I John 4:16

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So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

THE STUDY:

          John gives us a sense of conclusion to his point concerning the Love of God. He affirms the present experience of churches. They have knowledge (we know) and faith (rely on, lit. we have faith in, pepisteukamen). John describes past experiences that continue to impact the present. The force of these perfect tense verbs can be conveyed as we came to know and continue to know and we believed and continue to believe.

God and love are synonymous—“God is love” (repeating 4:8). God defines true love. This strong and clear equation is expanded by the idea of living (menōn, remaining—a present participle) in love, which is to live in God. The imagery is of settling down in God’s love, taking up secure residence in the heart of God. Christian faith is not occasional but constant. Faith is not just for big events but lived out in all the moments of life’s routine.^[1]

         

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that our knowledge and faith in Christ will permanently change us. We cannot go back to the same thinking and belief as we had before Christ. We have been exposed to the Love of God and that Love changes us. We can walk away from God and go back to the worldly ways but that knowledge and belief, even though it is not being used, is still there.

CONCLUSION:

           One of the greatest joys on earth is the joy of bringing others to a saving knowledge of Christ. I have heard people tell that when they were converted the whole world seemed different; that the sun seemed to shine with a new light; there was new music in the song of the birds; all nature seemed clothed with new beauty and glory.

          Once you taste the sweetness of Christ you can never satisfy that tasteful desire with anything else but Jesus. As we walk out the door, look out the window, or as we drive to our destination this morning let us see the difference Christ has made in our lives and rejoice in it.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (148). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:2

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Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

THE STUDY:

          In studying the Word of God one of the things to look for is repeated words or phrases. When we see this we need to pay close attention to it. There is a reason the writer repeats these words or phrases. An example in our day and time; “Son, I want you go throughout the house and empty all the trash cans. After you have finished that take the trash out to the garage. Once all the trash is collected take it out to the street for the garbage collectors to pick it up.” Repeated word is “Trash!” Why? The word “trash” is the main focus of the conversation.

          In this verse the word “WE” is repeated 5 times. John is trying to reconnect the believers with the one true God. It may appear they have been swayed by the teachings of the Gnostics. John says WE …

1. … are God’s Children!
2. … will be gloriously resurrected! 
3. … know all about Christ! 
4. … shall be like Him in the resurrection!
5. … shall see him as He is!

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that everything God has done is because He LOVES us! We are His children because he loves us. We will be gloriously resurrected because He loves us. He has revealed Christ to us because He loves us. He sent His son so that we may be like Him because he loves us. We shall have an opportunity to be in heaven with God because He loves us.

CONCLUSION:

A young woman grew up in dire poverty in the heartland of the country. A benefactor made it possible for her to take a trip to the coast where for the first time she saw the ocean. Captivated, she stood gazing at its vastness. In awe she was heard to say, “Thank God for something of which there is more than enough!” So it is with God’s love. We stand in awe of its vastness. There is more than enough!

If you don’t know this I want to make sure you walk away this morning hearing it from me, “God Loves You!” He always has and He always will. It’s what we do in response to this love that makes the difference.

         

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod