Perfected Love

🙏 Welcome & Opening Prayer

Turn to 1 Jn. Ch. 4 — V. 13

!! Open in Prayer!!

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🧭I. INTRO: “My Dad Is Gonna Kill Me...”

C.C. SURE ALL of US— SOME POINT,, GROWING UP— FELT “MY DAD is GOING to KILL ME”

DON’T WANT to FESS UP

BROKEN WINDOW, ETC…

=> PERHAPS DAD WOULD NEARLY KILL YOU. 😬

OTHERS: “I MESSED UP” — NEED to GO TELL MY DAD.

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📷 Focus: Our early experience with our EARTHLY FATHER often shapes how we view GOD as FATHER

SOME STRUGGLE — DON’T LIKE PICTURE GOD as FATHER

SOME — PLEASANT

Personal Mission: NO HINDRANCES for MY DAUGHTERS…

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Need: MANY STRUGGLE BELIEVING the LOVE of GOD—BECAUSE of CHILDHOOD WOUNDS… 🥺

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Transition: TODAY’S PASSAGE—JOHN FOCUSES AGAIN—LOVE of GOD

PRAY TODAY’S TEXT = LIFE-CHANGING if YOU STRUGGLE W/ LOVE of GOD.

BEGIN, READING TEXT:

1 JN. CH. 4.... V13-21

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II. Passage Reading: 1 John 4:13-21

1 John 4:13–21 (ESV)

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

19 We love because he first loved us.

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

This is God’s Word for us this morning...

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III. Context Recap: A Picture of the Invisible God

Last Week:

LOVE ONE ANOTHER—LOVE is FROM GOD… (v7)

BY LOVING OTHERS—WE PROVE NEW-BIRTH & KNOWLEDGE of GOD…

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LOVE = PART of GOD’S NATURE… 💡

PROVEN @ CALVARY,, SENT HIS SON:

THAT WE MIGHT LIVE (V9)

PROPITIATION (V10)

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For Us:

Godliness looks like self-giving love.

IF WE LOVE in COMMUNITY—WE BECOME PICTURE of the INVISIBLE GOD…

GOAL of GOD’S LOVE = REACHED WHEN WE LOVE OTHERS… 💡

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Transition: SIMILAR VEIN TODAY—WE’LL SEE ANOTHER GOAL of GOD’S LOVE

BUT FIRST—JOHN is GOING to HIT TOPIC of ASSURANCE AGAIN

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 13-15

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IV. Passage Exposition:

✨ 1. Assurance Through the Spirit & Confession (vv. 13–15)

1 John 4:13–15 (ESV)

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

KNOWLEDGE WE ABIDE in GOD = ASSURANCE!

Background: ORIGINAL AUDIENCE TROUBLED—PEOPLE LEAVING

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Sources of Assurance:

#1 Holy Spirit (v13) 🕊️🕊️

=> HOLY SPIRIT = DOWN-PAYMENT, GUARANTEE, FIRST-INSTALLMENT of HEAVENLY INHERITANCE

Romans 8:9 (ESV)

9b Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

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#2 Apostolic Testimony of Truth (v14):

NOT HEARSAY

(1:1) HEARD, SEEN W/ EYES, LOOKED UPON, TOUCHED👀

JOHN W/ JESUS 3.5 YRS,, SAW HIM UPON the CROSS

SAW EMPTY TOMB

SAW RESURRECTED CHRIST—PERIOD of 40 DAYS!

THEY HAVE SEEN & TESTIFY: FATHER SENT HIS SON—SAVIOR of the WORLD!!

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#3 Confession of Jesus as God’s Son (v.15)

THOSE WHO BELIEVE in CHRIST—SAVED (ABIDING in GOD)

RELIABLE TRADITION from APOSTLES — TRUTH

RESPONDED to TRUTH

ASSURANCE of SALVATION

ROOTED in FINISHED WORK of CHRIST

TRANSFERRED W/ RELIABLE TESTIMONY

RESPONDED to W/ FAITH—RECEIVED H.S.

