1 John 4:13-21 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is 1 John 4:13-21. Let’s go!
1 John 4:13-14 (NIV)
13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
On verses 13-14: In other words, the faith that John and his fellow apostles preach is not merely about believing in abstract ideas. Rather their faith comes with a real experience of God’s Holy Spirit (v13), and their testimony is based on having actually seen this Jesus who was sent from the Father to be the Saviour of the world (v14). In other words, Christian faith is not simply a bunch of philosophical principles and ideas about metaphysics. Rather, the Christian faith is grounded in historical fact and is accompanied by a real, life-changing experience of the Holy Spirit.
Also, notice that all 3 persons of the Trinity are mentioned in these two verses: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:15 (NIV)
15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
On verse 15: John proclaims that just as he and his fellow apostles live in God and God in them by His Holy Spirit (v13-14), anyone who acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God can have the same experience of having God live in them and them in God (v15). How beautiful and amazing is it that when we place our trust in Jesus as the Son of God, God by His Spirit lives in us and we live in God.
1 John 4:16-18 (NIV)
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
On verses 16-18: Since God is love, we who through faith in Jesus Christ live in God also live in love. Since we are found in God and found in His love, we do not need to fear being condemned by God on the day of judgment (v17). For God’s perfect love drives out all our fear of being punished by God. Praise God that God’s love is greater than our fear. So if you struggle with fear, what you need to overcome that fear is an even greater revelation of God’s love for you.
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
19 We love because he first loved us.
On verse 19: This is the wonderful truth of the gospel: long before we ever thought about God, God was thinking about us and loved us first. Our attempt to love and do good is only a response to the love that God first showed us.
1 John 4:20-21 (NIV)
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
On verses 20-21: Loving God and loving people go hand in hand. We can’t love God without loving people. In many ways loving God, whom you can’t see, begins with loving the people around you, whom you can see. To a great extent how you love God can be measured by how you love others.
Father, thank You that since I am found in Your love I don’t need to be controlled by fear. Thank You that You let us experience You and Your love driving out our fear, so that we can love You and love others freely. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
