I John 4:9-11
9 By this the love of God was manifested in us,
namely, that God has sent His one and only Son into the world
so that we may 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 atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Beloved, since God so loved us,
we also ought to love one another.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of John’s first Epistle
Now remember, 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, so far John has given us the two definitive marks by which we can distinguish with certainty that which is from God and that which is not. John says that any teaching which says the same thing about Jesus as God does is from God. In turn, that which loves God and the things that God loves is from God.
By contrast any teaching which denies or alters Jesus and loves but with no reference to God is not from God nor will it ever lead you to God.
In our text, this morning John turns to show us the nature of the love that is truly from God.
Verse 9
Notice a once, John opens verse 9 by saying, “By this the love of God was manifested in us”. That is, John begins by pointing to something objective/ concrete, which clearly demonstrates love that is truly from God. In other words, John provides a concrete example of God’s love by which it can be clearly identified and its nature clearly known. Why? First, back in verse 7 John reminded us that we are to reflect God’s love. Therefore, it is vital that we know exactly what we are to be reflecting. Second, the main point of this entire section of the epistle is that John wants us to be able to distinguish the vertical love that is from and for God from the truncated horizontal love of the world (a love that has no reference to God). Notice then, John says “by this the love of God was manifested in us”. However, please note: John does not merely say that God’s love was manifested to us. Instead, John says that God’s love was manifested/revealed in us. In other words, those who are born of God (v 7) are direct recipients of this love. Not only that, it is a love that indwells us and transforms our lives. As such, we know, see, and experience this love firsthand. Importance: John not only points to the objective historic fact that demonstrates this love, he also points to its ongoing/ abiding presence in our live. As such, it is a specific love that we can point to and see both inside and out. FN#1
Next, notice what John specifically points to in order to demonstrate love that is truly from God. John says God has sent His only Son into the world. Importance: this single act of sending Jesus into the world to save us is the supreme and definitive expression of God’s love. That is, in it we see the nature and extent of God’s love for us. Notice then the point: remember, John is drawing our eyes to the concrete objective fact by which we can know (and thus imitate) the nature of true love. Notice then what verse 9 tells us about true love: first, as John turns our eyes to Jesus, we are reminded that true love (like a true witness) is Christ-centered. That is, Jesus is its single source, focus, and standard. Simply put, love that is from God is fundamentally vertical in its nature. Second, notice why God sent Jesus: John says God sent His only Son that we might live through Him. Importance: at once verse 9 confirms our reading thus far. The love of God is an indwelling salvific reality in our lives. As such, we manifest God’s love as the salvation that love accomplished unfolds in our lives. Notice then what this tells us about the nature of true love: God’s gift of His precious Son for my salvation reminds me that true love is self-giving for the well-being of others (especially for their salvation and restoration to God). Notice then the tally thus far: true love is Christ-centered and vertical in nature. In turn, it sacrifices self-interest for the well-being of others.
Verse 10
Notice at once, the shift in focus: John begins verse 10 by saying in this is love. In other words, if verse 9 pointed to a concrete example by which the nature of true love is demonstrated/seen, then in verse 10 John turns to show us a defining quality at the heart of that love by which its nature is clearly set forth. Notice then John says in this is love not that we loved God but that He loved us. Importance: at once verse 10 reminds me that God always takes the initiative. That is, God’s love and grace always go first. Notice then what this divine initiative tells us about the nature of true love: verse 10 demonstrates that true love loves even when that love is unearned, undeserved, and offers no return. Not only that, notice specifically how God’s initiative towards us was expressed. John says that when we did not love God, God did not abandon us or write us off. Instead, God sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Importance: as John once again turns our eyes to Jesus, he once again reminds us that true love is Christ-centered and vertical in its essence. As such, it always has God as its source, focus, and standard. Not only that, notice what Christ’s atoning sacrifice tells us about the nature of true love. Christ’s sacrifice reminds us that true love does not dismiss others because of their flaws and struggles. Instead, true love sacrifices self in order to bring the healing and renewal that another needs. Simply put, a love from God gives in order to make that which is unlovely beautiful in God’s sight.
Verse 11
Next, notice for the third time in this section John calls us beloved (4:1,7,11) FN#2. In other words, John once again reminds us that we are loved by God. Notice the point: having shown us the nature of true love in verses 9-10, John now says that those who are loved by God ought themselves to love. Notice then, John says since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. However, please note: it is not just that God loved us, John says it is that God so loved us (everything John has shown us in verses 9-10). In other words, our love is to reflect the particular sort of love with which we have been loved. In essence verse 11 says, since God so loved us we should so love one another. Simply put, the entire message of verses 9-11 can be summed up in this one point: a love that is from God seeks for others the very same things that God desires for them (their salvation, spiritual health, and general well-being)
Bottom line: verses 9-11 show us the nature of love that is from God and truly reflects God FN#3: Why? It is this vertical, Christ-centered love (love that has God as its constant source and reference) that distinguishes those who are from God and those who are not. Not only that, John reminds believers that we are to reflect this love. That is, we are to love each other as God has loved us. Why? By doing so, the love of God that has been manifested in us is then manifested through us to the world.
Footnotes
1] One final point: notice that for John and all of Scripture this love is not only manifested in us but it is also manifested through us and our grace changed lives to the world. Jesus says, they shall know you by your love. In other words, John is preparing us to see that true love (the effect of grace) together with our faithful witness to Christ (the explanation of that love/grace) are the two key component of what the believer has been sent to offer the world. In fact, in verse 12 John will remind us that no one has seen God. In the same way, no one alive today has seen the Cross, Resurrection, and earthly ministry of Christ. However, the historical reality of the Gospel and the grace that God’s love accomplished for us are manifested in us to the world.
2] For the third time John calls us beloved (4:1,7,11). Notice then John’s development and application of this central truth that God loves us:
1. In verse 1 John reminds us that we are beloved by God. Therefore, we are to be careful not to trade the kindness and nurture of God’s affection for the misery and doom of the world’s false spirituality.
2. In verse 7 John reminds us that we are loved by God. Therefore we are to love. Not only that we are to love the very things that God cherishes.
3. In verse 11 John reminds us that God has loved us with a specific and transcendent love. Therefore, we are not just to love. Instead, we are to love as God loves
3] In summary, John has shown us that a love that is from God is: Christ-centered- That is, Jesus is its source focus and standard. Second, true love sacrifices self-interest for the interest and well-being of others, even when love is undeserved and offers no return. Third, true love does not dismiss others because of their flaws. Instead, it seeks to bring healing where healing is needed. Finally, true love loves God and the things that God loves as God loves them. That is, it seeks for others the very things that God desires for them.