1 John 4:17
Verse
Context
Sermons
Vance Havner
B.H. Clendennen
Zac Poonen
Manley BeasleyZac PoonenManley BeasleySummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Herein is our love made perfect - By God dwelling in us, and we in him; having cast out all the carnal mind that was enmity against himself, and filled the whole heart with the spirit of love and purity. Thus the love is made perfect; when it thus fills the heart it has all its degrees; it is all in all; and all in every power, passion, and faculty of the soul. May have boldness in the day of judgment - Παρῥησιαν· Freedom of speech, and liberty of access; seeing in the person of our Judge, him who has died for us, regenerated our hearts, and who himself fills them. As he is - Pure, holy, and loving; so are we in this world; being saved from our sins, and made like to himself in righteousness and true holiness. No man can contemplate the day of judgment with any comfort or satisfaction but on this ground, that the blood of Christ hath cleansed him from all sin, and that he is kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. This will give him boldness in the day of judgment.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
(Compare Jo1 3:19-21.) our love--rather as the Greek, "LOVE (in the abstract, the principle of love [ALFORD]) is made perfect (in its relations) with us." Love dwelling in us advances to its consummation "with us" that is, as it is concerned with us: so Greek. Luk 1:58, "showed mercy upon (literally, 'with') her": Jo2 1:2, the truth "shall be with us for ever." boldness--"confidence": the same Greek as Jo1 3:21, to which this passage is parallel. The opposite of "fear," Jo1 4:18. Herein is our love perfected, namely, in God dwelling in us, and our dwelling in God (Jo1 4:16), involving as its result "that we can have confidence (or boldness) in the day of judgment" (so terrible to all other men, Act 24:25; Rom 2:16). because, &c.--The ground of our "confidence" is, "because even as He (Christ) is, we also are in this world" (and He will not, in that day, condemn those who are like Himself), that is, we are righteous as He is righteous, especially in respect to that which is the sum of righteousness, love (Jo1 3:14). Christ IS righteous, and love itself, in heaven: so are we, His members, who are still "in this world." Our oneness with Him even now in His exalted position above (Eph 2:6), so that all that belongs to Him of righteousness, &c., belongs to us also by perfect imputation and progressive impartation, is the ground of our love being perfected so that we can have confidence in the day of judgment. We are in, not of, this world.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Herein is our love made perfect,.... Or love with us; which some understand of the love of God towards his people, and which is shed abroad in them: this indeed removes all fear of an awful judgment, and renders that amiable and desirable; and such who are interested in it, shall stand in that day with intrepidity and boldness; and this sense may seem to be favoured by the Syriac version, which reads, "his love with us"; and especially by the Vulgate Latin version, which renders it, "the love of God with us"; but it is best to understand it agreeably to the context, of our love to God, which is with and in our hearts; and which is made, or made to appear to be perfect, true, and genuine, by our love to the brethren; since the love of God to us does not admit of degrees, nor does it, or the reality and sincerity of it, depend upon our love to the saints; See Gill on Jo1 4:12; that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; not of men's judgment, when brought before judges, governors, and kings, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, and stand at their bar, where saints, who have true love to God and Christ and the brethren, have stood with great courage and intrepidity, and shown much boldness, and used great freedom of speech; nor of judgment in this life, which sometimes begins at the house of God, though the saints often have great boldness and presence of mind, and freedom of expression both to God and man in a day of affliction, as Job had; but of the future judgment, which, though it will be very awful and solemn, Christ the Judge will appear with great majesty and glory, and all men will stand before him, and the books will be opened, and the judgment will proceed with great strictness and justice, and will issue in the everlasting perdition of devils and wicked men, yet the saints will have boldness in it: while evil men and devils tremble at the thoughts of it now, they rejoice and are glad; they love it, look for it, long for it, and hasten to it; and will stand fearless, and without the least dread, while others will flee to the rocks, and into the holes of the earth; and they will use freedom of speech with Christ, as the word here signifies; they will sing his new song, and ascribe the glory of their salvation to him, and express their praises of him, and love to him, then and to all eternity: and this boldness the saints may be said to arrive at through a perfect, or sincere, and genuine love of the brethren; for by this they know they are born again, and are born to an inheritance incorruptible, which they have both a meetness for, and a right unto; and knowing hereby that they are passed from death to life, they justly conclude they shall not enter into condemnation, and therefore are not afraid of the awful judgment: hereby they know that their faith is right, and that therefore they are manifestly the children of God; and if children, then heirs, and so shall be saved, and have everlasting life: because as he is, so are we in this world; which may be understood either of God, to whom the saints are like; for such who are born again, as those who love the brethren are, they are partakers of the divine nature, and bear a resemblance to God, even in this present state of things; and as it becomes them to be holy in all manner of conversation, as he is holy, and to be merciful to wicked men, as he is merciful, so to love the saints as he does, and to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgive one another, as he for Christ's sake has