Perfect Love
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Introduction
Introduction
On the 6th day of creation, God said…
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Manifesting Perfect Love, Part 1
Now since God is the eternal spirit, being made in God’s image is not physical. It has to do with the immaterial part of us. The root of the Hebrew word for image, tselem, seems to mean to carve out. Let us carve out man, let us shape man to Our image, literally. In other words, let’s replicate ourselves in man. Let’s shape him and form him to be reflective of us. Man then was created in an exalted fashion. Man was created to be like God
Man was made to relational because God is relational within Himself.
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Manifesting Perfect Love, Part 1
And what does that mean primarily? Primarily that means man was created for inter-personal relationships. The Trinity was always a Trinity, is always a Trinity, will always be a Trinity. God by nature exists in fellowship and relationship within the Trinity.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
it is important to understand that since God is relational within himself and have created mankind to relate to God and to others, why relationships are so important.
Our world is filled with love songs that express the human need for love and intimacy ….
songs like Here and Now ; Never Too Much; and Always and Forever..by Luther Vandross has gotten some of us in some big trouble over the years…
Sin has done a number on us all when it comes to relationships whether family members , failed marriages, friendships…do I need to go on!
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Manifesting Perfect Love, Part 1
In fact, as you probably are aware, the human heart cries for love more than anything else. It’s the theme of more songs, more plays, more books, more films, more … more literature in general, more poems than any other thing. We long to love and be loved. We long to find that perfect love. All the forms of human discourse tell us that because we have been made in the image of God for that. We want so much that perfect love relationship. And that understanding draws us all the way from Genesis into
12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in 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, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Manifesting Perfect Love, Part 1
Four times here in those three verses we read about perfect or perfected love. This is what everybody is looking for, everybody is longing for and no one will ever find outside a relationship with God.
Teleioo-to complete an activity, complete, bring to an end, finish, accomplish
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Manifesting Perfect Love, Part 1
It basically means to carry out something to the max. That word is used by Jesus when He was dying on the cross and had come to the end, and said, “It is finished,”
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Manifesting Perfect Love, Part 1
And what He was saying was, “What I’ve just done can’t be added to. What I’ve just done can’t be improved on.” And that’s the kind of love we’re talking about. It’s a love that cannot be added to. It is a love that cannot be improved on. It is the perfected love with all the completeness that can only come from God
And its this kind of love that has been poured out in the heart of every true believer in Jesus.
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
1 john 2.10 tells us were in the fellowship
10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
1 john 3.10 is the evidence of our sonship.
10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
Sound doctrine drives proper behavior. We have a moral responsibility to love the way the scripture tells us to love, not like the culture that has redefined love, sin, to meet its own selfish agendas. Thats why you have people making themselves as Jesus so they can continue to waterdown the true church thats defines by her love for God and neighbor and not by Christian White or Black nationalists but by the true nature of the triune God Himself!
Why should we love as John encourages us in 1 John 4:7a?
Point 1- Because of the Nature of God in us
1 John 4:7–8
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Manifesting Perfect Love, Part 1
What he is simply saying is let us who are the beloved of God who belong to God love because that is consistent with who God is.
Love is from God. He is the source of love and express His love throughout creation. so we are encouraged to love one another because of Who God is and because we are his children. He’s our Daddy and we should act like the one whom we represent.
Illustration:
Growing up, many of us heard this before leaving the house:
“Act like you’ve got some home training.”
Or, “Remember—you represent this family.”
What were they really saying?
“Don’t embarrass what you belong to. Let your behavior reflect your upbringing.”
In the same way, John is saying: if we are born of God, then we ought to act like we come from God. Our conduct should reflect our origin. Our love should reveal our identity.
If God is love, and His life is in us, then love is not optional—it is expected.
And here’s the tension: the world struggles with the Bible’s definition of love, not only because of what it says, but because of what it often sees. When those who claim to belong to God fail to love, it creates confusion. It gives the culture room to redefine love on its own terms.
But the answer is not to redefine love.
The answer is to reflect God more faithfully.
Because when we truly live out this love, we don’t have to argue for it—
we demonstrate it.
argumentation
1 John 4:8 “8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
Church, there is a reason why people does not love today or know God. Sin in its twisted way, always try to redefine the church, the bible, and what a christian should be like , act like, walk like or talk like…
lets unpack this v8 for a minute:
There is a dangerous idea circulating in our culture.
People will say things like,
“God is in everything… the trees are God… the ant is God… love is God.”
But that is not biblical Christianity—that is pantheism, and it blurs the line between the Creator and the creation.
Now watch the text carefully.
In 1 John 4:8, the structure in the original language matters.
The definite article is attached to God—making Him the subject of the sentence.
Love is the predicate—it describes who God is.
So the text is saying:
God is love.
But it is not saying:
Love is God.
That distinction is not small—that is everything.
Because if you flip it—if you say “love is God”—then whatever people feel is love becomes divine.
Now love can be redefined by culture, reimagined by preference, and reshaped by emotion.
But when the text says God is love, it means:
God defines love.
God determines love.
God reveals what love truly is.
So we don’t look to the culture to learn love—
we look to God.
