I John 4:12
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.
12 No one has ever seen God;
if we love one another,
God abides in us,
and His love is made complete through us.
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, alters, or dilutes 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 that love no less than a faithful witness is a major component of what God has sent believers to offer the world.
Verse 9-11 (Review)
Notice at once the story thus far: remember, the main point of this entire section is that John wants us to be able to distinguish the vertical love that is from God from the truncated horizontal love of the world. Thus, love that is from God, loves God and all that God loves as God commands. By contrast the horizontal love of the world loves with no reference to God. Not only that, in verse 9 John reminded us that God’s love has not only been manifested to us, it has been manifested in us. That is, those who are born of God (v 7) are direct recipients of this love. Not only that, God’s love is a salvific indwelling reality that transforms our lives. Next, in verse 10 John reminded us that when we did not love God, God loved us and sent His Son to save us. In other words, God’s love and grace always go first. As such, they are the single source and standard of our own love. Finally, verse 11 reminded us that those who are beloved by God, who have received the salvation and grace that God’s love accomplished for us, ought to love one another. Not only that, we are to reflect the particular sort of love with which we have been loved. In other words, 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). Notice then the tally: love that is from God is vertical love (it loves God and what God loves); it is an indwelling, salvific, and transformative reality; it has its single source in God’s prior love and grace; and we are to reflect and pursue that love with others.
Verse 12
Notice at once the result of our faithful reflection of God’s love FN#1: notice John opens verse 12 by saying that no one has ever seen God. Importance: notice that the pronoun John uses here “no one” is open ended. That is, it includes both believers and unbelievers alike. However, even though both groups are included, they are not included in the same way. Notice the difference: in 1:1-2 John tells us that God has made Himself known to us in His incarnate Son, who we have seen and heard and touched. Not only that, verse 9 just told us that the love, salvation, and presence of God are manifested in us. Nonetheless, Paul tells us that while believers will one day see God face to face, for now we see as through a glass dimly. In other words, even though we have been redeemed, we do not yet experience the fullness of our restoration with God. However, for the unbeliever the situation is far bleaker. They are estranged from God and utterly cut off from His fellowship. As such, their life is lived on the purely horizontal plain of separation and brokenness. In turn, they do not know God and their surrogate spirituality can never lead them to God. Notice the result: the unbeliever cannot see God in the most comprehensive sense of the word. They do not find Him within and they do not see/acknowledge Him without in the works of creation. Instead, the unbeliever gropes about in spiritual blindness.
Next, notice John says that if we love one another, God abides in us. However, please note the specific object of our affection: verse 12 is not calling us to love everybody. Instead, verse 12 specifically calls us to love each other. That is, verse 12 specifically calls us to love our fellow believers FN#2. Importance: remember the second distinguishing mark of those who are from God is that they love God and the people of God. However, that said, the specific focus of verse 12 does not suggest that we are to ignore the world or regard them with indifference. Instead, right the opposite is the case. In fact, what we are about to see is that it is this very fellowship of vertical love that God has sent us to offer the world. However, so far all that verse 12 has told us is that no one can see God and believers are to love each other.
Next, notice John says that if we love one another God abides in us FN#3. In other words, if we are faithful to reflect the love called for in verse 11, God will be with/in us. However, please note the causal order: verse 12 does not suggest that our efforts to love bring about or are the cause of God’s favor and indwelling presence. Remember, God always goes first. Notice then our passage has assured us that we are already beloved by God; that when we did not love, God loved us; and finally that God’s love is already manifested in us. In other words, God’s love is not the result of our love or conditioned on it. Instead, God’s love is the cause/source of our love. Notice then the point: when we are faithful to love as God has called us, our faithfulness exhibits (puts on display, makes visible) the love and new life that God is unfolding in us. On the other hand, when we are selfish, negligent, or unkind, our behavior obscures and is contrary to God’s abiding grace and presence within us. Importance: notice at once the entire purpose of verse 12 is to apply our reflected love from verse 11 as the remedy to the fact that no one has seen God. Notice then verse 12 assures me that my faithful efforts to love as I have been loved make the reality of God’s presence and salvation visible.
