The most predominant “one another” command in the Bible is … “Love one another!”
Here, in First John 4:7-10, is a little “sermon” on such love: “Beloved, let us LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
The “beloved” are being addressed. That means brothers and sisters “in Christ.” Saved people. (We also are to love our enemies, according to Jesus. He certainly did! But that is NOT what our Passage here from First John is saying.) We are under a mandate, a command, to love each other, being members of Jesus’ Body, the New Testament Church.
Then we notice the “Source” of love. It is born of God, created of God, is on intimate terms with God! No God … no real love! In fact, we’ve just read it … “God is Love!”
Next is the greatest illustration ever of the Love of God. This Almighty Heavenly Father send His Son (Jesus) into the world, to die for sinners! (Yes! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, you remember.) Calvary, the Cross … love in action.
In other words, God loved us FIRST! (First John 4:9 … “We love him, because he first loved us.” Amen!)
The noun “propitiation,” used of Jesus’ Mission to earth, is “hilasmos,” meaning “to appease” a Person. To “satisfy” Him. It can also mean the “price” paid to bring about such satisfaction!
In essence, JESUS DIED FOR US, ON OUR BEHALF, TO SATISFY THE JUSTICE OF GOD IN HEAVEN! Jesus took my sin and gave me in return His Righteousness! See Second Corinthians 5:21. “For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who (Jesus) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (Jesus).” What a verse!
But I am supposed to be writing about us Christians loving one another!
I am … writing on that theme.
And we are … to so love each other.
But, today’s point, lesson … all our love is based on the Pattern, the Motivation of God’s amazing, eternal Love!
I think tomorrow I shall again share another “love one another” verse, this time from man’s point of view. More subjective.
But initially, primarily, essentially Christian love must be objective. Focused on God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit … the Godhead, the Matrix of genuine Love anyway!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell