Chapter 13
1 John 4:9-12
1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Previously John outlined two elements of a person’s life that demonstrates whether or not they possess the Holy Spirit (see 1 John 3:24-4:8). The first was the accuracy of the person’s testimony; namely that Jesus is the Christ, He came in the flesh (a human being) and He came from God as the Son of God (being God Himself). The second element was demonstrated by how a person loves. John said Christians are born of God and just as we reflect our earthly parents in physical similarities and mannerisms, we also reflect our heavenly Father and should also love like Him. Instead of choosing a number of metaphors that may or may not be understood, John simply says God is love. He created the concept of love and made it possible for us to love. John now goes on to clarify the intensity of the love God has for us.
When we read these passages we are reminded of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus, especially the familiar John 3:16. John wants us to see how God made His love for us clearly seen (manifested). Even though most of his audience (if not all) already knew, John retells the story of God sending His Son so that we might live through (by means of) Him. In a sense, John is playing the role of ‘narrator’ in this story and joyfully exclaims, “See, in this is love!” As the audience we might ask, “In this what?” The answer would be in Jesus leading a sinless life, suffering, dying, and rise to life again. John is saying that what Jesus did for us is the ultimate demonstration of love.
John further points out that Jesus did not do these things for us because we loved Him, He did it because He loved us (read 1 John 4:19) and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. We explored this word (propitiation) while studying 1 John 2:2 (see Chapter 3). To understand how John is using the term here in this epistle’s fourth chapter, we need to begin by looking at the English definition. The word ‘propitiation’ describes the action of appeasing a god, spirit, or high-ranking person such as a king in the attempt to prevent potential wrath. Essentially an action performed by a guilty person with the intention of seeking mercy. So what is John saying here? Earlier when we looked at the Greek word that is translated here as propitiation, ‘hilasmos’ (once again in 1 John 2:2), we saw that the word also carried the meaning of a ‘covering’ or to reconcile (similar words can also be found in Romans 3:24-25 and Hebrews 2:17). To have a better understanding of the point John is trying to make, it might be easier to consider both the Greek and English definitions of the word. God sent Jesus to be our cover (or reconciliation) and the appeasement (an action necessary to obtain mercy) for our sin.
Wait, what? That doesn’t make any sense! That’s like going to court with a legitimate legal issue and when it comes time to pay the fee or submit to incarceration the judge leaps over the bench and says he will pay the price or do the time. God sent His Son to live a sinless life, suffer, die and rise to life again so that we would not be charged with a guilty verdict that would otherwise be a death sentence. Jesus became sin for us and is both the sacrifice (price for violating the law) and the High Priest (intercessor between us and His Father), He did all of the work (read Isaiah 53:4-8 and 2 Corinthians 5:20-21). God the Father knew we could not be saved on our own efforts (or even with the help of any other created being) and since His love for us is so intense He provided a way out of our predicament even though it came with a high price.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
After showing us this extreme love, John tells us that we should love each other in the same way. The Greek word translated here as ‘ought’ also carries the idea that we owe it to God to love others. In the last chapter we explored the various forms and words for love in the Greek, here John is saying that the only way to love like God is to love through Him (see Romans 5:5), since He is the only source of agapē (the highest and purest form of love).
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
In what appears to be an out-of-place comment, John then claims that no one has ever seen God. John made a similar statement his gospel account, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.” (John 1:18, NIV) Scholars use this verse to explain that any manifestations of God in the Old Testament were actually that of Jesus since John shortly afterwards states that, “God is Spirit” (see John 4:24). Many are quick to point out that John, by using this phrase, is merely continuing to denounce gnostic thinking in his epistle. But perhaps there is a better explanation, John is pointing out that since God is invisible, we Christians are part of God’s manifestation today. God should be clearly seen in us! Paul, in the opening to his epistle to the church at Rome said regarding those that chose not to obey or even believe in God, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20, ESV) Even though as Christians we might be a little nervous to admit we represent God on Earth, we are to be part of the “clearly perceived” (visible) evidence that God truly exists. If we love each other the way God loves us, then His love becomes fully accomplished (perfected) in us. The NIV renders this verse, “No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.”
Can we, if we truly believe that Jesus lived a sinless life, suffered, died, and rose again for our salvation (being our propitiation), ever return to a lifestyle that doesn’t include or consider others? Regarding this passage Luther made a simple observation, “The love of Christians is genuine, not false and simulated.”[1] We need to examine how we love each other, is our love for others really genuine? Before answering read John 13:31-35; Ephesians 5:1-2 and Colossians 3:12-14. We represent Jesus, ambassadors if you will, here on Earth. Do we live our lives protected behind the walls of some embassy or are we out showing Christ to the world?
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[1] Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 30: The Catholic Epistles. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 30, p. 298). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House.