forgiven them; for as God is love, they should be all love likewise; or of Christ, see Jo1 3:3; and that with respect to God; as he is the Son of God, so are they the sons of God; he by nature, they by grace and adoption; as he is loved by God with an everlasting and unchangeable love, with a love of complacency and delight, so are they loved by him with the same kind of love, even while they are in this world; and as he is the chosen of God, and precious, so they are chosen in him, and unto salvation by him. The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, render it, "as he was": and the sense may be, as he was in this world, so are they; and which may regard not so much likeness in nature, though there is an agreement in that, excepting sin, but the sameness of state and condition; as he was a man of sorrows, attended with afflictions, loaded with reproaches, and followed with the persecutions of men, so are they; nor need they wonder that they are the objects of the world's hatred and contempt, since he was also; as he was tempted by Satan, forsaken by his friends, and deserted by his God, so sometimes are they in this world; and as he went through a variety of sufferings, and death itself, to glory, so through many tribulations do they enter the kingdom: moreover, as he now is in heaven, so are they in this world; even as he is in heaven, so are they representatively in him, while in this world; and as he is righteous, being justified and acquitted from all the charge of sin he took upon him, and therefore will appear a second time without sin, so they are completely righteous in him: and once more, as he is, so they are, or should be in this world; they should be holy as he is holy, and be humble, meek, and patient, as he is, and walk as he walked; and particularly love the saints and one another, as he does; and which seems to be greatly intended here, and must be understood not of an equality, but of a likeness. The Arabic version reads the words conditionally, and as depending on the preceding clause, "if as he was, we are in this world"; and then the sense is, that the saints shall have boldness in the day of judgment, provided they are in this world as Christ was.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
The apostle, having thus excited and enforced sacred love from the great pattern and motive of it, the love that is and dwells in God himself, proceeds to recommend it further by other considerations; and he recommends it in both the branches of it, both as love to God, and love to our brother or Christian neighbour. I. As love to God, to the primum amabile - the first and chief of all amiable beings and objects, who has the confluence of all beauty, excellence, and loveliness, in himself, and confers on all other beings whatever renders them good and amiable. Love to God seems here to be recommended on these accounts: - 1. It will give us peace and satisfaction of spirit in the day when it will be most needed, or when it will be the greatest pleasure and blessing imaginable: Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, Jo1 4:17. There must be a day of universal judgment. Happy they who shall have holy fiducial boldness before the Judge at that day, who shall be able to lift up their heads, and to look him in the face, as knowing he is their friend and advocate! Happy they who have holy boldness and assurance in the prospect of that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's appearance! So do, and so may do, the lovers of God. Their love to God assures them of God's love to them, and consequently of the friendship of the Son of God; the more we love our friend, especially when we are sure that he knows it, the more we can trust his love. As God is good and loving, and faithful to his promise, so we can easily be persuaded of his love, and the happy fruits of his love, when we can say, Thou that knowest all things knowest that we love thee. And hope maketh not ashamed; our hope, conceived by the consideration of God's love, will not disappoint us, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost that is given to us, Rom 5:5. Possibly here by the love of God may be meant our love to God, which is shed abroad upon our hearts by the Holy Ghost; this is the foundation of our hope, or of our assurance that our hope will hold good at last. Or, if by the love of God be meant the sense and apprehension of his love to us, yet this must suppose or include us as lovers of him in this case; and indeed the sense and evidence of his love to us do shed abroad upon our hearts love to him; and thereupon we have confidence towards him and peace and joy in him. He will give the crown of righteousness to all that love his appearing. And we have this boldness towards Christ because of our conformity to him: Because as he is so are we in this world, Jo1 4:17. Love hath conformed us to him; as he was the great lover of God and man, he has taught us in our measure to be so too, and he will not deny his own image. Love teaches us to conform in sufferings too; we suffer for him and with him, and therefore cannot but hope and trust that we shall also be glorified together with him, Ti2 2:12. 2. It prevents or removes the uncomfortable result and fruit of servile fear: There is no fear in love (Jo1 4:18); so far as love prevails, fear ceases. We must here distinguish, I judge, between fear and being afraid; or, in this case, between the fear of God and being afraid of him. The fear of God is often mentioned and commanded as the substance of religion (Pe1 2:17; Rev 14:7); and so it imports the high regard and veneration we have for God and his authority and government. Such fear is constant with love, yea, with perfect love, as being in the angels themselves. But then there is a being afraid of God, which arises from a sense of guilt, and a view of his vindictive perfections; in the view of them, God is represented as a consuming fire; and so fear here may be rendered dread; There is no dread in love. Love considers its object as good and excellent, and therefore amiable, and worthy to be beloved. Love considers God as most eminently good, and most eminently loving us in Christ, and so puts off dread, and puts on joy in him; and, as love