I John 4:17
17 By this, the love (which God has for us) reaches its goal with us,
to the end that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; namely that just as Christ is, so also are we in this world.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of John’s first Epistle
Now remember, the Apostle 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.
However, the false teachers who are troubling John’s flock are doing so by teaching that people must follow their course of spiritual enlightenment in order to earn God’s favor, love, and salvation. Not only that, these false teachers are also manipulating people with the uncertainty of God’s acceptance/approval.
Therefore, in our text this morning John turns to show us the single source of the marks of true faith and the certainty that this source provides
Verse 17
Notice at once, John opens our passage saying “by this”. That is, for the third time in just a few short verses John points to something concrete by which we can know for certain some critical aspect of our Christian walk. Importance: John’s repeated pointing to concrete certainties underscores the fact that John’s main purpose in this passage is to assure/fortify us. Notice then what this concrete reality to which John points tells us: John says by this love reaches its goal with us. However, please note: very often you see this verse translated “by this love is perfected with us”. However, there are a couple of problems with this rendition: first notice the love that John has in mind here is not our love. Instead, both the grammar and the context make it clear that the love John is talking about is God’s love FN#1. As such, our verse rightly reads, “by this the love which God has for us is perfected”. However, this presents another problem: God’s love does not reach perfection by this or any other manner. Instead, God’s love is always already perfect. As such, the word John uses here which is often translated “perfected” is better translated to read, “God’s love reaches its goal” FN#2. Finally, notice John does not say that God’s love reaches its goal in us. Instead, John says that God’s love reaches its goal with (with regards to) us. Notice then the point: verse 17 is not describing some means by which the believer is expected to reach inner perfection. Instead, verse 17 is pointing to something which verifies that God’s purpose in pouring out His love and salvation has been accomplished. As such, verse 17 reads by this the love which God has for us reaches its goal with us.
Next, notice the result of God’s goal: Importance: notice we still don’t know what the goal of God’s love is or how we can know for certainty that it has been reached. Instead, John jumps ahead to show us how the sure realization of God’s goal/purpose silences the false teachers’ claims. Notice then John says the result of the sure realization of God’s goal means that we have confidence on the Day of Judgment FN#3. Importance: remember, the false teachers in John’s day (just as false teachers today) are prescribing things that you must do in order to earn God’s love and salvation. Not only that, they play on the doubt that God will accept your performance as good enough. However, John says that God’s love is already yours (you don’t have to earn/keep it, you need only to receive it). Not only that, John also says that it is God’s love alone which has secured your salvation, standing, and future. Therefore, because God’s love for you has reached its goal (accomplished its purpose) you have confidence with regards to the Day of Judgement, both its outcome and God’s acceptance of you FN#4.
Next, notice to what John points: that is notice the goal/purpose of God’s love and salvation: John says by this the love which God has for us reaches its goal, namely that just as Christ is so also are we in this world. However, please note what John has not said: John does not say that God’s goal for His love and salvation are reached when we live perfectly just like Jesus did while He was on this earth. Notice then the verb tense: John does not say that we are as Christ was. Instead, John says that God’s love has reached its goal because we are as Christ is (right now to day- present tense). So how is Jesus right now today? Scripture tells us that Jesus is exalted in the fullness of His human nature and seated at the Father’s right hand. Not only that, Scripture also tells us that He is seated there because the Father has accepted/received the full salvation that Jesus accomplished for us. Notice then the point: verse 17 says that the goal of God’s love and salvation are reached because right now today in this world (not the world or life to come) Christ has secured our relationship/reconciliation with God. Therefore, just as Christ is in God’s eyes so also are we.
