Remarks on 1 John: 4:7-14

1 John 4:7‑14  •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Chap. 4:7-14
Having exposed these devices of the devil, working with untiring energy through his ministers, “deceitful workers” after his own type (see 2 Cor. 11:13-1513For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13‑15)), he resumes the subject of love still further to guard us against any counterfeit; for natural affection may express itself in heroic deeds, but natural affection is not love. Though the word may be applied to it, a holy and an exclusive use is claimed for it here— “Love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” Adam, though created by God, and placed in circumstances and a position calculated to draw out his gratitude and affections to God, revolted from Him, and hearkened to the voice of his wife. Morally his affections were ruined. When called to account, hoping to shield himself, he became her accuser, reflecting on his Maker and hers for giving her to him (Gen. 3). It is a repulsive scene, the earliest exhibition of the human heart when ruined by sin, its deceitfulness, and its weakness. Natural affection, however, in one born of God, and directed of Him, is a tender solace in a world where so many are sinking under a load of sorrow; it is then neither deceitful nor weak, but a lovely trait of character, holier, purer, more devoted, patient and enduring, because divine love is supreme. With adoring hearts we may contemplate it to perfection in the Son of God (John 19:26, 2726When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (John 19:26‑27)). In Him all is perfect.
The gift of life, and the sacrifice such a gift entailed, are then set before us as the manifestation of the love of God in the case of sinners, that is, in our case (ver. 9); an amazing gift had it been bestowed on a sinless being, for it is eternal life, indefectible, and endowed with the most exalted capacities for fellowship with the Father and the Son now and throughout eternity. Adam innocent had not this, still less Adam guilty, and his race. Life being thus a sovereign gift of love, it is evident that we were without it, and a meaning is given to “death” as found in scripture (as applied to the state of men) which it is important to grasp. With the outward aspect of physical death we are painfully familiar; the separations it makes we in some small degree understand. Have we attempted to realize what separation “death,” as found in scripture, expresses? When wasting his substance in riotous living, the prodigal was dead (Luke 15:2424For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:24)). The woman living in pleasure is dead while she liveth (1 Tim. 5:66But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. (1 Timothy 5:6)). How countless then the multitude of the living who are dead, some even professing to be of the Christian brotherhood (iii. 14)! Do we thus view them? Truly even single words in scripture are volumes, but we glide over them too quickly.
The very early experience of eternal life in the receiver is the love that gave it, and it is the sweetest. “God sent His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON into the world that we might live through Him.” Ver. 10 intensifies this. “Not that we loved God.” This puts our case in a positive form: not the absence of good, but the presence of evil, a state of alienation and enmity; and propitiation for our sins was needed. There will be “the day of judgment,” “the judgment to come “; for “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” But, before the day of judgment, God has sent His Son to bear our sins, to take our place in judgment. He having finished the work which God, His Father, gave Him to do, we take, as given righteously to us, His place now in blessing; and before He comes to judge, we shall be raised in glory (cf. ver. 17 and iii. 2), as we “shall not come into judgment” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), R.V.). If God has thus manifested His love to us, even to us who did not love Him, what have we to do but to behold it, and drive away every thought or suggestion that at any time would obscure it? Let every earthly refuge fail us, the love of God will not fail. As He is from everlasting to everlasting, so is His love; it is as enduring as eternity. Let us boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1111And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11)), for well we may.
In ver. 11 our service to our brethren, little or much, is to be in the consciousness of the love of God to us, a pure and powerful motive; and in ver. 12 such manifestation of love on our part is a testimony that God Himself “dwelleth in us “: a wonderful expression! but compare chap. iii. 24. Surely we know that we have not strength to bear with what is contrary to us in our brethren, or they with us. The realized presence of God alone will give strength, and ver. 13 explains how this can be in the weakest. “He hath given us of His Spirit” – “of His Spirit” speaks of an inexhaustible supply, for “God giveth not the Spirit by measure.” Thus as a vessel, however weak and small, we dwell in God and God in us. Amazing truth! (see ver. 15).
In ver. 14, by virtue of the indwelling Spirit our testimony goes out to the world. “We,” must not be confined to the gifted only (see Acts 8:44Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:4)). It is indeed a great wrong to the unsaved to make evangelizing the work of a few. Neither office, nor gift is indispensable for this, but the Holy Spirit. There are gifts (Eph. 4:1111And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:11)); but all who are saved, and thus know the Savior, are (each in his or her sphere) to bear testimony— “that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” The principle is expressed in 2 Cor. 4:1313We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; (2 Corinthians 4:13), “We believe, and therefore speak.” ( To be continued, D.V.)