Living a Balanced Life

(An In-Depth Study of First John)

Week 13

Commentary

Love in Resurrection

1 John 4:7-12

 Outline

Holy week; a time on the church calendar when the central focus is the week of Jesus’ life when He came to Jerusalem to die on a cross and rise again on the third day – on purpose. The Scripture informs us that Jesus turned His face toward Jerusalem and never looked back, never hesitated, never missed a step. (Luke 9:51-53) It also says that, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) This week of Jesus’ life, as recorded in the Gospels, perhaps is the clearest view of God’s love for us.

One of the most significant statements in the Bible comes in three small words found in our text; the beautiful fact that “God is Love.” Now the Bible through this revelation teaches that love and God are one in the same. Love does not only come from God, it IS God. So these facts result; God is the highest order of the universe (creation), so love is the highest order. God created all things, so Love created all things. God has always existed, so Love has always existed. God is eternal, so Love is eternal. Jesus prayed and revealed to us that Love has always existed; “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)

In John’s Gospel, Jesus sets love apart from all else when it comes to the identity of His disciples; “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) Jesus is making the statement that if we are born again, born of God, then God’s love is within us. John has already made the same claim from a different view; “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers” (1 John 3:14).

As we focus on the events of Holy Week, God’s love is on display for all who have eyes to see. God’s love is made manifest in sending his Son and in his Son laying down his life. This shows us what the Father’s love is like. The connection between God’s love for us and our love for each other is made clear in the Gospel. John states that if we are born of God we will know Him and love like Him. (vs 7) Just like last week we determined that the power to know truth from error comes from the Spirit of God within us, so this power to love is enabled by the same Spirit.

God’s love overflows 

New birth:

Father’s seed:

Father’s nature:

Father’s nature is love:

We now have the Father’s nature:

Therefore, we love

God is Love (vs 7-8)

Love is from God (vs 7)

God is Love (vs 8)

Love made manifest (vs 9-11)

God sent His only Son

God so loved us, we ought to love one another

Greatest love that ever was/is

Good Friday and Easter Sunday is the choice of Jesus

His Love (vs 12)

Origin of love is God, not you

God abides in us, making love complete

LIFE APPLICATION

Love rejoices in the presence of all God’s children

God commands us to become what we already are

If we ever doubt the love of God; remember the love of God