1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
17 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. 18 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. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
20 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? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment"
ReplyDeleteEncouraging words.
V. 19 made me stop a minute, how often do we think that we love God and so he will love us, guide us, shower us with blessings etc.? Almost as if God didn't see us until we decided to Love him- quite the conteary that we aren't even capable of love without him, nor was he absent from us or without love for us at any moment.
ReplyDeleteJoel- totally agree. When I'm anxious or stressed out, or fearful of something I have to think about that verse, and just really put my trust in God to obtain that peaceful feeling
"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins"(10) and "We love Him because He first loved us"(19).
ReplyDeleteSo, "...if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another"(11).
How does this look lived out? I believe it means we are to be proactive in our love for one another. God first loved us, despite our hatred toward him. God gave His Son, despite our rejection of Him. God still pursues us regularly by His Spirit, despite our shunning Him. Likewise, we ought to be the ones pursuing peace, despite others' stirring up strife. We ought to be serving/giving of ourselves, despite others' taking advantage. We ought to be loving others, despite potentially being hurt in the process.
Just to clarify, we aren't necessarily to put ourselves out there for anyone and everyone. In my opinion, to "love everyone" isn't necessarily biblical. A brother (or sister) is a fellow believer. While we are to be diplomats to all, we are called to Love our brother.
This is Josh by the way.
DeleteGood thoughts guys.
ReplyDelete"We ought to be serving/giving of ourselves, despite others' taking advantage"
ReplyDeleteSo I passed this lady on a freeway on ramp on Saturday. A few months ago I probably would have more compassion for her. But I looked at her sign with a cross on it and thought "If you believe in Jesus why don't you go to a church????" and "Giving her money will just contribute to some habit she has"
Admittedly I have become a little cynical about things lately, and I should have more compassion. But common sense ruled the day in that situation.
What do you both think serving/giving looks like to folks on the on/off ramps? Is it best just to look the other way? Hmmmmm.....
This is only my personal opinion but I don't ever give anyone money. I don't think it helps any situation. However, being a driver in SE Portland, I come across homeless people on a regular basis. God has definitely opened my eyes and heart toward the homeless. I give money to homeless shelters and try to volunteer when I can (though I must confess it's been a while since I've done both).
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I think simply treating them with respect as fellow human beings and. just striking up conversation is a start. It's hard to have any desire to pull yourself out of the gutter when your treated like garbage. Rather than giving money, get creative; I purchase a stack of pocket-sized bibles and a stack of one-night admit passes to City Team's shelter and stuff a pass along with a gift certificate to subway in each bible and hand those out. If your wanting to go further, get involved however you can in programs that help people get off the streets. Or you can be a foster parent/adopt. Unfortunately, a lot of those kids end up on the streets when they "age out" of the system.
Most importantly, do as the Spirit prompts you. Don't feel guilty about someone else's situation but rather be grateful for what you have been given and don't take anything for granted. Again, this is all just my personal opinion...
Thanks Josh. I think you're exactly right here. Good suggestions. I need to watch my attitude because those poor folks really get on my nerves lately. Seems like they're always playing "guilty" Christians for stuff when I KNOW there are resources available to them, whether through a church or shelter. Your ideas are great here.
ReplyDelete