The passage before us is part of a larger section which examines the close relationship between righteousness, love and belief, 4:7-5:21. John initially deals with the relationship between love and belief, 4:7-5:3. Together, these two serve to test whether a person's relationship with God is genuine. Our passage for study examines John's first point, namely, that God is love and thus a child of God loves, 4:7-12.

v7-8. John exhorts us to love one another, for love is of the being of God. That is, love is an aspect of the Divine nature which we can share. Those who love have entered into a relationship with God - they know him, believe in him, are born of him, are one with him. Those who do not love, do not know God. The reason for this is simple enough, since God's very nature is expressed in love, then love will rub off on those who are in a relationship with him, but will be lacking in those who are distant from him.

v9-10. John goes on to clarify the idea of "love" by giving us to two examples of love in operation. First, God's love is demonstrated in the sending of Jesus to die for us. Here lies the perfect expression of love. Such love is self-giving to the point of self-sacrifice. The depth of this love is evident in the sending of the Son by the Father. Jesus was unique and yet the Father sent him into a hostile environment where he would inevitably be affronted. Such is God's love for us. More than this, Jesus was sent as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. This is a very important theological statement detailing for us the meaning of the cross.

v11-12. Second, God's love is seen in the love of the brotherhood; it is evidenced in the love that exists between believers. In fact, John makes a statement which is quite amazing. The very essence of God, which can't be seen, can be experienced in the loving relationships that exist between believers. We can touch Jesus in the loving touch of a brother. Of course, the world can also see God in this love. "All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another", Jn.13:35. It is "the ultimate apologetic" said Francis Schaeffer. As to its practical expression, no better illustration exists than when Jesus washed his disciples feet, Jn.13:14-17. Of course, the "how" to love is always going to remain our problem. John simply rests on the idea, "since God so loved us", that is, the death of Christ supplies our motivation. Christ's death freed us from both the curse and the dominion of sin. On the one hand, we are no longer condemned, but totally accepted in God's sight. On the other hand, through the indwelling Spirit, the very essence of Divine love resides within us, motivating us to love as Christ loved. Our responsibility is but to cooperate with the Spirit's renewing work.

"I write this to you that you will not sin." 2:1.

Central to John's purpose in this letter, is his desire to have us examine our lives to see whether we stand with Christ, or against Christ. He is primarily concerned with those who are frauds, rebels, sinners, lost, but who don't know it. So, this letter is not all about assurance. In fact, the more we read the more we are disturbed, and that's a good thing. John doesn't want us to live a lie.

At this particular moment in our lives we may feel that we are active faithful Christians, but at the same time we may well be fooling ourselves. For this reason, John comes up with a number of tests. In our passage for study, John writes of the test of love.

Love is an active caring compassion focused by revealed truth. It is the subject of the passage we have just studied. We will never love perfectly, for it is an ideal, so the best we can do is push toward it. If we find ourselves tending toward hate, if we find in our lives little care toward the needs of our brothers and sisters, then such is an evidence that we may well be standing outside the grace of God. Repentance will confirm our standing, but continued hate will only evidence our coming doom. By the way, John uses "hate" in terms that are far stronger than just being angry with a brother who has trodden on our toes. There will always be times when we will get angry with a brother.

A child of God is recognized by the fruit they bear. Know therefore and observe, the day of testing will come for each one of us, and when it comes, know that if we enter into rebellion we are living in the dark. To continue in the dark is to confirm that we are of the dark and not of the light.

Each one of us faces a whole range of social, intellectual and hormonal crises in life. They serve as times of testing. Few come through these times unscathed. We may waver, slip and fall. No one can claim to come through life unbloodied, but if Jesus is our friend, we will stand loyal to him. In the long run, we will turn from the darkness, and on those occasions when we fall, we will pick ourselves up out of the dust and kneel before our merciful God.

So, rough times will come, and if we find our love growing cold then its time to move back to the foot of the cross.

1. What is this love that comes from God?

2. God's love is demonstrated in the coming of Jesus. Explain the meaning of "sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

3. In what sense is it that if we love one another God's love is made complete in us?

4. "Whoever does not love does not know God". By what means can we test our standing in Christ?