God’s Love and Ours (1 John 4:7-21)
God’s Love and Ours (1 John 4:7–21): Meaning and Reflection
A sermon outline is provided at the bottom of this page.
In this profound passage of 1 John 4:7–21, the apostle John delves deeply into the theme of love, revealing not only the nature of God’s love but also the imperative for believers to love one another. These verses provide a rich theological foundation, emphasizing that love is both the evidence of God’s presence in the life of the believer and a reflection of God’s own nature. This passage challenges Christians to embody the love of God in their relationships with one another, grounding the command to love in the very essence of God’s character.
The passage begins with an exhortation to love one another because love comes from God. John underscores that anyone who loves is born of God and knows God, while anyone who does not love does not know God. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the source and demonstration of love, which will culminate in a call to love others as God has loved us.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of 1 John 4:7–21 and Commentary
1 John 4:7: Everyone who loves is born of God
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
John begins with a direct call to action: believers are to love one another. This is not a suggestion but a command, grounded in the very nature of God. Love, according to John, is not something humans can generate on their own. It comes from God, and those who are born of God reflect his nature by loving others. The act of loving one another is therefore a sign that one knows God, and it serves as evidence of spiritual rebirth.
Raymond E. Brown, in The Epistles of John, highlights that love in this context is not merely a sentiment but an action that flows from a deep, personal relationship with God. The idea that love “comes from God” stresses that human love is a reflection of divine love (Brown, 1982, p. 504). This love serves as the foundation for all Christian ethics, shaping how believers are to interact with one another.
1 John 4:8: Knowing God means Loving
“Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
John offers a stark contrast in this verse, explaining that those who do not love do not truly know God. The reason for this is clear: God is love. Love is not just something God does; it is part of who God is. This foundational truth about God is one of the most significant theological points in John’s writings. If love is integral to God’s character, it must be central to the identity of those who claim to know the Lord of love.
I. Howard Marshall, in The Epistles of John, explains that this verse does not simply define God as loving, but as love itself. It emphasizes that love is not an attribute God possesses, but the very essence of being. The implication for believers is profound: to know God is to know love, and to live out God’s love is to reflect God's nature in the world (Marshall, 1978, p. 198).
1 John 4:9–10: God sent the Son into the world
“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
These verses reveal the ultimate demonstration of God’s love: the sending of his Son, Jesus Christ, to be the atoning sacrifice for humanity’s sins. The cross is the supreme expression of love, not because humanity first loved God, but because God loved humanity first. The love that led to the incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus is a love that is both sacrificial and unconditional.
Karen H. Jobes, in 1, 2, and 3 John, notes that the atoning sacrifice of Jesus is the central act of love that defines the Christian faith. This love is not passive but involves active intervention on behalf of humanity. Through the sending of his Son, God not only demonstrates his love but also makes it possible for humans to experience life through him (Jobes, 2014, p. 224).
1 John 4:11: “Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.”
Having outlined the nature of God’s love and its demonstration through Jesus, John now turns to the practical application: believers are called to love one another. The love of God, when experienced by believers, naturally overflows into love for others. This is not an optional add-on to the Christian life but an essential response to God’s love.
Stephen S. Smalley, in 1, 2, and 3 John, suggests that John’s command here is not a new law but an ethical consequence of the Christian experience. The believer, having been loved by God, is compelled to love others. The love of God is both the motivation and the means for loving others (Smalley, 2008, p. 165). Surely the love that has come to us wants to work through us.
1 John 4:12: No one has ever seen God
“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
This verse presents a beautiful paradox: while no one has seen God, God's presence is made visible through the love of believers. As Christians love one another, they become the visible expression of God’s love in the world. God’s love is “perfected” in them—not in the sense of becoming flawless, but in the sense of being brought to completion or fulfillment. The love of God reaches its goal when it is displayed in the lives of God's people.
Raymond E. Brown explains that the perfection of God’s love refers to its completion in the believer’s life. The ultimate purpose of God’s love is not only to save but to transform the believer’s heart, enabling them to love others as He has loved them (Brown, 1982, p. 506).
1 John 4:13–16: God is love
“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and anyone who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in them.”