Next, notice John says that if we love one another God not only abides in us but His love is made complete through us. Importance: very often you will see this verse translated “His love is perfected in us”. However, please note: every detail of verse 12 alerts us that John is not talking about some inner individualistic perfection FN#4. Instead, John is talking about the role believers have in making God’s love known. In other words, the point is that God has given us a real active share in His Gospel mission. Therefore, we are sent out/called to love with God’s love. As such, what verse 12 tells us is that God’s purpose/intention for His love is brought to fruition (is made complete, reaches its goal) through us and the share that He has given us in His work FN#5. Notice the result: while the world does not see God, or know His favor, or experience the blessings of His love, through the believer’s love all of these are seen/encountered firsthand FN#6.
Bottom line: verse 12 reminds me that no one has seen God. However, when God’s people are faithful to love one another as God commands, God’s love and favor are placed in full view of a watching world. In turn, it is this very fellowship of vertical love together with a faithful witness that believers are sent out to offer the world FN#7.
Footnotes
1] Notice the flow of the passage: verse 11 tells us that we ought to love one another. Verse 12 tells us what happens when we do
2] Notice both the command (love one another) and the pronoun it uses (one another) are reciprocal. In other words, love is something we are both to give and receive. However, the world cannot return your vertical love (nor does it desire to). The result is that once again verse 12 indicates that it is talking about love among believers
3] Note the particle ἐάν (translated as “if”) is a combination of the conditional εἰ and the particle ἄν, which denotes uncertainty or indefiniteness. Here the combination of ἐάν + the subjunctive verb is best understood as a 5th class (realizable) temporal condition. Thus, rather than translating it as a contingent “if” it is better to translate it as when. Thus, verse 12 tells us that when we love as God has called us to do, then God’s presence is manifested (made visible) through our love. This translation makes the meaning of the passage much clearer and eliminates the problem brought about by “if”, which might be mistaken to mean that God’s presence is contingent on our efforts.
4] Over and again we have seen that John is not the Apostle of perfectionism. Instead he is the Apostle of incarnational grace. That is John is the Apostle that describes maybe more than any other what real salvation looks like as it engages the ups and downs of everyday life. Verse 12 is no exception. John is not talking about how to obtain inner perfection. Instead He is talking about the role your love plays in the life and mission of the Church.
5] Note: at its root the word that John uses here for “complete” (τελειόω) means that something reaches its goal, comes to its fullness, is made complete. Thus, while it can be translated “perfected”, this rendition obscures the intended meaning of the context. Instead, God’s love reaches its goal through the love, care, and witness of His children. As such, those who have not seen God experience God’s love through the vertical love of His Children.
6] One final important point: remember at the beginning of verse 12 John told us that no one (be it believer or unbeliever) has seen God. As such, this making God’s presence visible is relevant to believers as well. Thus, during difficulty when a believer loses sight of God’s care and provision, the love that God calls other believers to show to him makes God’s love and care visible in a concrete fashion. That said, the main point of verse 12 is that in loving each other with the vertical love that comes from God and His grace, believers make God’s presence visible to an on looking world.
7] Notice then vertical love and a faithful witness to Christ are not only the two distinguishing marks that identify those who are from God, they also are the two key components of what the Church is sent to offer the world.
Epilogue: verse 12 shows us the vital importance of our Christian fellowship, our mutual care, and our love for one another. However, our response is not to try and fake some sappy sweat caricature of love; nor is it to embrace the destructive anything goes acceptance of so many churches today. Instead, our response is to remember that vertical love always seeks for others what God desires for them (salvation, spiritual health, and general well-being). It is thus that an on looking world will see God’s presence and grace at work and will know that we are Christ’s disciples by our love.