The Love of God

The Source of Our Love

There’s a simple command that begins in verse 7. While it is simple, I believe there is plenty of reason why there seems to be so much detail and explanation listed here. This is a command that is repeated numerous times throughout the New Testament.

This command is more than just an all-powerful God imposing His will on His creation. Instead, it is founded in an expectation that the one who loves God and knows God will exhibit a core characteristic of His. The love that we have for one another comes from a supernatural place. We must do everything in our power to show this love to one another.

This is the issue, isn’t it. Love does nothing for anyone if it remains within. Rather than withholding our love for one another, it is imperative and expected by God that we do the hard thing and act in love toward one another. I believe the difficulty of acting in love is the reason why there is so much time spent on this subject.

We learn here that a person who loves, and loves in a genuine way, has been both born of God and knows God. These two things are one in the same, though. One who truly knows God is one who has been redeemed and washed by the blood of the spotless Lamb. Because they know God, they have been brought into His family vice versa.

When we think of being born of God, there is a certain expectation. Think about the expectations that people have of you based on who your parents are. You take on their mannerisms and even language.

Think of how those who mentored you have shaped the way that you act today. There are things that are picked up in these sorts of relationships. The same is said when someone has been born of God. Because they know Him, they take on the core ideal of love that He has.

So, what does this love look like in a community of disciples? Well, my mind immediately goes to Acts 2:42-47.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

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We see a generosity that is missing in our world today. But it shouldn’t be missing among a community of believers.

Paul has a tendency to either exhort his audience to love one another or praise them for the great love that they have for one another.

But beyond love coming from God, verse explains that God is the source of love because He is love. Those who do not love do not know God. It is impossible for a person to know God and not love. Let that statement sink in for a moment. How can a person know God, who is love, and not love?!

To state that “God is love” is more than just “He loves” or “He is loving”. It is foundational to who He is as a being. At His very core, God is love. Everything that He does is centered around this love and His other characteristics guide how His love is manifested.

So we can clearly see why He is the source of our love. But in verses 9 and 10 we see

The Manifestation of God’s Love

It is because God sent His son into the world that the love of God was manifested or revealed to the world. It is important to note that this love was revealed “among us” because this specifies what exactly John is describing. Of course, He very quickly states what action from God revealed this but the fact that it was made manifest among us separates Jesus' arrival from other actions of God such as His creation. Yes, we live amongst creation but Jesus walked the earth among men. It is a stated historical fact that He lived in this world.

We are able to quickly come to the conclusion at this point that God’s love has been revealed to us through the sending of His son, Jesus, to this earth. The mind cannot help but wander to John 3:16 .

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

But simply sending His son was not the love that God fully had. It is found most complete in the goal of Jesus: that man might live through Him. Jesus purpose for being on earth was that no man would HAVE to perish but that all men would have the opportunity to live in eternity with God.

The conditions of God’s love are not bound by our love, thankfully. Instead, we are loved by Him because He is love and has existed before the foundations of the world were ever created. It is important that we keep this in mind. Our God’s love is unwavering. He is never shocked at our disobedience and His love is unshakable.

Despite our many failures, He sent His son to die but that death served a specific purpose. His death is the propitiation for our sins. In other words, it serves as the necessary atoning sacrifice. Someone needed to pay the price for our sins. God is just and therefore justice is necessary. However, Jesus stands in our stead and has become the means by which forgiveness is now possible.

Now, consider what that sort of love compels you to do. And then compare it with the sort of love that you ought to have. Finally, we look see that we ought to

Abide in His Love

Verse 11 calls you and me to action once again. Love one another. It is true that no one has ever seen God, but they can see the product of His love in us. Our love for one another shows the world that there is a God and He is love. When He abides in us, we are then able to abide in His love.

Isn’t this a better way than how we desire to live according to our fleshly desires? If your like me, I need to abide more in the love of God. When I’m annoyed on a Sunday morning, I need to abide in His love. When my kids are driving me crazy, I need to abide in His love. At every possible turn, I need to abide in the love of God and His love will then be put on display for the world and be perfected.