Lesson for September 4, 2024

The Book of I John

I John 4:14-21

Verse 14

^“We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”

We must remember that John was an eyewitness to the Person and the work of Jesus Christ in the Hypostatic Union. The word testify is the Greek word “martureo,” and means to bear witness. As an eyewitness, John was convinced that Jesus Christ was “God in the flesh.” John believed Christ was sent to be the Savior of the world, as He had claimed throughout His earthly ministry. 

Verse 15

 ^“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.” 

Acknowledging that Jesus is Who He claimed to be is tantamount to faith in Him as Savior. All three members of the Godhead indwell believers and a believer’s position in Christ means a believer is in Christ, positionally.

Verse 16

^“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.” 

To know the love of God is possible only as a believer grows spiritually by means of the reception, retention, and application of Bible doctrine. The truth regarding God’s love is doctrinal information, revealed by the Holy Spirit to advancing believers. Remaining in God’s love means being in fellowship with Him Who permanently remains in us.

Verse 17

 ^“By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, we also are in this world.”

The Greek word for perfect is “teleios,” and means to finish, to complete, or to mature. If we reside in God’s power system and continue to advance as believers, we have confidence toward God that we are moving in the right direction toward achieving and maintaining spiritual maturity. The Greek word confidence is “parrhesia,” meaning boldness. A believer who is advancing in their Christian life has nothing to fear from God, whether at the Judgment Seat of Christ or during their life on earth. 

Because as He is, we also are in this world. The subject of this verse is virtue-love being perfected in us, as the representatives of Christ on earth. “As Christ is” refers to His character of perfect love, which is in us as advancing believers. Therefore, as Christ is perfect love at this moment, seated at the right hand of the Father, so are we when we by exhibiting virtue-love.

Verse 18

^“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” 

If believers are residing in virtue-love (perfect love), they are being empowered and guided by God the Holy Spirit and residing in God’s power system. Within this system fear cannot exist, because there is confidence and courage within God’s system. The opposite of courage is uncontrolled fear. Fear, which is an emotional sin, destroys love because it destroys virtue and brings with it self-induced misery.

Punishment is the Greek word “kolasis,” which means torment. If you are confident in God and His Word, you can remain free of torment, stress, and fear. Though the pressures of life surround you, your confidence is in God, not yourself or others. 

As you think Bible doctrine, you are able to draw doctrinal conclusions and utilize the Problem-Solving Devices, like the Faith-Rest Technique, to overcome fear and avoid self-induced misery. If, on the other hand, you fall apart, become fearful and worried when tragedy strikes, you have not matured into a lifestyle of virtue-love.

Verse 19

 ^“We love, because He first loved us.” 

God proved that He loved us by formulating a plan for us in eternity past that included sending His Son to die on the Cross for our sin. (John 3:16) He continues to prove His love for us by forgiving our personal sins when we acknowledge them to Him. (I John 1:9) He also proves His love for us by providing everything that we need to live an abundant life. (John 10:10)

Verse 20

 ^“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” 

If a believer alleges to love God and yet he hates a fellow believer, they are said to be a liar. Personal love for God must always precede impersonal love for others. A believer, who is out of fellowship with God through personal sin, has given up the control of their life to their sin nature. At this time, they are unable to exhibit virtue-love toward their fellow believers or anyone else. 

John likened this lack of virtue-love to hatred. So, in reality this kind of believer is living a lie because they are a member of the Royal Family of God. (John 8:44) John says that it is impossible to love God and not love others as a result. This believer’s claim to love others (who can be seen) is negated by the fact that they do not love God (Who cannot be seen). Their claim of loving God is proven to be false. John’s point is that you must develop a love for God before you can love others.

Verse 21

 ^“And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.”

This commandment is not accomplished by simply saying “I love you” to everyone. Virtue-love is personal love for God by getting to know Him from the study of His Word and impersonal love for others as a result of knowing and applying His Word. Virtue-love is how you regard and treat God and others!