However there is more to it than just that: Christ is seated as the glorified perfection of human nature. Remember, all that God requires of man (love and obedience), Christ fulfilled as man for man. As such, Christ is seated at the Father’s right hand as the perfection/fulfillment of human vertical love and human righteous living. Notice the result: right now today in this world the love for God and the faithful living that Christ fulfilled for us are being applied to us and are unfolding in us FN#5. In other words, as Christ is is the single source and content of the new life that is already ours. Notice the point: as we see this salvation changing us; as we see a growing love for God and a growing desire to please Him, the reality of our salvation informs us right now today. That is, we do not have to wait until Judgment Day to be certain of God’s love and acceptance. Instead, we already have confidence before God in the face of all our sins because we already see firsthand the actuality of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness at work in our lives. Simply put: God’s love reaches its goal in that Christ accomplished the whole of our salvation for us. Therefore, as Christ is so also are we in standing, acceptance, and in an ever growing reflection.
Bottom line: John fixes our eyes on Jesus and the full reconciliation with God that is the goal of our Father’s love. By doing so John provides us with unwavering confidence in our relationship with God both today as well as forever more.
Footnotes
1] God’s love is the focus of the entire section. See: 4:9, 10, 11, 12, 16. Especially 4:12 where the very same vocabulary and notion is used to describe God’s love. Also, verse 4:16 (the verse immediately preceding our passage) clearly identifies the love in view hear as God’s love. In turn, when it tells us to abide in love it is specifically God’s love that we are to be reflecting. Finally, in the Greek, love is preceded by a definite article. Thus, the verse actually reads “the love” As such the grammar underscores that this is not a generic love. Rather, it has a unique/divine reference.
2] Note: the base meaning behind the Greek word (τελειόω) which is often translated as “perfected” is that something reaches its goal, comes to its fullness, is made complete. Thus, while it is lexically possible to translate the word here as “perfected”, it is contextually unfortunate. God’s love does not reach perfection by this or any other method. Instead, God’s love is always already perfect. Thus it is better to translate this word as “reaches its goal”. The result is that in verse 17 John is pointing to something concrete by which God’s love for us is shown to have reached its goal
One final point: while this is the same word used in 4:12. It seems to have a slightly different shade of meaning. Thus is verse 12 God’s love for others is completed (made visible) though our reflection of that love. However, here in verse 17 the focus of τελειόω is not that God’s love is completed through us but rather that God’s love reaches its goal/purpose in us. As such, verse 17 is pointing to the goal of the love and salvation that God has poured out in us. The result is that John seems to be showing us the true Christian notion of completion/perfection from different angles (c.f. verses 4:12, 17, 18). Thus God’s perfect love (v18) reaches its perfect goal for us in Christ (v17) and is completed/manifested through our reflection of that love to others (v12).
3] Notice the picture provided by the word that John uses here for “confidence”: the picture is that of a person who has the freedom/position/ assurance to speak openly before a superior. As such, the word points to a security in relation/standing. Not only that, it also points to a clean conscious. As such, on both regards (standing and conscious) there is nothing to be ashamed of and no secrets to hide- which would then prevent speaking plainly/openly. The result is that the word then comes to mean/describe a general confidence, openness, and a lack of fear (c.f. v18)
Not only that, notice we have seen this very notion of confidence on Judgment Day before in John’s epistle (2:28). Remember, John told us that abiding in Christ (faithful living) provides confidence on the Day of Judgment not because the believer is perfect. Rather, the believer has confidence because he has already experienced in this life the very mercy, love, and forgiveness that he will need on the day of Judgement. Notice then this very same notion is at work here as new life and its vertical love are already unfolding in us.
4] In other words, John turns to the ultimate and most decisive decision ever to be made about you in order to show that God’s acceptance of you is absolute and forever.
5] Notice at once, the unfolding nature of our salvation is reflected by the very verb tense that John uses to open verse 17 (God’s love reaches its goal). Notice then John does not use an aorist or an extensive perfect (both of which focus on the completion/finality of a past action). In such a case the passage would read “by this the love which God has for us has reached its goal”. Instead, the verb τετελείωται (reaches its goal) is an Intensive Perfect. As such, by its very nature it points to the ongoing effect brought about by a past deed (in this case the salvation that Christ has accomplished). Such then points to the unfolding ongoing nature of the salvation already ours in Christ. Thus, John says “by this the love which God has for us reaches its goal (and continues to unfold until that goal is fully realized in each of us)”.