grows, joy grows too; so that perfect love casteth out fear or dread. Those who perfectly love God are, from his nature, and counsel, and covenant, perfectly assured of his love, and consequently are perfectly free from any dismal dreadful suspicions of his punitive power and justice, as armed against them; they well know that God loves them, and they thereupon triumph in his love. That perfect love casteth out fear the apostle thus sensibly argues: that which casteth out torment casteth out fear or dread: Because fear hath torment (Jo1 4:18) - fear is known to be a disquieting torturing passion, especially such a fear as is the dread of an almighty avenging God; but perfect love casteth out torment, for it teaches the mind a perfect acquiescence and complacency in the beloved, and therefore perfect love casteth out fear. Or, which is here equivalent, he that feareth is not made perfect in love (Jo1 4:18); it is a sign that our love is far from being perfect, since our doubts, and fears, and dismal apprehensions of God, are so many. Let us long for, and hasten to, the world of perfect love, where our serenity and joy in God will be as perfect as our love! 3. From the source and rise of it, which is the antecedent love of God: We love him, because he first loved us, Jo1 4:19. His love is the incentive, the motive, and moral cause of ours. We cannot but love so good a God, who was first in the act and work of love, who loved us when we were both unloving and unlovely, who loved us at so great a rate, who has been seeking and soliciting our love at the expense of his Son's blood; and has condescended to beseech us to be reconciled unto him. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at such love! His love is the productive cause of ours: Of his own will (of his own free loving will) begat he us. To those that love him all things work together for good, to those who are the called according to his purpose. Those that love God are the called thereto according to his purpose (Rom 8:28); according to whose purpose they are called is sufficiently intimated in the following clauses: whom he did predestinate (or antecedently purpose, to the image of his Son) those he also called, effectually recovered thereto. The divine love stamped love upon our souls; may the Lord still and further direct our hearts into the love of God! Th2 3:5. II. As love to our brother and neighbour in Christ; such love is argued and urged on these accounts: - 1. As suitable and consonant to our Christian profession. In the profession of Christianity we profess to love God as the root of religion: "If then a man say, or profess as much as thereby to say, I love God, I am a lover of his name, and house, and worship, and yet hate his brother, whom he should love for God's sake, he is a liar (Jo1 4:20), he therein gives his profession the lie." That such a one loves not God the apostle proves by the usual facility of loving what is seen rather than what is unseen: For he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? Jo1 4:20. The eye is wont to affect the heart; things unseen less catch the mind, and thereby the heart. The incomprehensibleness of God very much arises from his invisibility; the member of Christ has much of God visible in him. How then shall the hater of a visible image of God pretend to love the unseen original, the invisible God himself? 2. As suitable to the express law of God, and the just reason of it: And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also, Jo1 4:21. As God has communicated his image in nature and in grace, so he would have our love to be suitably diffused. We must love God originally and supremely, and others in him, on the account of their derivation and reception from him, and of his interest in them. Now, our Christian brethren having a new nature and excellent privileges derived from God, and God having his interest in them as well as in us, it cannot but be a natural suitable obligation that he who loves God should love his brother also.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:17 our love grows more perfect: The Greek word translated grows more perfect does not mean flawless, but mature and complete. We mature as our relationship with God grows, and God’s love makes our love complete. • Experiencing and expressing God’s love and doing what it requires does not make us acceptable to God, but it does give us the assurance that we have been accepted, and our fears of the final judgment melt away.
1 John 4:17
Love Comes from God
16And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.17In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Forget Not His Benefits
By Vance Havner6.5K30:18HealingMAT 6:33MAT 10:34JHN 3:16ACT 17:6ROM 12:21JN 4:17REV 1:18In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the verse 1 John 4:17, "as he is, so are we in this world." He emphasizes that John, as a New Testament writer, has a unique ability to convey profound truths in simple terms. The preacher breaks down the verse into three divisions of three words each, highlighting its simplicity and importance. He discusses how Jesus, as the same yesterday, today, and forever, calls for believers to live in the reality of their identity in Christ and not treat it as a fairy tale. The preacher also emphasizes the need for believers to be actively engaged in the world, sharing the love of Christ and winning others to Him.
(Europe 2008) Session 7 - as He Is, So Are We
By B.H. Clendennen3.5K1:02:42HolinessISA 6:1MAT 6:33JHN 4:17JHN 5:43JHN 7:16EPH 1:181JN 4:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of promoting the kingdom of God and doing Christian work. He highlights that being born again means being involved in Christian work and not failing in the purpose of one's life. The preacher shares a personal story about a time when he faced challenges and prayed for healing. Through this experience, he learned that God wanted to know if he loved Him above all else. The sermon concludes with the message that our ability to do the works of Christ depends on our abiding in Him and renouncing ourselves. The preacher references John 15:5 and Philippians 4:13 to emphasize the importance of staying connected to Christ and relying on His strength.
