I John 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is from God;
indeed everyone who loves is born of God
and knows God.
8 The one who does not love
does not know God,
because God is love.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of John’s first Epistle
Now remember, the Apostle John is writing to a group of churches under his care in order to counter the threat of false teachers who are troubling his flock.
Therefore, John opened this current section of his letter by reminding us that a large part of what is needed to abide in and faithfully follow Christ is an ever vigilant testing and scrutiny of all spiritual claims.
Notice then, John has already given us the first mark by which we can distinguish with certainty that which is from God and that which is not. John says that any teaching which claims the same thing about Jesus as God does is from God. In turn, any teaching which denies or alters Jesus is not from God and it will never lead you to God.
In our text, this morning John turns to give us the second distinguishing mark by which to test and discern the source of any spiritual teaching or claim. Listen.
Verse 7
Notice at once how John addresses his readers (both then and now): John calls us beloved. Importance: for the second time in just a few short verses John reminds the believer that they are beloved by God. However, notice the change in focus: back in verse 1 John reminded his flock that they are precious to God. As such, God’s treatment of His children stands in direct contrast to the ruin, destruction, and harsh treatment that the world and its false teachings bring. However, here in verse 7 John moves from who we are (beloved of God) to how then we should live. Notice then John says that those who are beloved ought themselves to love. In other words, who you are is to direct how you are. However, notice the very specific object of our affection. John does not call us to love just anyone. Instead, he calls us to love each other. That is, John specifically calls us to love other believers. Now this makes sense, think about it: if every believer is beloved by God, then we in turn ought to love them as well. Importance: at once John provides us with our second distinguishing mark: John says that those who are from God will love God and all that God loves. Notice then the contrast: in place of the false teachers’ subversion of the Church and their cruel manipulation of their own followers, John points to the love that is to define all who genuinely belong to God.
Next, notice the reason that John says we are to love the one another: John says we ought to love each other because love is from God. In other words, God is the author of love. However, remember the point of this discussion: John is providing us with the marks by which to identify those who are truly from God and those who are not. Therefore, when John says that love is from God, he is reminding us that all that God does, every blessing and every gift that He sends is an expression of His love. Therefore, those who are redeemed by God’s love, who have a new heart that is fashioned by that love, and who are genuinely sent by God will reflect the very love that is their source. Simply put: love is a key definitive element of the new life that God has given. As such, it is a key to distinguishing all who are from God.
Next, notice John drives home the centrality of love by informing us that everyone who loves is born of God. However, remember the specific nature of this love. John says the one who loves God, the people of God, and all that glorifies God is born of God. As such, the love that genuine salvation begets in the life of a believer is very different from the truncated love that the world shows. How? The world only loves on a horizontal plain. That is, it loves with no reference to God. By contrast, the love born and unfolding in a believer’s heart is fundamentally theocentric in nature. That is, it has God as its ultimate grounds and reference. Therefore, it is drawn to God and the things that God loves. Not only that, it seeks to love what God loves as God commands. Notice the result: it is the vertical nature of this love that comes only from reconciliation to God and thus is a mark of those truly born of God.
Next, notice John says that those who love vertically not only are born of God, they also know God. Importance: remember the false teachers in John’s day (just like the false teachers and teachings today) claim to know the truth about God. However, John says that any teaching, philosophy, or theory that denies or alters Christ and dismisses the people and things of God does not know God or God’s intentions for His creation. Instead, they promote and condone the separation that only brings darkness and ruin to others. Notice the result: John says the love of reconciliation is a sure and certain mark by which we can identify those who are truly born of God and who truly know Him.
Verse 8
Notice at once, if verse 7 talked about the importance of redemptive love, then verse 8 deals with its absence. Notice then, John says that the one who does not love does not know God. However, please note: John is not suggesting that the world does not love at all or that all it is capable of is cruelty and selfishness. Instead, John is talking about the absence of redemptive love. As such, the world loves with no reference to God. Instead, it always loves from the horizontal context of its own separation and rebellion. Notice the result: John says that a love that has no reference to God or affinity for the things of God is the direct result of those who do not know God and thus remain in alienation from God. Notice then the point: John warns us not to follow or be susceptible to anyone or any teaching that has no regard for God or the people of God; which condones ruinous behavior; and which offers nothing but a deceptive spirituality. John says you can know for certain they are not from God nor will they ever lead you to God.
Finally, notice the reason John says that a lack of vertical love is a sure sign that one does not know God. John says they don’t know God because God is love. Importance: notice at once the predicate construction that John uses here: first, notice that it does not establish an equivocal relation. In other words, “God is love” does not mean the same thing as “Love is God” (which would be pantheism). Instead, the predicate construction that John uses tells us something about God and puts that predication in the most direct relationship to God. Thus, while love is not God, everything that God does is motivated by and is an expression of His great love. Thus, to see God’s work or to hear His commands is to encounter His love. As such, verse 8 reminds me that so thoroughly does God’s love inform His every action, that there is no time or occasion (even final judgement) where we do not encounter the fullness of God’s love. Thus John says God is love. Notice then the point: John says that because all that God does and is give expression to His love, the one redeemed by Him and sent from Him will reflect that love. In turn, the one who does not love vertically, knows nothing about the one true living God and has not been sent by Him to make His Gospel known.
Bottom line: John provides the two litmus tests by which we can know with certainty the spiritual source of every teaching and teacher. John says those form God will (1) proclaim Jesus as God’s eternal Son come in the flash as the only savior for man and (2) they will love what God loves as God commands us to love it.
John says that along with a faithful confession of Christ, a genuine love for the people and the things of God is the second mark by which we can identify with certainty those who are from God and truly know God. Not only that this mutual love provides a sure defense against all that would threaten us harm. In turn, it is a key component of what the Church exhibits and offers to a fallen world.