Study<\/p>\n
John now begins a summary starting with a summary of the key points in this section but then moving into a summary of the letter. Such summaries are very helpful in making sure that our understanding of the key points in this letter, line up with John\u2019s intent.<\/p>\n
11 \u2013 Dear friends, if this is the way God loved us, we must also love one another. <\/strong><\/p>\n – John now begins his summary where he started this section \u2013 love one another. He starts by taking God\u2019s example of love and applies it to us. This is more than just an example, it is an obligation. Note that this is not a command to love God, but to love others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 12 \u2013 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.<\/strong><\/p>\n – It is likely that some of those who left, were claiming visions of God. Here John is pointing out that this is not possible, and that if we really want to experience God we do so, not through mystical visions, but by serving others.<\/p>\n his love is perfected in us.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n – Lit: the love of him (\u1f21 \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 ) It is not completely clear what John means here. This could refer to: Our love of God; God\u2019s Love for us; or the type of love God has. The context here would seem to support either 1 or 3.<\/p>\n – True Christianity is not to be found in retreating from the world in prayer, but working in the world through love and service.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 13 \u2013 This is how we know that we abide in him and he in us: he has given us his Spirit. <\/strong><\/p>\n – This here refers to in the living out of our faith in the service of others. There is a dual point being made here. First, that we can know our personal relationship to God. Second, we can test the relationship of others. Do they live the love of Christ?<\/p>\n – The spirit also reveals himself in our service to others.<\/p>\n 14 \u2013 We have seen for ourselves and can testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. <\/strong><\/p>\n – John return to the opening of the letter: as statement of his personal witness.<\/p>\n – Here the focus is on Jesus as the savior of the world. God\u2019s love was not limited to Christians. Our love is, likewise for the world. Gnostic had secret teachings for the few, We have service to all.<\/p>\n – Given the context, it is likely that the \u201cWe\u201d refers to the Church as a whole, rather than just the apostles, as in the opening.<\/p>\n – Can we say this today? Have you seen the work of Christ in your life? It is the Holy Spirit that testifies to us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 15 \u2013 God abides in the one who acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, and he abides in God. <\/strong><\/p>\n – John again return to the concept of abiding, and thus these three verses are in the form of a chiasmus, the focus of which is on our testimony.<\/p>\n Abide \u2013 v13<\/p>\n Testify \u2013 v14<\/p>\n Abide \u2013 v15<\/p>\n that Jesus is the Son of God<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n – An emphasis on the human side of Jesus.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 16 \u2013 We have come to know and rely on[1] the love that God has for us. God is love, and the person who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. <\/strong><\/p>\n And rely on (\u03c0\u03b5\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03ba\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n – Believe \u2013 trust – perfect tense indicates lasting conviction<\/p>\n the love that God has for us<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n – Lit the love which has the God in us. (\u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f00\u03b3\u03ac\u03c0\u03b7\u03bd \u1f23\u03bd \u1f14\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9 \u1f41 \u03b8\u03b5\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd) This would seem to indicate that the love here includes the love of the Cross and the gift of the Holy Spirit<\/p>\n God is love<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n – John is giving us a logical argument here. Since God is Love (also v 8) therefore to abide in love is to abide in God. Abiding in love is a result of abiding in God. Scholars debate whether or not this is Love of God, or love for one another. John makes no real distinction, to do one is to do the other. It is a demonstration and source of comfort for relationship with Christ<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 17 \u2013 This is how love has been perfected among us: we will have confidence on the day of judgment because, during our time in this world, we are just like him. <\/strong><\/p>\n – The perfection of God\u2019s love leads to confidence. Do you have confidence about Judgment day?<\/p>\n during our time in this world, we are just like him<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n – Some claim a contradiction with 3:2. While a superficial reading can lead to a contradiction, as usual context is very important. The context here is Judgment Day. What is critical to judgment? Sin. Give this, how are we like him? We are sinless because of his love, and that is why we can have confidence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 18 \u2013 There is no fear where love exists[2]. Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love. <\/strong><\/p>\n – Because of this, there is no fear. After all, what do we have to fear of Judgment day? Nothing! We have been washed clean but the blood of the lamb. We abide in the perfect love of God. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n – How does this line up with verse like Phil 2:12<\/p>\n And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n That we do not fear judgment day does not mean we lose our respect for God position.<\/p>\n has not been perfected in love<\/p>\n – This is not necessarily referring to those who are lost. It means that God\u2019s love needs to be perfected in them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 19 \u2013 We love[3] because God[4] first loved us. <\/strong><\/p>\n – Our love for God is not grounded in a threat of punishment. It is a response to the love that God has already shown us. It is grounded in gratitude, not fear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 20 \u2013 Whoever says, \u201cI love God,\u201d but hates his brother is a liar. The one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love the God whom he has not seen. <\/strong><\/p>\n – John returns again to the claims of those who left, but here he is making a larger point. We cannot see God, but we can see our brother. So while we might not really be able to tell if someone loves God, we can tell if someone loves his brother.<\/p>\n – This works both ways. Sometimes is it easier to love God, because we do not see him. Sometimes it is easier to love people because we do see them. True love covers both.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 21 \u2013 And this is the commandment that we have from him: the person who loves God must also love his brother. <\/strong><\/p>\n – This is more than just a guideline, this is a commandment. In John 13:34 Jesus said,<\/p>\n I\u2019m giving you a new commandment\u2026to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n – John started his summary with how we should Love, which was one the key errors of those who left. Why do you think John has stressed this point so often?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you have question or comments about the class, feel free to send me an email at elgin@hushbeck.com<\/a> and be sure to put \u201cEpistles of John\u201d in the header.<\/em><\/p>\n See here for references and more background on the class<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nii. How we know we abide in him (4:13-15)<\/h5>\n
The results of abiding in God (4:16-18)<\/h5>\n
To love God is to Love one another (4:19-21)<\/h5>\n