1 John 4:12-16...

— 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 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 the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Here, John continues to write about that chain reaction, of God’s love for us, our love for God, which results in our love for one another.

Revolution of Character: Discovering Christ’s Pattern for Spiritual Transformation Love

What characterizes the deepest essence of God is love—that is, willing the good. His very creation of the world is an expression of willing the good. It’s expected, therefore, that his world would be found by him to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). His love and goodwill toward humans is not an add-on to a nature that is fundamentally careless or even hostile. Love expresses what God always is in every respect.

God intrudes in our world gently and in many ways, but especially in the person of Jesus Christ. It is he who stands for love, as no one else has ever done. His crucifixion is the all-time high-water mark of love on earth. “While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). No other source, whether inside or outside of religions, even comes close to the love that God shows in Christ. This is the first “move” of love in the process of redemption: “He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

When we receive the revelation of God’s love in Christ, that amazing love makes it possible for us to love in turn. His love awakens our love for him. Therefore, the first Great Commandment—to love God with all our being—can be fulfilled because of the beauty of God given in Christ.

At the same time, we begin to love others who love God. And when “we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). The first Great Commandment makes it possible to fulfill the second Great Commandment: love of neighbor as oneself. The kingdom fellowship of Christ’s apprentices is a community of love (see John 13:34–35). This is how love is made perfect or complete. And “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).

What I want to do, is go back and start at the beginning with Jesus himself

Let’s start at the beginning with Jesus himself before we get to the church He founded. Jesus modeled something for us. From all his hundreds of followers, He chose seventy-two for a special ministry (). You can’t know seventy people closely. So He also chose twelve for a closer partnership in life and ministry. , “He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him …”

before we get to the church He founded.

Jesus modeled something for us. From all his hundreds of followers, He chose seventy-two for a special ministry ().

You can’t know seventy people closely. So He also chose twelve for a closer partnership in life and ministry.

, “He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him …”

But even twelve are too many for some kinds of camaraderie.

And so Jesus had a closer bond with Peter, James, and John.

He took only these three

into the house where He raised the Centurion’s daughter (), and

onto the mount of transfiguration () and

out into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray ().

And even three are more than some kinds of friendship will allow, and

Jesus seemed to have a unique bonding with John.

Five times in his gospel John refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

He was the one who was closest to Jesus at the last supper ().

It’s expected, therefore, that his world would be found by him to be “very good” ().

So Jesus had

His great crowds,

His seventy-two,

His twelve,

His three, and

His one.

And as He put His mission and His church in motion He not only modeled all these levels of relationships,

He sent His ambassadors out in teams.

“The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town” ().

Life and ministry with Jesus was life and ministry together.

The apostle Paul followed the same pattern because the Holy Spirit Himself designed His first mission this way. , “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting [in Antioch], the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ ”

Not just Saul. And not just Barnabas. But both together. And they went out together.

Christian ministry, it appears, is ministry together. I don’t think it is any accident that in every church Paul planted he appointed

not one elder/pastor, but more than one ( “when they had appointed elders for them in every church …”).

His love and goodwill toward humans is not an add-on to a nature that is fundamentally careless or even hostile.

And when Paul and Barnabas had a falling out over how to treat John Mark who abandoned the first mission,

these two giants did not head off in isolation,

but formed new teams and got the blessing of the church.

“Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord” ().

And what a camaraderie Paul and Silas had in this great work.

Love expresses what God always is in every respect.

Picture them in prison together in Philippi, having been beaten. It is midnight and they are signing! Singing … together.

, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

It was a duet. A deadly serious duet. O the sweetness of friendships on the brink of eternity!

To show how urgent Paul felt about his partnerships, when he was run out of town in Berea and sent to Athens by himself leaving Silas and Timothy behind, says, “Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.” He may have to be alone in ministry for a time, but he will not let it be for long. Bring me my friends because we have a great work to do!

God intrudes in our world gently and in many ways, but especially in the person of Jesus Christ.

When he met Timothy (), he asked him to travel with him as a partner.

Over the next years, six of the thirteen letters that Paul wrote he addressed to the churches as coming from both himself and Timothy.

