Caveats on Love

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1 John 4:12-19 (9/26) Epistle at the Repose of John the Apostle, Evangelist, & Theologian​

Caveats on Love: 1 John 4:12-19, especially vs. 19: “We love Him because He first loved us.” In the present passage from Saint John the Theologian’s First Epistle, the Apostle advances a series of twelve doctrines concerning love as known through the Person and work of Christ our Lord. To sharpen and focus the Apostle’s message, we provide twelve caveats or explanations that aim “...to prevent misinterpretation” and illumine his profound revelations.


1) “...the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (vs. 14). After associating as intimates of the Lord Jesus, for three years and witnessing, and experiencing His Passion and Resurrection, the Apostles were illumined by the Holy Spirit concerning Christ’s Divine nature. Both relationship with the Incarnate One and illumination by the Spirit created their testimony.


2) “...we have known and believed the love that God has for us” (vs. 16). The Apostles knew the love that God has for all mankind because they were loved by Christ our God Himself, enabling John to write, “...having loved His own...He loved them to the end” (Jn. 13:1).


3) “God is love...” (1 Jn. 4:16) as John says concisely. He was enabled to speak in this terse and defining manner on the basis of prolonged association with the Lord Jesus. In turn, time spent closely with Jesus produced enlightenment - an illumination that led to a dual revelation: that Jesus is God; and that God’s nature is love. God’s love is embodied and known in and through the words, acts, and life of the Lord Jesus (vs. 16). 'Abiding' was the way they learned, and abiding is the way you and I learn - by remaining with the God Who is love (vs. 16).


4) “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (vs. 15). You and I confessed Jesus as King and God in the Baptismal Mystery when we each united our self to Him and bowed down before Him. God abides in us, and we in Him.


5) “Love has been perfected among us....because as He is, so are we in this world” (vs. 17). Love is perfected, that is, love is completed in us by being and remaining united to Christ.


6) “...he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him”(vs. 16). Abiding may be translated as remaining. Choose to remain close to Him where He is present - in the Church.


7) “We love Him because He first loved us” (vs. 19). Love won the Disciples and made them His Apostles; and Love draws us until we return His love. It cannot be otherwise, for then...


8) “...we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (vs. 13). As created human beings, our present spiritual union with the Person of Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit, and naturally results in our loving others. What must never be forgotten is that to abide in Him we must give His love to others. God’s love cannot stop with us, for...


9) “If we love one another, God abides in us...” (vs. 12); and if we do not, God’s love does not touch nor remain with us. As our Lord taught: forgive to be forgiven, for God forgives our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Thus...


10) “...His love has been perfected in us” (vs. 12). “Perfected” means “completed,” as on a construction project. To be complete we must give complete love to others, even enemies, then,...


11) “...we may have boldness in the day of judgment...” (vs. 17), but only if we do our part to maintain union with Christ and love, as did the Apostles and the Saints before us.


12) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment” (vs. 18). Why suffer torment that is eternal in relation to God?! Love now, in this life and Perfect Love Himself will rid us of fear and will fill us with His love eternally. Amen!


O Lord, Who hast taught us that all our doings without love are worth nothing, send Thy Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts the gift of love, without which we are dead before Thee.

DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS​

013198