Everyone Who Loveth

Everyone Who Loveth

1 John 4:7-8

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:7-8

Our lesson today may be short, but it’s powerful...

John speaks to the very core of what it means to live a Christian life. It’s not simply a calling for us to follow or emulate (it’s certainly that)... but it’s also a revelation of Who God actually is; and who you and I are called to be.

And I believe there are three key truths that stand out in these simple words:

~ We are called to love one another.

~ True love flows from God.

~ To know God is to love—because God is love.

Of course, our Lesson from First John begins with an appeal to us as friends, as fellow servants of Christ: “Beloved” - those who are loved. “Let us love (who?) one another.”

John used a genteel, loving approach... going the “extra mile” to make sure his readers (you and me) are considered equals... “beloved” is a term of endearment. It’s a soft, and tempered way to approach a demanding subject. And because of his gentleness, we’re possibly tempted to take John less seriously than we would, say Paul. And we may “shrug-off” John’s words as nothing serious... just good advice, or a suggestion for how to live as good Christians.

But this is NO suggestion; it’s a command rooted in our identity as followers of Christ.

And this is important to know... because love is the evidence that we’ve been re-born of God. In Galatians 5:22, where were given the Fruit of the Spirit, the FIRST fruit, or evidence, of the Spirit working in and through our lives is love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” The latter evidences stem from, or grow out of, the former... or the FIRST. Love.

In 1st Corinthians 13:13 we’re told, “these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Jesus Himself said in John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus didn’t say “by your faith/knowledge/power/theology/or opinion all people will know you’re my disciples.” Rather, by your love. Specifically, your love for one another.

God’s Love isn’t optional for the Christian. It’s not secondary to theology or service or worship—it’s essential. Without God’s love, our witness is hollow. Without God’s love, our faith is incomplete.

Why? Because, “love is from God…”

God is the source of true love. Just like water flows from a spring, all real love flows from the heart of God.

Of course, sticking with that water analogy for a moment... All water is not the same, is it? I mean, 80% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water... but only about 2.5% is fresh water (97.5% is saltwater) and only .05% is drinkable. Much of that “fresh” water is so polluted and contaminated that if you drink it, it could kill you! Not all water pure, or clean, or beneficial, or life giving.

And love is very much the same.

We live in an age that says “love is love” - but is that correct? Is that what God’s Word says. No.

Most of our “love” in this life is defined and understood in worldly terms... it’s emotional, conditional, and self-serving. We love those who love us, but even the Godless people do that (see Matthew 5:46-48).

We love our friends very differently than we love our children. We love our spouses much differently than we love our parents. We love the things of this world much differently than we love the things of God... or at least we should!

The love we’re called to live is not mere emotionalism or sentiment. It’s divine love—agape—selfless, sacrificial, and steadfast.

God’s Word calls us to something deeper, something holy. It calls us not to simply love, but to actually love as God loves.

And here’s the amazing part: when we are “born of God,” the love of God becomes part of who we are. The Spirit of God within us enables us to love in ways we never could on our own—especially when it comes to loving those who are hard to love, or even our enemies. That’s an un-natural kind of love at best! And it’s a love that flows ONLY from a heart that’s been saturated to the point of overflow, by the very love of God, Himself.

Then comes the boldest statement of all:

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, (Why?) because God is love.”

John doesn’t say, “because God is loving.” He doesn’t say, “because God shows love.”

But God is love—it’s His very nature.

All of this means that if we truly know God, we will reflect His character. If God lives in us, love must come out of us.

To claim to know God but live without love is a contradiction.

Listen: John’s not saying we must love perfectly—but we must love genuinely. And where our love is weak, we must go back to the source: God Himself.

So, Church—what does this mean for us as followers of Christ?

It means to love:

We must forgive, because God forgave us.

We serve, because Christ served us.

We include, because God included us.

We love, because God is love and He lives in us.

Let us not love with words only, but with actions and truth (1 John 3:18). Let love be the aroma of our lives, the mark of our church, the heart of our mission.

Maybe you’re like me and you struggle with this.

Remember... you’re only human. Trust Christ to help you love others the way God loves us.

Rest in His love, receive His love, and reflect His love.

God loves you deeply, fully, eternally. In fact, He showed that love by sending Christ, to die for our sins and rise again.

All so that you might be brought into a relationship of love that never ends.

“Beloved, let us love one another... for love is of God, and everyone who loveth is born or God, and knoweth God. But he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.”

Amen.