Overcoming Satan
By Zac Poonen2.6K1:27:14SatanGEN 4:7PSA 1:2MAT 6:33LUK 10:18HEB 4:121JN 4:17In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the distinctives of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant. He encourages listeners to meditate on God's Word and not just superficially read it. The speaker highlights the need to master sin and have a right attitude towards others. He also discusses the importance of rejoicing when others are blessed and being excited about raising up new leaders in the church. Additionally, the speaker warns about the dangers of money and the need to keep it under control. Finally, he addresses the struggles of overcoming temptation and encourages believers to confess the truth of God's Word and rely on the blood of Jesus for cleansing and justification.
Law of the Spirit in Christ
By Manley Beasley2.3K52:15Spirit Of GodDEU 33:25PRO 3:5ISA 55:8ROM 8:2ROM 8:111JN 4:17In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of the "Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" as a key to overcoming sin and living a victorious life. He uses an illustration of a glove and a watch to explain how different laws operate in our lives. The speaker emphasizes that just as the law of gravity pulls a watch down, there is a law of sin working in us that naturally leads to wrongdoing. However, through the power of the Spirit, we can be set free from the law of sin and death and live according to the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. The speaker encourages listeners to understand their identity in Christ and to rely on the power of the Spirit to live a life pleasing to God.
Grace to the Humble (Kannada)
By Zac Poonen2.2K55:291SA 2:30ROM 8:28JAS 4:61PE 5:51JN 4:17
This sermon emphasizes the importance of humility before God, highlighting that God gives grace to the humble and exalts those who submit to His mighty hand. It contrasts Old Testament honor with New Testament grace, focusing on seeking God's nature over earthly blessings. The message stresses the need to resist the devil through humility and faith, allowing God to exalt believers over sin and the enemy.
Romans 8
By Manley Beasley2.2K56:36VictoryMAT 6:33ROM 6:6ROM 8:1ROM 8:112CO 5:171JN 4:17In this sermon, the preacher discusses the laws that operate in the universe and how they affect our behavior. He emphasizes that we don't have to do anything to lose our temper or be wrong because it is a natural law at work within us. The preacher then refers to a passage in 1 John 4:17, which states that as God is, so are we in this world. He highlights the importance of believing in this truth and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us. The sermon concludes with a discussion on the law of the spirit of life and how it sets us free from the law of sin and death, as mentioned in Romans 8:2.
(Church Leadership) 11. Satan Has Been Defeated
By Zac Poonen1.7K59:15MAT 6:33LUK 11:21JHN 6:35JHN 8:111CO 2:91JN 4:17In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of believers living in the same authority and dignity as Jesus did on earth. He highlights the need for total surrender and purity in our lives, just as Jesus lived. The speaker also emphasizes the significance of recognizing the wonder of Jesus' sacrifice and the freedom it brings, leading to compassion towards sinners. Additionally, the sermon emphasizes the need to confront and overcome Satan before entering into ministry, drawing from Jesus' example of facing temptation for 40 days. The speaker encourages believers to approach scripture with attentiveness and meditation, seeking to receive revelation directly from God rather than relying on secondhand knowledge.
Why God Allows His Children to Suffer
By Zac Poonen1.6K58:08ROM 8:28EPH 3:10HEB 8:6HEB 11:6JAS 1:21JN 2:61JN 4:17
This sermon emphasizes the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, highlighting the need for believers to understand the shift in God's ways. It challenges Christians to grasp the truth that the Old Covenant has been abolished, leading to a defeated life for many who fail to realize the freedom and power of the New Covenant. The speaker delves into examples from the Bible, showcasing the struggles and victories of Old Testament figures compared to the suffering and obedience seen in New Testament saints, ultimately calling believers to a higher standard of living like Jesus.
Crucified With Christ
By Jack Hyles1.6K48:03MAT 11:3JHN 14:12GAL 2:20PHP 2:5PHP 3:201JN 4:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of living and behaving like Jesus. He shares a personal anecdote about helping a young boy tie his shoe in an alley, despite being told there was no time for such acts of kindness in the church. The preacher encourages the congregation to let go of greed, envy, ambition, and easily being hurt, and instead focus on God's business. He highlights the urgency of spreading the love of Jesus and living a life dedicated to others.
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
By John Piper1.5K35:15Perfect LoveJHN 4:34JHN 19:28JAS 2:221JN 3:141JN 4:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of approaching the day of judgment with fearlessness and confidence. He uses the example of a man named Wallace Blom who received a cancer diagnosis to illustrate this point. The preacher explains that when we yield to the power of the Holy Spirit and engage in acts of kindness and love, we feel confident before God. On the other hand, when we are self-centered and focused on worldly comforts, we become weak and insecure. The main message of the sermon is that we should strive to have confidence and boldness for the day of judgment, and to eliminate fear through acts of love and selflessness.
