1 John 4:7-21

Let me start with the question, “Do we love people, no matter who or what they are?” If we love our fellow man, it proves that we love God. God has much to say about the matter of proving our love.

Six proofs of our love for God are given in chapters 3 and 4.

I. WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF GOD, 3:1-3

Volumes could be written on these three verses without exhausting the subject of the love of God. What great love, both as to quantity and quality!

John does not even attempt to describe the length, the breadth, the depth, and the height of the love of God because there is nothing we, who were once children of the devil, have done to be called the sons of God. 

The Jews and all who do not know God and are seeking His blessing without understanding the depth of His love cannot begin to understand the sacrifice He made. As many today, the Jews did not acknowledge Jesus as Messiah or approve of His message.

  • The PRIVILEGE of God’s love – we are sons of God.
  • The POWER of God’s love – we will be transformed.
  • The PURPOSE of God’s love – we will be made pure.

II. WE WILL TURN FROM ENSLAVING SIN, 3:4-9

Sin is the transgression of the law, and all disobedience is contrary to love; therefore, any transgression of the law is sin, whether the act refers immediately to God or to our neighbor.

John is saying that he who sins against God does not see Him; neither does he know Him because his faith is darkened so that he cannot see.

Verse 7, “Let no man deceive you.” In other words, don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that you cannot be saved from sin or that sin will not destroy you in the end. One of the blessings of being a Christian is that our sin cannot change the fact that we are children of God and that our adoption is eternal.

Verse 9, “Whosoever is born of God.” That is, one who is begotten of God does not habitually commit sin as he used to.

  • The PROGRAM of deliverance – man is sinful.
  • The PROVISION for deliverance – Christ.
  • The PROOF of deliverance – we will not sin.
  • The PRODUCT of deliverance – we are freed from living under sin.

III. WE WILL EXIST BY LOVE, 3:10-17

Those who are controlled by their father the devil will manifest the fruit of wickedness, but those who are controlled by the love and Spirit of God will attempt to live pure lives.

  • Who are the children of the devil? Those that commit sin
  • Who then are the children of God? Those that have been saved from the power and penalty of sin

Notice verse 11, “For this is the message (or commandment) that we should love one another.”

  • Love will PROCLAIM our nature—new birth.
  • Love does not PERSECUTE the righteous.
  • Love proves we are PASSED from death to life.

Proofs 4-6 will be covered in Part 2 of this lesson.

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Hans Nikoley, GSBC Staff

Bro. Nikoley emigrated from Germany to the United States with his family at age 13. He served full time in the Nevada Air National Guard for six years. At age 32, He was saved, and in 1977, he graduated from Bible College. He pastored for over 31 years, 27 of them at Pomerado Road Baptist Church in Poway, California. Bro. Nikoley has served at Golden State Baptist College in the Bible Department and also as the Student Employment Director since 2007. He and his wife Mary have two children and have been married for 58 years.