Even though Paul wrote the letters, he wanted to send them from the team.

Now we turn to a simple overview of the prominence of the connectedness language in the New Testament.

Listen to how many ways the writers describe what life together as Christians should look like.

One Another

Jesus started it with these words:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” ().

It is he who stands for love, as no one else has ever done.

Then Paul picks up the theme and puts over a dozen ways.

1. “We are … individually members one of another” ().

His crucifixion is the all-time high-water mark of love on earth. “While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” ().

2. “Love one another with brotherly affection” ().

No other source, whether inside or outside of religions, even comes close to the love that God shows in Christ.

3. “Outdo one another in showing honor” ().

This is the first “move” of love in the process of redemption: “He first loved us” ().

When we receive the revelation of God’s love in Christ,

4. “Let us pursue what makes … for upbuilding one another” ().

5. “Instruct one another” ().

that amazing love makes it possible for us to love in turn.

6. “Have the same care for one another” ().

7. “Through love serve one another” ().

His love awakens our love for Him.

8. “Bear one another’s burdens” ().

9. “With patience, endure one another in love” ().

Therefore, the first Great Commandment—to love God with all our being—

10. “Be kind to one another” ().

can be fulfilled because of the beauty of God given in Christ.

11. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” ().

At the same time, we begin to love others who love God. And when “we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us” ().

12. “In humility count others more significant than yourselves” ().

13. “Do not lie to one another” ().

14. “Encourage one another” ().

15. “Always seek to do good to one another” ().

The first Great Commandment makes it possible to fulfill the second Great Commandment:

Then the book of Hebrews joins the chorus: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (10:24).

Then James joins in:

love of neighbor as oneself.

“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers” (4:11).

“Do not grumble against one another” (5:9).

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (5:16).

Then Peter joins in:

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (4:9).

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another” (5:5).

What is obvious from all this-from

Jesus’ own relationships,

to the early Christian missionary camaraderie,

to the connectedness of life in the early church-

what is obvious is the prominence of loving, Christ-exalting, personal relationships.

This was normal, essential Christianity.

What Did the Togetherness of Love Have to Do with God?

The kingdom fellowship of Christ’s apprentices is a community of love (see ).

As we ask what it all had to do with God, let’s not miss one of Paul’s clearest answers to that question. In , he gives the answer twice:

— 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, [note: God is the source!] according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive [accept one another] one another, just as Christ also received us [accepted you], to the glory of God.

This is how love is made perfect or complete. And “perfect love casts out fear” ().

In Paul’s mind, living in unity with one another, accepting and loving each other,

is valuable finally because it makes God look good.

It is from God and through God and to God.

Horizontal relationships matter in their finality, because the glory of God matters supremely.

Our aim in every relationship is ultimately to awaken, strengthen, and deepen a joyful, fruitful passion for God through Jesus Christ.

So our understanding of God’s love for us and our love for one another is huge!!!

So this is the big picture to have in mind here at we look at what John is stating to us concerning love.

We left of in — No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

In this context, John isn’t interested in the obligation to love one another for its own sake, but because it is the sign that God lives in us. So he says,

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us...”

If we love one another, God abides in us.

One might tend to answer John: ‘I do love God, I simply find it difficult to love so-and-so.’

John exposes this as a excuse.

It is too easy to claim to be having a “personal relationship” with God. He is, after all, invisible.

Our relationship with Him is a secret one, generally speaking.

Easy claims about knowing God may cover up the very real battle we are having with loving people!

John says, ‘That brother or sister is right there in the fellowship. You see them every day.

You can fool yourself that you love God, but it is not so easy to fool yourself that you love him or her!’

If we really love God, we shall take steps to show love to our brothers and sisters.

They are not ‘spiritual’ and ‘invisible’ like God.

They are solid flesh-and-blood. They are not far away. We begin by loving them.

If we do that, says John, ‘God abides [remains] in us.’

That is, we consciously enjoy His blessings in our lives.

His indwelling presence becomes a reality.

Others become aware that God is with us and in us.

Also ‘His love is perfected in us’. It is as if love is with us ‘in embryo’, ‘in a seed’.