(The Church and Satans Wiles) 2 - as Jesus Is So Are We
By Zac Poonen1.5K1:14:54MAT 6:33MAT 16:18JHN 8:442CO 2:111TI 6:171JN 4:11JN 4:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of knowing and understanding the Bible. He believes that many Christians are unaware of the truth of Scripture and are easily deceived by the lies of the devil. The preacher encourages his audience to live a life of victory and joy, citing 1 John 4:17 which states that as Jesus is, so are we in this world. He challenges the notion that the Christian life is boring and asserts that his own Christian life is exciting and fulfilling. The preacher also highlights the need to persevere and overcome challenges, comparing it to passing grades in education and the pursuit of higher goals.
The Local Church as a Testimony for God to Satan
By Zac Poonen1.4K57:18Local ChurchJER 29:13HAB 1:1MAT 16:18MAT 20:26JHN 1:27JHN 14:61JN 4:17In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of following in Jesus' footsteps and living by the same principles he did. The speaker quotes 1 John 4:17, which states that as Jesus is, so can believers be in this world. The speaker encourages listeners to consider their testimony at the end of their lives and challenges them to go beyond just avoiding gross sins and attending church services. The speaker distinguishes between "minimum Christians" who do the bare minimum for God and "maximum Christians" who give their best and go above and beyond in their devotion to God.
The Bible College of Wales, 1979
By Norman Grubb1.3K1:38:15Bible CollegeJHN 13:15JHN 14:17ROM 8:91CO 2:12GAL 2:201JN 3:21JN 4:17In this sermon, the speaker discusses the process of spiritual growth and maturity. He emphasizes the importance of moving from being a child to becoming a young man and eventually a father in the faith. The speaker highlights that this progression requires a change in perspective and a willingness to be sent out and commissioned by God. He also mentions that settling into a higher level of spiritual maturity brings about a sense of fulfillment and purpose. The speaker draws examples from the Bible to illustrate these concepts and encourages the audience to strive for personal competence in their spiritual journey.
John 4:11
By Morgan Bartlett1.2K24:51LifeMAT 6:33MAT 9:36JHN 10:27JHN 13:1ROM 8:291JN 4:17In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a story about two men shooting, one aiming for the stars and the other aiming for a kidney stack. The speaker emphasizes that while the man aiming for the kidney stack may reach his goal, the man aiming for the stars reaches much higher. The speaker then reflects on how short we fall in comparison to what we should be as followers of Christ. However, the speaker offers hope by reminding the audience that one day we will be like Christ, as He is the measure of our assurance, responsibility, and futurity. The speaker encourages compassion for the unsaved and emphasizes that our love and compassion should move us to action in sharing the Gospel. The speaker concludes by highlighting that Jesus came to accomplish the will of God and glorify the Father, and as believers, we should strive to walk in obedience to God's will.
New Covenant - Superior to the Law - Part 5
By Zac Poonen1.2K09:49GEN 1:3PSA 51:10JHN 7:38HEB 8:71JN 2:61JN 4:17
This sermon discusses the disappointment God feels when His children remain spiritually immature, likening it to a 25-year-old still in first grade. It delves into the limitations of the Old Covenant in transforming hearts and contrasts it with the transformative power of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, enabling the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers. The message emphasizes the importance of living as Jesus lived and the empowering grace available to walk in obedience and holiness.
We Can Overcome as Jesus Did (Tamil)
By Zac Poonen1.2K1:01:14JHN 1:16HEB 2:9HEB 4:161PE 5:51JN 2:61JN 4:17REV 3:21
This sermon emphasizes the importance of repentance by highlighting Adam's wrong choices that led to sin and how most humans, including Christians, make similar mistakes. It stresses the need to repent by turning away from valuing created things over God, believing lies over God's truth, and seeking to please people more than God. The message encourages steadfastness in faith and the continuous act of repentance to avoid backsliding. It also delves into the significance of Jesus overcoming all temptations and sin, offering believers the opportunity to receive grace upon grace to walk as Jesus did on earth.
God Renews Us and We Enter His Rest
By Zac Poonen9591:20:23JER 29:11MAT 11:28JHN 14:18HEB 4:9HEB 4:111JN 2:61JN 4:17
This sermon emphasizes the importance of entering into God's rest, highlighting the need to diligently seek God, learn humility and gentleness from Jesus, and submit to the Holy Spirit daily. It stresses the significance of finding inner rest in Christ, walking in obedience, and experiencing victory over sin and anxiety by abiding in God's will. The message encourages believers to prioritize spiritual growth, seek God's presence, and enter into a life of rest and peace.
The Spirit Produces Fervent Devotion to Christ
By Zac Poonen7061:13:15ISA 42:8ROM 8:11COL 2:15HEB 2:14HEB 5:7JAS 4:71JN 4:17JUD 1:21REV 3:21
This sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God and experiencing His love. It highlights the need to grow in the knowledge of God's love, encouraging a deep revelation of His love for each individual. The speaker reflects on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the power of His love to transform lives, and the significance of maintaining fellowship with the Father. The sermon also addresses the defeat of Satan through Christ's victory on the cross and the necessity of living a life filled with the Holy Spirit to overcome spiritual battles and walk in authority over the enemy.
