by Dr. Grant C. Richison
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”
because as He is,
The ground of our confidence at the Judgment Seat of Christ is who Jesus is and what He did for us on the cross. […]
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
Verse 18 gives proof of verse 17. We have boldness at the Judgment Seat of Christ because God completes His love in us. John now looks at love from […]
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
but perfect love casts out fear,
“Perfect love” is God’s love, not our love. Only God has perfect love. This is the love made perfect in verse 17. However, […]
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
because fear involves torment.
The perfected love in the believer is a love that resides in God’s love, in mutual fellowship with the Lord. Love casts fear outside its […]
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
The love that erects confidence (4:17) also expels fears. God’s love is amiable toward the believer because of Christ. […]
“We love Him because He first loved us.”
We love Him
God’s initiative in love for us stamped love in our spirits. Our ability to love with divine love comes from God, not us. We love because God taught us how to love with divine love. The source of the believer’s love is prior love. We […]
“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
John now demonstrates how to experience love.
If someone says, “I love God,”
In chapters one and two one we […]
“And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
And this commandment we have
The idea of “commandment” is an injunction, charge, order, behest, precept. A “commandment” is equivalent to a principle or precept of the Word of God. It is a prescribe principle that accords with God’s […]
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.”
The first twelve verses of chapter five set before us the witness of God. God bears clear testimony about His Son. John shows how the nature of one’s faith gives […]
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.”
The next two phrases put belief and love in close connection. Divine life inevitably manifests itself in love for the family of God.
and everyone who loves Him who begot […]
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