1. A Final Encouragement to “love one another!”
1 John 4:7-5:5
A Final Encouragement to “love one another!”

2. 1 John 4:7-16
John has now worked through two complete cycles of the moral, social, and doctrinal tests of faith. With these verses he begins his third and final cycle.
Remember: the social test has to do with love for our fellow man; the moral test has to do with obedience to God’s will; the doctrinal test is the recognition of antichrist(s)

3. Love What does love do? What is love? Why do we love?
The mutual, reciprocal love of the Christian brotherhood is something the apostle emphasizes by similar expressions in vs 7, 11, 12. What is the expression?
What is the evidence that one “knows” God?

4. God is love
Is it true that “God is love” the same as saying “God=love?” How does Jesus describe obedience to the 10 commandments (Mt 10:37)? What does God require of all people (Lev 19:2)? Who then is the only person who truly know and understands love?
This is the only reference in 1 John to Jesus as the “one and only” Son. He used that phrase 4 times in his gospel (1:14, 18; 3:16, 18). NASB and KJV translates ―only begotten Son.‖ NIV translates ―one and only Son.‖ Which phrase do you like better and why?
How is God’s love made clear at the end of vs 9 & 10 in these expressions?
“that we might live through him” (vs 9)
that Jesus might be “an atoning sacrifice” for our sins (vs 10)
Verses 11 and 12 supply two reasons why Christians love one another. What are they?
Why is the past tense “loved” used in verse 10?
To what act of God is John referring?
What past action is lacking in our lives?
“His love is made complete in us?” Can we hope to reach that goal?

5. Application
How might a Christian use these verses to respond to a skeptic who says that to insist on Christianity as the only true way to God is to be intolerant, and thus unloving?
If we love one our fellowman, will we be accepting of false beliefs?
If we love God, will we be tolerant of any heresy?

6. 1 John 4:13-16
It seems that with these verses John begins a combination test that extends to the end of the chapter. He combines the doctrinal test (4:13-16a) with the social test (4:16b-21). Biblical doctrine always applies to the Christian life of love. Conversely, to weaken biblical doctrine in our understanding of spiritual things is to weaken love in our lives. In 2 & 3 John, he will make the point clear that truth and love go hand in hand. You cannot have either without the other!
John says in verse 13 that God “has given us of his Spirit.” Is that referring to …
Faith?
The gifts of the Spirit?
The indwelling of the Spirit?

7. 1 John 4:13-16
Another facet of the doctrinal test is the gospel‘s testimony to Jesus (v. 14).
To whom is John referring with the “we” of vs 14? What have the “we” seen? And why do “we” testify?
Another facet of the doctrinal test is the proper confession of Jesus (v. 15).
Notice vs 14: “we … testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” In vs 15 John wrote, “if anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God …” If one believes that Jesus is the Savior, what must one also believe? How do you suppose the original hearers understood this? How do we?
To know true doctrine is to know God‘s love (v. 16a). How does one become convinced that God loves us?

8. 1 John 4:16b-18
John returns to the social test of love. These concluding verses serve to give us two signs that God‘s love is abiding in us and reaching its goal in us. The first sign (v. 16b-18) involves confidence as we consider Judgment Day.
Note the logic of v. 16b: God is in his very essence love. Therefore, he is the only Source of love. Therefore, the person who abides in love must abide in God, and God in him.
This logic of love leads to a question in the Christian‘s mind: Is God‘s love abiding in me?
What is the evidence in v. 17 that God’s love abides in us? … and how are we then, “like him?”

9. 1 John 4:16b-18
In v. 18 John tells us that there is no fear in love. What specific love is he talking about? What is the fear he is talking about?
Verse 18 literally says: φόβος οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἀλλ᾽ ἡ τελεία ἀγάπη ἔξω βάλλει τὸν φόβον, ὅτι ὁ φόβος κόλασιν ἔχει, ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος οὐ τετελείωται ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ.
“there is no fear in the love, but the completed love casts out the fear, because the fear holds punishment, and the one who fears has not reached completion in love.”
“The goal to which all men aspire is to love the way God expects. The idea of something or someone achieving that goal of love is prominent in v. 18. What, then, is the only way to “love one another?”
Notice (in my translation) that “fear holds punishment.” How does that work? How does this truth prove that ―”love that has reached its goal drives out fear?”‖
Don‘t Christians ever get afraid? What takes away the fear?

10. 1 John 4:19-21
Another sign God‘s love is abiding in us is contained in these verses: God‘s love flows through us to others.
“We love … he loved.” (vs 19) Explain the difference?
Compare v. 20 to 1:6 and 2:4. Compare it also to Ja 2:14. To claim Christianity in words but to deny it in actions is to be a liar. Agree?
The KJV follows a variant reading that has this verse a question rather than a statement. Does that affect the understanding in any way? (“How can he love God whom he has not seen?”)
Is it possible to hate someone and still be a Christian?
In Psalm 5:8, the Bible says that “God hates all who do wrong?” How do you reconcile that verse with the words of John here?
To what event might John have been referring when he wrote: “And he has given us this command: ‘Whoever loves God must also love his brother?’” (John 13:34,35)

11. I John 4:7-21 Law Gospel Love one another
Whoever does not love does not know God
If we love each other, God lives in us
Whoever loves God must also love his brother
He sent his one and only Son into the world
He loved us and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins
The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world
We know and rely on the love God has for us