Learning How to Make Progress in Christian Life
By Zac Poonen6011:18:31GEN 3:15MAT 5:3MAT 8:16MAT 11:29MAT 18:4LUK 17:3ROM 8:31ROM 14:17ROM 16:202CO 2:142CO 7:11JN 4:17
This sermon emphasizes the importance of living a life that honors God and reflects the character of Jesus Christ. It highlights the need for humility, purity, and compassion towards sinners while being firm against unrepentant sin. The message encourages believers to seek victory over the devil, to cleanse themselves from all filthiness, and to have the aroma of Christ in their lives. It calls for a church where Christ is honored and the devil is defeated, urging individuals to respond to God's call to live a life of holiness and victory.
Discerning Truth and Error About God's Grace, Part 5
By Mike Bickle1753:22RepentanceGod's GracePSA 18:19PSA 36:9MIC 7:18MAT 5:6LUK 15:7ROM 2:4GAL 6:72PE 3:91JN 1:71JN 4:17Mike Bickle emphasizes the importance of understanding God's emotions towards us at different stages of spiritual maturity. He clarifies that God's grace is not a license to sin but requires genuine repentance and a heartfelt response to Him. Bickle explains that spiritual disciplines are essential for growth but do not earn God's grace; rather, they position our hearts to receive it. He reassures believers that God delights in their sincere efforts to seek Him, regardless of their maturity level, and that true repentance leads to transformation over time. Ultimately, Bickle encourages believers to embrace their relationship with God, knowing that He values their heart's desire to grow closer to Him.
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost - Part 2
By John G. Lake2DAN 10:1MAT 3:11MAT 6:10MAT 8:17LUK 24:491CO 14:22EPH 2:11JN 4:17REV 1:18REV 19:16John G. Lake preaches on the significance of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, emphasizing the command of Jesus to His disciples to wait for the power from on high. Lake shares personal experiences of receiving the Baptism, highlighting the necessity of heart cleansing and spiritual preparation to receive the Holy Ghost. He discusses the transformative results of the Baptism, including a deep love for humanity, a powerful ministry of healing, and a fervent desire to see souls saved. Lake also delves into the different degrees of Baptism, urging believers to seek a higher level of consecration and union with Christ.
Why Was Jesus Led Into a Wilderness Experience?
By David Wilkerson0Wilderness ExperienceTemptationMAT 3:17HEB 4:15JAS 1:131JN 4:17David Wilkerson explores the profound truth that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to face temptation, highlighting the contrast between His baptism and subsequent trials. He emphasizes that, like Jesus, believers will also encounter wilderness experiences as part of their spiritual journey, which serve a divine purpose. Wilkerson reassures that while God does not tempt us, the devil does, and our trials often test our obedience and reliance on God. He encourages believers to stand firm on the Word of God to overcome these challenges, just as Jesus did. Ultimately, these experiences are meant to strengthen our faith and calling.
Deliverance and Holiness
By John Nelson Darby0DeliveranceHolinessJHN 10:10JHN 20:22ACT 1:8ROM 7:14ROM 8:22CO 4:10GAL 2:19EPH 1:7HEB 12:141JN 4:17John Nelson Darby emphasizes the distinction between deliverance and the realization of holiness, arguing that true deliverance comes from experiencing the weight of sin rather than mere intellectual understanding. He explains that while justification is essential for holiness, many confuse the two, seeking justification through their own efforts rather than resting in Christ's work. Darby highlights the importance of recognizing one's incapacity to do good and the necessity of being dead to sin in order to live in Christ. He encourages believers to understand their identity in Christ and to pursue practical holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, he calls for a deeper realization of being dead to the law and alive in Christ, urging Christians to live out this truth in their daily lives.
From Genesis to Revelation
By George Warnock0Divine RestorationTransformationGEN 1:1ISA 43:19JHN 15:5ACT 9:2ROM 8:192CO 5:17EPH 2:10PHP 1:61JN 4:17REV 22:13George Warnock emphasizes the journey from Genesis to Revelation, illustrating God's unchanging nature as Alpha and Omega, and His desire to transform His people from their beginnings to their destined fulfillment. He highlights the importance of being responsive to God's leading, as we are often slow to adjust and may stray from the path. Warnock uses metaphors like the seed and the fruit, and the egg and the bird, to convey that while we may not yet reflect Christ fully, the potential for transformation is within us. He urges believers to embrace the changes God brings, understanding that they are part of His divine restoration plan. Ultimately, he calls for a deeper understanding of scripture to avoid remaining stagnant and to fully realize God's intentions for His people.
