1 John 04: God Defines Love
In today's study of 1 John Chapter 4, Pastor Brandon tackles one of the most misunderstood and controversial verses in the New Testament: "God is love." This simple three-word phrase has been twisted, misinterpreted, and co-opted to justify all manner of beliefs and behaviors that actually contradict biblical teaching. When we examine the passage in its proper context, however, we discover a profound truth about God's nature and how it defines what genuine love truly is.
The apostle John begins this chapter by warning believers to test those who claim to speak by the Spirit. This spiritual discernment is crucial because, as John states, "many false prophets" have gone out into the world. The test is straightforward: those who acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in a real body (not merely as a spiritual apparition, as some Gnostic teachings suggested) have the Spirit of God. This was a direct refutation of early heresies that denied Christ's physical incarnation. John emphasizes that denying the truth about Jesus reveals the "spirit of antichrist" – opposing the fundamental nature and work of Christ.
The controversial passage appears in verses 7-8, where John writes that "God is love." Many people have taken this statement to mean that God is equivalent to the feeling or emotion of love – therefore, anything done in the name of "love" must be godly or approved by God. This represents a dramatic misunderstanding of John's teaching. The surrounding context makes it abundantly clear that John is explaining how God defines love through His actions, not that our subjective feelings of love define God or His will. As John continues in verse 9-10: "God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."
The passage teaches us that true love is defined by sacrifice and action, most perfectly demonstrated in Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Love isn't primarily an emotion but a commitment to act for the good of others, even at great personal cost. When John says, "God is love," he's declaring that this self-giving, sacrificial nature is fundamental to God's character. In fact, John emphasizes that our growing understanding of this divine love should transform our lives: "As we live in God, our love grows more perfect." This growing perfection isn't about intensified emotions but increasingly Christlike actions toward others.
One of the most beautiful promises in this passage is that "perfect love expels all fear." As we come to understand and experience God's perfect love demonstrated through Christ, our fear of judgment diminishes. We can approach God with confidence because we're being transformed into the likeness of Jesus "here in this world." The chapter concludes with a challenging test of authentic faith: if someone claims to love God but hates fellow believers, that person is a liar. True love for the invisible God must manifest in tangible love for the visible community of faith. This reinforces John's central message that love is defined by action, not merely by sentiment or claim.
Understanding 1 John 4 in its proper context helps us see that "God is love" isn't a license for whatever we desire but a call to align our understanding of love with God's definition – sacrificial action for others' eternal good. When we define love God's way rather than imposing our definitions on Him, we discover the transformative power of Christ-centered love that casts out fear and brings us into authentic fellowship with both God and His people. This chapter stands as a powerful corrective to the self-centered definitions of love so prevalent in our culture today.
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