In these verses, John underscores the intimate relationship between God and believers, describing the indwelling of God’s Spirit as evidence of this union. The believer’s confession of Jesus as the Son of God is crucial for this relationship, and it is through this abiding presence that believers come to fully understand and believe in God’s love for them. The indwelling of God’s love leads believers to live out that love in the world.
I. Howard Marshall points out that John’s emphasis on abiding in God and in love is not merely about doctrinal agreement but about a living, experiential relationship with God. This relationship, mediated by the Holy Spirit, enables the believer to know and live out God’s love in the world (Marshall, 1978, p. 200).
Over and again, John makes clear that if one believes in Christ and has the spirit, then obedience to God's commands, especially the command to love, will be evident.
1 John 4:17–18: Perfect love casts out fear
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.”
These verses describe the confident assurance that believers can have before God, even in the face of judgment. The perfected love of God in the believer’s life allows them to stand boldly, knowing that they are in Christ. The love of God drives out fear, especially the fear of judgment, because believers understand that God’s love is greater than any potential punishment.
“Perfected” love in 1 John 4:17–18 refers to love that has reached its goal, aim, or telos. The Greek word used here, τετελείωται (teteleiōtai), comes from the root τέλειος (teleios), which conveys the idea of completeness, maturity, or fulfillment. In the context of 1 John, “perfected love” means love that has been fully realized in action and purpose, aligned with God’s intent for love.
Stephen S. Smalley highlights that the boldness John speaks of is not based on personal merit but on the perfect love of God, which assures believers that they are secure in their relationship with God. The fear of punishment is displaced by the confidence that comes from knowing God’s love (Smalley, 2008, p. 168).
1 John 4:19–21: Because God first loved us
“We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
John closes this section by reiterating the inseparable link between love for God and love for others. Love for God is demonstrated in tangible ways through love for one’s brothers and sisters in Christ. To claim to love God while harboring hatred for others is hypocrisy. True love for God will always overflow into love for others, reflecting the nature of God’s love.
Karen H. Jobes underscores that John’s point here is not just about emotions or feelings of affection but about practical, sacrificial love that is evidenced in action. The command to love one another is rooted in the foundational truth that God first loved us, and it is through this love that believers are empowered to love others (Jobes, 2014, p. 227).
God’s Love and Ours (1 John 4:7–21): Meaning for Today
This passage from 1 John challenges Christians to reflect deeply on the nature of God’s love and its implications for their lives. Love is not optional for the believer; it is the very essence of the Christian life. Through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, believers are called to love one another, not as a mere command but as a natural outgrowth of their relationship with God.
In a world that often values self-interest and individualism, John’s teaching stands in stark contrast, calling believers to love sacrificially and unconditionally, just as God has loved them. This love is not just an abstract concept but a practical reality that transforms relationships and communities.
Sermon Outline for 1 John 4:7-21: God’s Love and Ours
Scripture: 1 John 4:7–21
Theme: God’s love transforms us, enabling us to love others and reflect his nature.
I. Love Comes from God (vv. 7–10)
• God is the source of all true love.
• God’s greatest act of love was sending Jesus into the world.
Application: Embrace God’s love and let it shape your view of others.
II. Love Makes God Known (vv. 11–16)
• When we love others, God’s love is made complete in us. The term complete means “it reached its goal.” The goal of evangelism is not just that we would believe, but that we would love others.
• The Holy Spirit helps us live in this love.
Application: Show God’s love to others through intentional acts of kindness. We are the hands, feet, and heart of God to the world.
III. Love Casts Out Fear (vv. 17–18)
• God’s perfect love removes fear and gives confidence in judgment. In my tradition (European Influenced Protestant Reformed/Presbyterian), we have a portion of our liturgy (worship service) that is called “The Assurance of Pardon.” After we pray the prayer of confession together, the assurance of Pardon is proclaimed to us. I love and treasure this aspect of our worship because, within 8 minutes of the worship service, the gospel of Christ is proclaimed to us. We can confess confidently because God loves us unconditionally and fiercely.
IV. Love Reflects Our Faith (vv. 19–21)
• Loving others is proof of our love for God. The gospel that comes to us wants to work through us. As Jesus taught, a good tree bears good fruit.
Application: Commit to loving others, especially those who are hard to love.
Conclusion
• God’s love is the foundation of our faith and relationships.
• Live out this love daily to glorify him.
Prayer: Ask God to fill us with his love and help us share it with others.