The Graces Which Are in Christians
By Thomas Brooks0Imitation of ChristHolinessJHN 1:16GAL 4:191JN 2:61JN 4:17Thomas Brooks emphasizes that to be a holy person is to know, love, and imitate Christ, as reflected in 1 John 4:17. He explains that the graces found in Christians are a reflection of the graces in Christ, highlighting that while they may differ in degree, they are fundamentally the same. Brooks encourages believers to cultivate these graces, as they are the marks of a holy heart, and to strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, as stated in 1 John 2:6. The sermon calls Christians to recognize their identity in Christ and to embody His virtues in their daily lives.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Herein is our love made perfect - By God dwelling in us, and we in him; having cast out all the carnal mind that was enmity against himself, and filled the whole heart with the spirit of love and purity. Thus the love is made perfect; when it thus fills the heart it has all its degrees; it is all in all; and all in every power, passion, and faculty of the soul. May have boldness in the day of judgment - Παρῥησιαν· Freedom of speech, and liberty of access; seeing in the person of our Judge, him who has died for us, regenerated our hearts, and who himself fills them. As he is - Pure, holy, and loving; so are we in this world; being saved from our sins, and made like to himself in righteousness and true holiness. No man can contemplate the day of judgment with any comfort or satisfaction but on this ground, that the blood of Christ hath cleansed him from all sin, and that he is kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. This will give him boldness in the day of judgment.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
(Compare Jo1 3:19-21.) our love--rather as the Greek, "LOVE (in the abstract, the principle of love [ALFORD]) is made perfect (in its relations) with us." Love dwelling in us advances to its consummation "with us" that is, as it is concerned with us: so Greek. Luk 1:58, "showed mercy upon (literally, 'with') her": Jo2 1:2, the truth "shall be with us for ever." boldness--"confidence": the same Greek as Jo1 3:21, to which this passage is parallel. The opposite of "fear," Jo1 4:18. Herein is our love perfected, namely, in God dwelling in us, and our dwelling in God (Jo1 4:16), involving as its result "that we can have confidence (or boldness) in the day of judgment" (so terrible to all other men, Act 24:25; Rom 2:16). because, &c.--The ground of our "confidence" is, "because even as He (Christ) is, we also are in this world" (and He will not, in that day, condemn those who are like Himself), that is, we are righteous as He is righteous, especially in respect to that which is the sum of righteousness, love (Jo1 3:14). Christ IS righteous, and love itself, in heaven: so are we, His members, who are still "in this world." Our oneness with Him even now in His exalted position above (Eph 2:6), so that all that belongs to Him of righteousness, &c., belongs to us also by perfect imputation and progressive impartation, is the ground of our love being perfected so that we can have confidence in the day of judgment. We are in, not of, this world.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Herein is our love made perfect,.... Or love with us; which some understand of the love of God towards his people, and which is shed abroad in them: this indeed removes all fear of an awful judgment, and renders that amiable and desirable; and such who are interested in it, shall stand in that day with intrepidity and boldness; and this sense may seem to be favoured by the Syriac version, which reads, "his love with us"; and especially by the Vulgate Latin version, which renders it, "the love of God with us"; but it is best to understand it agreeably to the context, of our love to God, which is with and in our hearts; and which is made, or made to appear to be perfect, true, and genuine, by our love to the brethren; since the love of God to us does not admit of degrees, nor does it, or the reality and sincerity of it, depend upon our love to the saints; See Gill on Jo1 4:12; that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; not of men's judgment, when brought before judges, governors, and kings, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, and stand at their bar, where saints, who have true love to God and Christ and the brethren, have stood with great courage and intrepidity, and shown much boldness, and used great freedom of speech; nor of judgment in this life, which sometimes begins at the house of God, though the saints often have great boldness and presence of mind, and freedom of expression both to God and man in a day of affliction, as Job had; but of the future judgment, which, though it will be very awful and solemn, Christ the Judge will appear with great majesty and glory, and all men will stand before him, and the books will be opened, and the judgment will proceed with great strictness and justice, and will issue in the everlasting perdition of devils and wicked men, yet the saints will have boldness in it: while evil men and devils tremble at the thoughts of it now, they rejoice and are glad; they love it, look for it, long for it, and hasten to it; and will stand fearless, and without the least dread, while others will flee to the rocks, and into the holes of the earth; and they will use freedom of speech with Christ, as the word here signifies; they will sing his new song, and ascribe the glory of their salvation to him, and express their praises of him, and love to him, then and to all eternity: and this boldness the saints may be said to arrive at through a perfect, or sincere, and genuine love of the brethren; for by this they know they are born again, and are born to an inheritance incorruptible, which they have both a meetness for, and a right unto; and knowing hereby that they are passed from death to life, they justly conclude they shall not enter into condemnation, and therefore are not afraid of the awful judgment: hereby they know that their faith is right, and that therefore they are manifestly the children of God; and if children, then heirs, and so shall be saved, and have everlasting life: because as he is, so are we in this world; which may be understood either of God, to whom the saints are like; for such who are born again, as those who love the brethren are, they are partakers of