And this is why the world struggles with biblical love.
Because when believers fail to reflect God’s love faithfully, it creates confusion.
And in that confusion, the culture starts redefining love on its own terms.
But the answer is not to redefine love—
the answer is to return to God,
because He is the standard, the source, and the definition of love.
PERFECT LOVE IS BECAUSE GOD’S NATURE IS IN US…
Punch Line (for emphasis)
Punch Line (for emphasis)
“Love is not God—God is love.
And if God defines love, then we don’t have the right to redefine it.”
LET US SHOW OUR LOVE NOT BY CLAPPING YOUR HANDS, BUT ACCORDING TO HSI WORD…
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails;
Point 2- Because of the Manifestation of Christ for us
1 John 4:9–10
9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
God nature in us was our first point for us to have Perfect Love, but what drives you and I today and eveyday. What does Christ mean when he tells us to: Do this in remembrance of Me?
φανερόω phaneroō reveal; make clear
BDAG reveal, expose publicly; disclose, show, make known
God want to make himself clear, reveal himself, disclose himself in us, manifest himself in us…
Many tell us to preach the Gospel, and that is well and good doctrinally, but John as he always do challenges us morally. By sending His only begotten:
μονογενής monogenēs one and only; only
BDAG one and only, only; unique (in kind)
That we might live through Him
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
This is the moral obligation to love like God…but What does this love looks like? Let us begin to unpact v10:
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
The Meaning of “Hilasmos” (1 John 4:10)
The Meaning of “Hilasmos” (1 John 4:10)
When John says that Christ is the propitiation for our sins, he is not using a weak or sentimental word. He is using a word that carries the full weight of divine justice and divine love.
Propitiation means that God’s wrath against sin has been satisfied.
There was a real barrier between God and humanity—
not just human sin, but God’s holy opposition to that sin.
God is not indifferent toward evil. His holiness stands against it. His justice demands that it be dealt with.
And here is where the gospel becomes glorious:
We did not initiate a way to appease God.
We did not devise a sacrifice.
We did not climb our way back to Him.
God Himself took the initiative.
God made the plan.
God executed the plan.
He sent His Son to be the propitiation.
So unlike pagan systems—where people try to calm angry gods—
in Christianity, God provides the very sacrifice that satisfies His own justice.
Jesus is not merely the one who brings forgiveness—
He is the means by which God’s wrath is fully satisfied.
His death was not symbolic.
His blood was not merely inspirational.
It was effective.
The virtue of His sacrifice cleanses from sin,
and its power does not expire—
He remains the propitiation even now.
And don’t miss this—John defines love through this act.
“This is love…”
Not that we loved God,
but that He loved us
and sent His Son as the propitiation.
So when we say God is love,
we are not talking about sentiment—
we are talking about substitution.
God’s love is seen in this:
He did not ignore sin—
He satisfied His wrath against it
through the sacrifice of His Son.
Theological Clarity for the Pulpit
Theological Clarity for the Pulpit
God’s wrath is not irrational—it is His holy, settled opposition to sin
Propitiation means that wrath has been turned away and satisfied
Christ is not just the messenger—He is the sacrifice
And the source of it all is God’s love
“God did not lower His standard to save us—
He satisfied His own standard through Christ.”
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus …
Point 3- Because of the Testimony of Love through us
(1 John 4:11–12
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us
1. Love Is Not Optional—It Is Obligatory
1. Love Is Not Optional—It Is Obligatory
John says, “Beloved…if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
That word “ought” carries moral weight.
This is not suggestion—this is obligation.
Why?
Because of what we just saw:
God loved us sacrificially
Christ gave Himself completely
So now—
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Love is not talk—
love is sacrifice.
2. The Invisible God Is Made Visible Through Love
2. The Invisible God Is Made Visible Through Love
John then says something striking:
“No one has seen God at any time…”
That’s not new language.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
So the question becomes:
If no one has seen God—how will the world know Him?
John answers:
“If we love one another…God abides in us.”
In other words—
God is made visible through the love of His people.
Just as Christ revealed the Father through His love,
we reveal God through our love.
3. Love Is the Evidence of God’s Abiding Presence
3. Love Is the Evidence of God’s Abiding Presence
John says, “God abides in us…”
That means:
God is not distant
God is not theoretical
God is not just discussed
God is dwelling in His people.
And how is that proven?
Not just by what we say—
but by how we love.
If His love is in us, it must come through us.
4. Love Is the Perfection of God’s Work in Us
4. Love Is the Perfection of God’s Work in Us
“…and His love is perfected in us.”
That word “perfected” means:
brought to completion
brought to maturity
brought to its intended goal
God’s love reaches its full expression
when it flows through believers to others.
So love is not complete when we receive it—
love is complete when we release it.
5. Love Is Our Public Testimony
5. Love Is Our Public Testimony
This is where it all comes together:
Point 1-Because of the Nature of God in us
God is the source of love
we prove we belong to God
Point 2-Because of the Manifestation of Christ for us
Christ is the model of love
we display the presence of God
Point 3-Because of the Testimony of Love through us
We are the display of love
The unseen God becomes seen
in the love of believers.
we witness to the reality of God