=> WE CAN & SHOULD HAVE ASSURANCE… 😃

IN ALIGNMENT W/ APOSTOLIC TESTIMONY

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Transition: WE’LL SEE MORE on THIS…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 16

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❤️ 2. Knowing and Believing God’s Love (v. 16)

1 John 4:16 (ESV)

16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

W/ ASSURANCE of SALVATION—

=> SHOULD LIKEWISE HAVE ASSURANCE of LOVE of GOD FOR US!!🤔

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

CALVARY = MOTIVATED BY GOD’S LOVE for US😮

LOVE & JUSTICE INTERSECTED!!

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REMEMBER: LOVE ISN’T JUST SOMETHING GOD DOES…IT’S WHO HE IS!!🧠

GOD is LOVE — ((EMPH. GK!))

SOVEREIGN CREATOR & GRACIOUS REDEEMER!

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Last Wk: LOVE PROVEN @ CALVARY

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

HE DIDN’T DIE for the CLEANED-UP, CHRISTIANIZED VERSION of YOU,

👉👉BUT the WRETCHED & HOPELESS SINNER…

GOD is LOVE—WE OUGHT to ABIDE in LOVE—LOVING GOD & OTHERS…

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Transition: GOD’S LOVE for US— HAS an ADDITIONAL GOAL to TAKE ROOT in OUR LIVES...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 17-18

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🔥 3. Love Perfected: No Fear in Judgment (vv. 17–18)

1 John 4:17–18 (ESV)

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

BY THIS—LOVE is PERFECTED/COMPLETE

LOVE HAS MET ITS INTENDED GOAL

GOAL: CONFIDENCE on JUDGMENT DAY.👀

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☠️ Judgment Day is Real

Background: OT and NT affirm a coming Day of the Lord.

O.T. DAY of JUDGMENT

N.T.,, SAME IDEA,, W/ CHRIST.

NOT POPULAR—BUT BIBLICAL.

PROGRESSIVE CHURCH DENIES—BUT CHRIST TAUGHT IT, PAUL TAUGHT IT, JOHN TAUGHT IT, PETER TAUGHT IT, JUDE TAUGHT IT…

Ecclesiastes 8:11 (ESV)

11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

⚡GOD DOESN’T ALWAYS “ZAP” ⚡

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Exhort: GOOD NEWS,, IF YOU’RE in CHRIST—YOU DON’T HAVE to FEAR—BUT CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE!!🤯

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Transition: WHY??

(v17b) AS HE is SO ALSO ARE WE in THIS WORLD…

IF YOU ARE in CHRIST—YOU ARE CLOTHED/ENROBED in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS 🧥

TAKEN off OUR RAGS of SIN—CLOTHED US W/ BEAUTIFUL GARMENTS

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

GOD SEES YOU as HIS SON—RIGHTEOUS, BELOVED. 🤯

IN CHRIST— I AM BELOVED!!!

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Transition: W/ THIS in MIND...

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(v18) NO FEAR in LOVE

WHAT’S THAT MEAN??

DARK?

SATAN?

HEIGHTS?

“love casts out fear” song reference??

🗝️ Key Idea: PERFECTED LOVE MEANS YOU’RE NO LONGER TERRIFIED of GOD.

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GOD is LOVE—BUT HE is ALSO LIGHT. 💡

1 John 1:5 (ESV)

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

GOD = PERFECTLY HOLY—FOR ETERNITY.

GOD is JUST—WILL PUNISH SIN

Problem: FOR SINNERS,, THIS = SCARY THING. 😬

✝️IN CHRIST—NO FEAR— HE’S EXHAUSTED SIN’S PENALTY...✝️

WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE, ASSURANCE of OUR FUTURE SALVATION!!

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CC. Substack Guy:

COMMENT on CHARLIE KIRK (LIKED HIM)

“There is no guarantee that he is in heaven right now… I will agree he’s got a much better chance than most of us, but there is no guarantee.”

IF WE’RE RELYING on PERSONAL CHANCE/ MERIT,, WE’RE ALL TOAST!

IF WE’RE in CHRIST—WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE

IF WE’RE in CHRIST—WE ARE GUARANTEED HEAVEN—NOT BECAUSE of ME, BUT BECAUSE of HIM!!

IF WE ARE OUTSIDE CHRIST—WE ARE BARRED ENTRANCE.

THAT’S IT.

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NOT TERROR,, BUT HEALTHY FEAR of the LORD:

VENERATION

RESPECT

AWE

=> IS STILL GOOD!