If we practice Christian love, the love of God within us becomes full-grown.

God’s love in our lives is brought to its intended full-measure

when it flows through us to other people.

Maybe we are not very far along the pathway of love.

John’s challenge to us is that we venture forth today further down the road of love.

It is the way God wants us to live.

If we are born again we have the seed of love within us already.

— 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 the Son as Savior of the world.

“By this” refers back to the preceding verse where John just told us that if we love one another, God lives in us.

John’s discussion of loving one another is the backdrop for the confidence John expresses in God.

What is this confidence? John says,, “By this we know that we live in Him and He in us.”

That is, from experiencing the presence of God in our lives we know that God lives in us and we in God.

How do we know that we dwell in God and he in us? “Because he has given us of his Spirit.”

Even though John uses many of the same words he wrote in 3:24, he makes a slightly different point.

There he says, “We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”

Here in verse 13 he writes, “He has given us of his Spirit.”

In 3:24 he states that divine blessings flow to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit pours out God’s love to us () and reveals that God is living within us.

But in verse 13, we read that the Holy Spirit Himself is God’s gift to us and we are the recipients.

The Spirit does not work alone.

With the Father and the Son he takes part in the work of salvation.

In verses 13 and 14, therefore, John mentions the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the Trinity.

John gives a brief summary of the gospel in v14: “The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

This is a most profound statement! God the Father commissioned his Son to assume the task of salvation to the world.

And God initiated this mission of the Son because of his love for this sinful world.

Jesus proclaimed the message of salvation most effectively.

When he visited Sychar, the Samaritans said, “We know that this man really is the Savior of the world” ().

In the early church, the apostles preached that Jesus is Savior.

They said, “God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel” (; also see 13:23).

The early church called attention to Jesus, who was appointed as Savior and

given authority as Lord to save not only the Jews but also the Gentiles.

The work of salvation, then, is worldwide in scope ().

— 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Who are the people of the world Jesus has come to save?

They are the ones who acknowledge the divine sonship of Jesus.

In fact, only if the believer confesses that “Jesus is the Son of God” will God live in him and he in God.

When we look at this phrase from a biblical point of view,

we soon realize that John causes us to look at theological truth.

The word Jesus embodies the entire history of Jesus from

his birth to his ascension and session at the right hand of God.

The term Son of God has its roots in Old Testament prophecies (e.g., ; )

that were fulfilled when Jesus came (compare ).

The confession Jesus is the Son of God gives voice to his humanity and divinity.

And it excludes everyone who denies that Jesus is the Son of God (2:23; 5:10, 12)

as one who has no fellowship with God.

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.”

Using the personal pronoun we, John includes all the readers of his epistle.

By experience, he says, we have come to know the love of God and we have put our trust in it.

John tells the believer that if he confesses the divine sonship of Jesus, God abides in him and he in God.

Confession, of course, includes a readiness to obey God’s commands (3:24).

Furthermore, the follower of Christ ought to walk as Jesus walked (2:6); then rightfully he can claim to live in Christ.

Throughout his epistle John assures us that we live in God and he in us.

We have new life in him (2:6, 24, 27–28; 3:6, 24; 4:12–13, 15–16)

and are fully conscious of our life in Christ (2:5; 5:20).

Drink deeply of his love, the kind of love he has given us—justifying, propitiating, adopting love.

Because of his love we are the “children of God” ().

Don’t let familiarity with this truth deaden or numb your soul to its power:

His beloved Son left his heavenly home, traversed down into our world,

lived sinlessly,

died shamefully,

was forsaken by his Father, and

was buried in a cold tomb.

The Father gave His Son in exchange for us so that he might claim us as his sons.

And then he raised him from the dead to assure us again that we are now and forever His.

Jesus Christ, the God-Man, has taken our flesh into the throne room of heaven, and therefore nothing—

not our weakness, not our sin, “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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” ().

Think on his love. You can’t do it enough.

Be enraptured by it; let it overwhelm you. Don’t worry that it will make you apathetic;

just the opposite is true.

Hoping in his transforming love causes us to strive after purity, to be pure, “as he is pure” ().

— And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.