Lesson for April 19, 2015
Trust
in God’s Love
1 John 4, 5
This
treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone,
former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. It is
published in the April 12 issue of The
Lookout magazine,
and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com.
______
By Sam E. Stone
It is
easy to understand why John has often been referred to as “the apostle of
love.” That theme runs throughout the letters that he wrote to the
first-century church. Today’s text is the third time in this epistle when John
described love as the supreme test of the Christian life (1 John
2:7-11; 3:11-18). In 1 John 4 he emphasized the sacrificial love shown by God’s
revelation in Christ. John also outlined ways we can be assured God lives
in
us and that we abide in God (vv. 13-21).
Trust in the World’s Savior | 1 John 4:13-16
All Christians are
given the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). The Spirit works
with and through the Word of God in our lives (1 Corinthians 2:14-16; Romans
8:13; Ephesians 3:16).
We have seen and testify that the
Father has sent his Son to be
the Savior of the world. That is
the essence of the gospel (compare John 3:16). When believers sincerely make the good confession (Matthew
16:16; 1 Timothy 6:12), they can be confident of God’s
promise (1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 10:6-12). John
reminded his readers, whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. In both who he is and what he does, God is always
completely loving. By our loving actions we demonstrate that we love him as
well.
Trust in Perfect Love | 1 John 4:17-21
We can
have complete confidence on the Day of Judgment when we
live like him now. Christians are to
be like Christ. If we trust in God’s love toward
us, that love can be perfected (made complete) as
it accomplishes its purpose in our lives (1 John 2:5; 4:12). We
mature as we demonstrate our complete faith in God’s love.
A slave
might be afraid of his master (Romans 8:15), but the master’s son
has no fear because he is confident of his father’s love (compare 1
Corinthians 13). All who are right with God can confidently trust in his love. The
initiative of love always begins with God. If we love God, we must
love his children (Matthew 22:37-40). John emphasized again the words of Jesus recorded
in his Gospel (John 13:34; Mark 12:29-31).
Trust in God’s
Victory | 1 John
5:1-5
In 1 John 5 the topic begun in the previous section continues, showing that Christians are to
love their brothers and sisters. Such love gives evidence that one has been
born again (John 3:3). Three tests to determine who is born again were listed
in 1 John 2: obedience (vv. 3-6), love
(7-11), and belief (18-27). In chapter 5, the
three tests are again emphasized: belief (vv. 1, 4, 5), love
(vv. 1-3), obedience (vv. 2, 3). Those
who believe that Jesus is the Christ are born of God. Their faith includes consistent
action. In contrast to the Gnostics, one must believe in the Christ who died and rose again.
One way
we show our faith is to love God’s children. Simply claiming to love
someone is not enough; action must back up the claim. Evidence of our
relationship with the Father is seen in how we treat our brothers and sisters, since they
are his children too.
Jesus said plainly, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John
14:15). His commands are not burdensome. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day placed
heavy demands and restrictions on their followers (Matthew
23:4). Jesus didn’t. On the contrary, he said, “My yoke is
easy and my burden is light” (11:30).
J. W.
Roberts added, “Loving sons find the wishes of a good father a delight; a
wise father asks only what is good, acceptable, and perfect according to his
will (Romans 12:2). This does not mean that it
will always be easy to do what God asks.
But it means that God’s demands are not beyond our human limits (1
Corinthians 10:13) and also that he will always
give power to do what he asks (Philippians
4:3; Ephesians 3:16-21).”
The night before his death, Jesus encouraged
his
disciples with the thrilling words, “I have overcome the world” (John
16:33). Because of his victory, all who are born of God can overcome the world as well. There is no
merit simply in believing. The power resides in the one in whom we believe—Jesus. Three
times in three successive sentences, John repeated the phrase overcomes the
world. Such faith conquers.
Born again with a new and living faith, the Christian believes in Jesus, obeys his will, and
loves both God and those he created.
________
*Lesson based on International Sunday School Lesson, © 2009,
by the Lesson Committee. Scripture
quotations are from the New
International Version ©2011, unless
otherwise indicated.
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