BEGINNING of KNOWLEDGE & WISDOM!!

NO NEED for TERROR.

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Transition: BUT THIS ASSURANCE = ONLY for THOSE in CHRIST…

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Gospel Presentation: No Fear in Judgment

THOSE W/ SPIRIT

THOSE W/ CONFESSION of CHRIST

CAN HAVE ASSURANCE & CONFIDENCE

APART from CHRIST—JUDGMENT DAY is TERRIFYING...😨

Hebrews 10:31 (ESV)

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

GOD SEES ALL

GOD KNOWS ALL

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🗝️Key Truth: GOD’S STANDARD is PERFECTION 🗝️

James 2:10 (ESV)

10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

REF ISAIAH: WOE is ME! I’M UNDONE, UNCLEAN, HELPLESS!

PRESENCE of DIVINE ROYALTY—WITHOUT HOPE APART from CHRIST…

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GOD TAKES SIN SERIOUSLY

SIN REQUIRED a BLOOD SACRIFICE 💡

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

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BUT BECAUSE HE SO LOVED US…

✝️GOD MADE a WAY WHILE WE WERE HOPELESS SINNERS BY GRACE. ✝️

CHRIST OBEYED PERFECTLY

OUR PUNISHMENT WAS LAID UPON HIM

THROUGH FAITH in HIM—HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS is LAID UPON US…

Invitation: IF YOU’RE HERE OUTSIDE of CHRIST—WITHOUT HOPE, WITHOUT ASSURANCE,, I’D LOVE to SPEAK w/ YOU AFTER SERVICE…

JESUS CAME to SAVE SINNERS,, NO MATTER HOW LOST.

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Transition: FOR THOSE in CHRIST—THIS LOVE DEMANDS a RESPONSE…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 19-21

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🔁 4. Our Response: Love One Another (vv. 19–21)

1 John 4:19–21 (ESV)

19 We love because he first loved us.

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

ALL WE DO = RESPONSE to HIS GRACE.

WE LOVE—BECAUSE HE LOVED.

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WE DON’T DESERVE ANY CREDIT!

WHOLE CHRISTIAN LIFE = BIG “THANK YOU!”

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(v20) EXPECTATION—HORIZONTAL LOVE for OTHERS

LOVE for GOD = LIE WITHOUT LOVE for OTHERS!

YOU CANNOT LOVE GOD,, IF YOU DON’T LOVE OTHERS.😬

If you don’t love God’s people, you don’t love God. Period.

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Lone-Wolf Christianity?

⛪Exhortation: Importance of Church Attendance ⛪

WE CAN’T KEEP the MOST FUNDAMENTAL of CHRISTIAN LIVING…

… if WE HOLE OURSELVES UP W/ YOUTUBE…

NOT JUST YOU & JESUS...

🏠IF YOU’RE BORN AGAIN—YOU’RE BORN INTO a FAMILY!!

GOD - FATHER

BELIEVERS = BROTHERS & SISTERS

((MORE NEXT WEEK))

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Transition: ALL in ALL—JOHN is SAYING to US:

💡 Passage Idea:

God’s love for us ought to eliminate fear and motivate love.

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🛠️ V. Application Points

GOD’S LOVE has GOALS for US… A MISSION to ACCOMPLISH.

✅ For Believers:

CONFIDENCE on JUDGMENT DAY— WE ARE CLOTHED in CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, 🧥BELOVED, ACCEPTED…

**HARD to ACCEPT**

NONE of US DESERVE

WE ALL FAIL GOD…

🧠 God’s love for us doesn’t depend on our own lovability,

but on the immutability of His nature.

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💭 Preach the gospel to yourself.

IF YOU EVER DOUBT GOD’S LOVE/ACCEPTANCE of YOU—REMIND YOURSELF of the CROSS… 👣

Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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GOD’S LOVE for US—OUGHT to SHAPE US

WE LOVE GOD & OTHERS—BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US (v19)...👣

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Conclusion:

OUR LOVE for GOD = PROVEN BY HOW WE LOVE OTHERS…

&& IN LIGHT of ALL HE’S DONE FOR US—THIS is A SMALL ASK…AMEN?

!Close in Prayer!