1 John Lesson 7

Living in the Light of God's Love

1 John Lesson Seven-1 John 4:13-21 God Gives You His Perfect Love 1. God’s perfect love lives in us by the Holy Spirit 2. God’s perfect love drives out fear 3. God’s perfect love removes hatred

Introduction A lady attending a Bible study once made the claim that her favorite verse of the Bible was 1 John 4:18, “Perfect love drives out fear.” According to her interpretation of this verse, her great progress in being a loving person removed any fear she had of God. In reality, she was often demeaning to her husband. If she had seen her lovelessness, she would not have been so confident.

As we read these verses in 1 John 4 carefully, we will discover that it is God's love for us that gives us confidence before God. We will also see that this perfect love of our God is so powerful that it changes us by driving out our fears and leading us to be more loving to those around us.

Studying God's Word God's perfect love lives in us by the Holy Spirit Read 1 John 4:13-16 This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. 16 We also have come to know and trust the love that God has for us.

God is love. Whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

1. Read Romans 8:14-16. What evidence do we have that we are in the Lord and the Lord is in us?

2. What evidence of God's love did John personally see with this own eyes? (4:14) How do we see this same evidence?

3. John has taught us that when we know God's love for us, we can do nothing other than love each other.

But he always returns to the source: God's love. How do verses 15 and 16 underscore this truth?

© 1997 Northwestern Publishing House. Reprinted by permission.

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Passage Romans 8:14–16 Indeed, those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery so that you are afraid again, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we call out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself joins our spirit in testifying that we are God’s children.

His Word in My Life The night before he died, Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father and spoke of the closeness between himself, his Father, and all who would believe. Read John 17:20-23. What similarities do you see between these verses and 1 John 4:15?

John 17:20–23 “I am praying not only for them, but also for those who believe in me through their message. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one: 23 I in them, and you in me. May they become completely one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

God's perfect love drives out fear Read 1 John 4:17-19 In this way his love has been brought to its goal among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are just like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love, but complete love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who continues to be afraid has not been brought to the goal in love.

19

We love because he first loved us.

God's love for us creates love in us for him and all people. Our love is never perfect. It cannot create confidence to stand in the day of judgment. This confidence comes from God's perfect love for us.

1. God's perfect love changes us so “we are just like Jesus.” (4:17) How are we like Jesus in the way we live our lives? (See John 13:34,35.)

2. What happens when God's perfect love becomes the source of your salvation and begins filling your life? (verse 18) See Romans 8:1 and Ephesians 3:14-19.

3. When God's perfect love becomes our only source of salvation, we begin losing our fear and we grow in our love for God and each other. Read Luke 7:36-50. What blessing of love did the woman experience?

How did she show her love for her blessing? How did she show a lack of fear?

4. God loved us first. Give examples of the first steps the Lord took in your life. Why is it important that the Lord took these steps for us? (4:18)

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Passage List John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Romans 8:1 So then, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:14–19 For this reason I kneel before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the entire family in heaven and on earth receives its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he would strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner self, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 I pray that you would be able to comprehend, along with all the saints, how wide and long and high and deep his love is, 19 and that you would be able to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. Luke 7:36–50 A certain one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him. Jesus entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 Just then a sinful woman from that town learned that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 stood behind him near his feet weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she began to wipe them with her hair while also kissing his feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would realize who is touching him and what kind of woman she is, because she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

He said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the larger debt forgiven.”

Then he told him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, but you did not give me water for my feet. Yet she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but she, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that is why she loved so much. But the one who is forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”

49 Those reclining at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

His Word in My Life When Christians face death, they may experience moments of fear. They may think of how imperfect their love is and become afraid of God's punishment. What encouragement does verse 18 offer to someone who faces death? See also Romans 8:37-39.

Romans 8:37–39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor powerful forces, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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God's perfect love removes hatred Read 1 John 4:20,21 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For how can anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, love God, whom he has not seen? 21 This then is the command we have from him: The one who loves God should also love his brother.

1. In verse 20 we are told that anyone who says “I love God” and hates his brother is a liar. How did Cain show himself to be a liar when he brought an offering to the Lord? (See Genesis 4.)

2. What conclusion can we draw if we cannot love someone we can see? (Note Cain in Genesis 4 as an example.)

3. It is God's will that we love him by loving our brother. How are we able to do that?

His Word in My Life Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. These verses are often chosen to be read at weddings. Why are these ideals not overwhelming when you understand the reality of God's perfect love in your life?

Summary Join together in your group to say or sing the following hymn verses: Amazing grace-that chose us ere the worlds were made; amazing grace-that sent your Son to save; amazing grace-that robed us in your righteousness and taught our lips to sing glory and praise.

O faithful love-that shepherded through faithless years; forgiving love-that led us to your truth; unyielding love-that would not let us turn from you but sent us forth to speak pardon and peace. (CW 582:2,3)

In this study you have seen the importance of having the gift of God's perfect love. You may know of people whose lives are being plagued by fear. You may wish to write their names down and remember them in your prayers, specifically asking the Lord to fill them with his perfect love, which casts out fear.

Life with God Throughout the week: Read John 17 several times in your personal devotions.

Read 1 John 5:1-21 in preparation for the next lesson.