affection for God and the Bible. After going through several questions about the Christian faith, things seem to be going well. But then you ask any one of these questions. Do unbelieving sinners go to hell? Is homosexuality a sin? Does God love and accept the homosexual as he/she is? Does everyone go to heaven? Does your walk match your talk? Would it be said of you that your life reflects complete submission to God?

These questions may seem a little severe and poignant. But may I remind you, the boldness that Jesus had when he questioned/spoke to the Pharisees. Turn with me to Matthew 23. Jesus had had many discussions with the Pharisees. He knew who they were and what they truly stood for. Hear the boldness in which our Lord speaks. And might I add that Jesus’ goal in all of this was for their eyes to be opened to see who they really were and what they were doing, so that they would turn from there sin! I am convinced that Jesus’ mission on earth was in pleasing the Father by following His will, men would be saved. I am going to read verses 23-28. Read the verses. Do you see the urgency in which Jesus spoke? He is exposing them for who they are and imploring them to change their ways. The Pharisees said that they followed after the law of Moses. If you would have asked any Pharisee if they loved God, they would have definitely answered, YES, just like many people today would answer the same.

Why is there such urgency in Jesus’ words in Matthew 23 [John 8:44]? Turn back with me to 1 John 4:20 and let’s see why. We have seen that people will say that they love God and yet hate there brother, and what are they called? John says, “a liar.” 1 Timothy 1:10 says that the liar is one who is lawless. Why is this significant? May I ask you a question? Where do liars go? You know where the liar goes, his eternal abode is hell (Proverbs 19:5, 9, 1 John 2:22, Revelation 21:8, 27, 22:15).

The severity of being a liar is found in 1 John 2:22. The very God whom people may say they love, is the God whom they actually deny.

Unbeliever, you do not need to sit here remaining as one who says you love God, but hate Christians and in reality deny God. There is freedom in Christ who alone provides salvation. You do not have to be labeled a liar and have hell as your eternal destination. Confess your sins and put your trust in Jesus today!

Look with me towards the middle of verse 20. The love for the brother is applied in a visible way. In the same way, not being able to see God is applied in an invisible way. The reason that this is important for us to consider is because there is a special relationship between man and God. I believe that this is closely related to the image bearing that each one of as human beings have. In other words, you and I cannot love the image creator (that is God himself) if we do not love those who are made in the creator’s image.

Another reason for this is what we saw in 1 John 3:23. Belief in the Lord Jesus and love for a brother go hand in hand. You cannot say that you believe in Jesus and hate (or not love) your brother. This brings us further down the road to examine the lives of those around us, but also examine our lives too! Christian, do you believe in Jesus? Do you love God? Of course, you do! But do you love your brother? Examine your heart this day! For God knows all that lies in your heart. Have you loved your brother who has wronged you? Have you forgiven him? Remember Jesus’ statement in Matthew 6:14-15? “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Who are the others? The others are those you may consider an enemy, but it also includes your brother! Do you see why forgiving a brother and loving a brother are so close together? Because you cannot have one without the other and if either is lacking you are not following the God you claim to believe in! We have seen many times throughout this epistle the need to self-examine. And here is another text that promotes it.

Daniel Akin summarizes this well. He says, “One may possibly claim to love God and deceive others since God cannot be seen and others are not able to prove the truth of the declaration. The visible manifestation of an individual’s love for God, however, will eventually show up in his dealings with his brothers and sisters in Christ, who indeed are very visible.”

What does this say about this church? Are we a church of self-examiners? Are we a church that longs to see self-examination occurring in one another? Do we seek to build one another up? Sharpening one another through the means of self-examination is a wonderful way to do just that! This is our corporate duty as the local church. May we edify one another as we are edified by the preaching of the Word, the hymns we sing, the relationships we build, and the growth in Christ that we all must be striving for!

3. Eternal Examination (v.21)

It would be wrong for us to view self-examination on the grounds of leaving the work to earthly matters and not be looking toward our future with Christ. With this in mind, we turn to our third point and that is Eternal Examination. Look with me in verse 21. I want us to consider the command to love the brothers and then see the eternal impact of it.

Remember, God did not just love us so that we could experience it on earth only, but to be a part of perfection in eternity loving him and loving one another.

Now let us consider the weightiness of the command. Jesus speaks highly of this command to love one another. He says in Matthew 22:40 that the Law and the Prophets hand on this command as well as loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Another place we see the weight of this commandment is in Galatians 5:14 which says, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Now, we know how important the law was to the Jews and to the entire Old Testament as a whole. Listen to the scribe’s response after Jesus tells him the two greatest commandments. “To love him (God) with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). This does not mean that all we have to do to fulfill the law is to love one another. For Christ is the one who came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). We trust in Christ the law fulfiller. But what this does tell us is that you and I loving one another holds far more weight than the numerous sacrifices that were given throughout the entire Old Testament. Further it is a way of showing where we you and I are headed. Notice Jesus’ response to the scribe in Mark 12:34. He said this, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” This is life under the New Covenant. We examine our profession of faith in our love for one another as we anticipate glory with Jesus.

Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 13. You know that chapter, it is called the love chapter. I want us to see this in a different way this morning. I want us to consider all that we have seen and heard these last few weeks about love and see the eternal significance of it. I am going to read verses 1- the very beginning of verse 8. Read the verses.

Did you hear verse 8? What were the first three words? Love never ends. Love has everything to do with eternity! It never ends! Therefore, the love that you and I have for one another right now has eternal consequences.

Listen, you can have all of your theology right, have read the Bible in its entirety multiple times, or have a brain that can memorize Scripture, you could know all of the old hymns, and be involved in a variety of ministries, but let me make this very plain, if you do not love your brother, you are not fit for the kingdom of God.

Turn back with me to 1 John 4:21. Our Lord Jesus has every right to command us to love one another. God is love and he first loved us. Jesus showed the love of God when he went to the cross to die for the sins that you and I commit. This is why we have this commandment from Jesus. He performed loving one another to perfection, and he expects you and I to carry it out as a means of following him, although we will not do so perfectly. So, let me ask again? Are you a Christian? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Are you assured of your eternal status? If so, examine yourself according to the commandment of loving your brother.

John began chapter 4 with the testing of the spirits to have us examine if the Spirit is within us. As we have worked through chapter 4, we have talked about love quite a bit, we have seen Christ at work in loving us and giving us the love that we desperately needed. As we conclude chapter 4, we have seen that we are empowered and encouraged to love one another by God himself. He has indeed shown great love to us, may we be affectionate and compassionate to one another as we love one another as he first loved us.

Conclusion

Our text has put forth the necessity to examine ourselves. We know that this is to see if we are in the faith. As we continue on our Christian journey, we must continue to examine ourselves. It is so easy to be led astray, even by our own thoughts and passions.

Living life in the local church and being with one another is one the greatest place where self-examination takes place. Why? Because we can be open and honest with our brothers and sisters as to our daily walk. As we grow in love for one another and as we grow in our love for God as evidenced by the spiritual growth in our lives, we are more open to receive thoughts and suggestions from others as they inquire about our lives, and we do the same for them.

Self-examination does not always occur in the personal sense of the word. Self-examination can be a means of encouraging a brother or a sister. Self-examination can be a means to warn others about traveling down a certain path. Wherever self-examination occurs may it be done so in love as we express that love toward one another as God has commanded us.

Benediction

Hebrews 10:24-25

“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”