the divine nature, and bear a resemblance to God, even in this present state of things; and as it becomes them to be holy in all manner of conversation, as he is holy, and to be merciful to wicked men, as he is merciful, so to love the saints as he does, and to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgive one another, as he for Christ's sake has forgiven them; for as God is love, they should be all love likewise; or of Christ, see Jo1 3:3; and that with respect to God; as he is the Son of God, so are they the sons of God; he by nature, they by grace and adoption; as he is loved by God with an everlasting and unchangeable love, with a love of complacency and delight, so are they loved by him with the same kind of love, even while they are in this world; and as he is the chosen of God, and precious, so they are chosen in him, and unto salvation by him. The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, render it, "as he was": and the sense may be, as he was in this world, so are they; and which may regard not so much likeness in nature, though there is an agreement in that, excepting sin, but the sameness of state and condition; as he was a man of sorrows, attended with afflictions, loaded with reproaches, and followed with the persecutions of men, so are they; nor need they wonder that they are the objects of the world's hatred and contempt, since he was also; as he was tempted by Satan, forsaken by his friends, and deserted by his God, so sometimes are they in this world; and as he went through a variety of sufferings, and death itself, to glory, so through many tribulations do they enter the kingdom: moreover, as he now is in heaven, so are they in this world; even as he is in heaven, so are they representatively in him, while in this world; and as he is righteous, being justified and acquitted from all the charge of sin he took upon him, and therefore will appear a second time without sin, so they are completely righteous in him: and once more, as he is, so they are, or should be in this world; they should be holy as he is holy, and be humble, meek, and patient, as he is, and walk as he walked; and particularly love the saints and one another, as he does; and which seems to be greatly intended here, and must be understood not of an equality, but of a likeness. The Arabic version reads the words conditionally, and as depending on the preceding clause, "if as he was, we are in this world"; and then the sense is, that the saints shall have boldness in the day of judgment, provided they are in this world as Christ was.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
The apostle, having thus excited and enforced sacred love from the great pattern and motive of it, the love that is and dwells in God himself, proceeds to recommend it further by other considerations; and he recommends it in both the branches of it, both as love to God, and love to our brother or Christian neighbour. I. As love to God, to the primum amabile - the first and chief of all amiable beings and objects, who has the confluence of all beauty, excellence, and loveliness, in himself, and confers on all other beings whatever renders them good and amiable. Love to God seems here to be recommended on these accounts: - 1. It will give us peace and satisfaction of spirit in the day when it will be most needed, or when it will be the greatest pleasure and blessing imaginable: Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, Jo1 4:17. There must be a day of universal judgment. Happy they who shall have holy fiducial boldness before the Judge at that day, who shall be able to lift up their heads, and to look him in the face, as knowing he is their friend and advocate! Happy they who have holy boldness and assurance in the prospect of that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's appearance! So do, and so may do, the lovers of God. Their love to God assures them of God's love to them, and consequently of the friendship of the Son of God; the more we love our friend, especially when we are sure that he knows it, the more we can trust his love. As God is good and loving, and faithful to his promise, so we can easily be persuaded of his love, and the happy fruits of his love, when we can say, Thou that knowest all things knowest that we love thee. And hope maketh not ashamed; our hope, conceived by the consideration of God's love, will not disappoint us, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost that is given to us, Rom 5:5. Possibly here by the love of God may be meant our love to God, which is shed abroad upon our hearts by the Holy Ghost; this is the foundation of our hope, or of our assurance that our hope will hold good at last. Or, if by the love of God be meant the sense and apprehension of his love to us, yet this must suppose or include us as lovers of him in this case; and indeed the sense and evidence of his love to us do shed abroad upon our hearts love to him; and thereupon we have confidence towards him and peace and joy in him. He will give the crown of righteousness to all that love his appearing. And we have this boldness towards Christ because of our conformity to him: Because as he is so are we in this world, Jo1 4:17. Love hath conformed us to him; as he was the great lover of God and man, he has taught us in our measure to be so too, and he will not deny his own image. Love teaches us to conform in sufferings too; we suffer for him and with him, and therefore cannot but hope and trust that we shall also be glorified together with him, Ti2 2:12. 2. It prevents or removes the uncomfortable result and fruit of servile fear: There is no fear in love (Jo1 4:18); so far as love prevails, fear ceases. We must here distinguish, I judge, between fear and being afraid; or, in this case, between the fear of God and being afraid of him. The fear of God is often mentioned and commanded as the substance of religion (Pe1 2:17; Rev 14:7); and so it imports the high regard and veneration we have for God and his authority and government. Such fear is constant with love, yea, with perfect love, as being in the angels themselves. But then there is a being afraid of God, which arises from a sense of guilt, and a view of his vindictive perfections; in the view of them, God is represented as a consuming fire; and so fear here may be rendered dread; There is no dread in love. Love considers its object as good and excellent, and therefore amiable, and worthy to be beloved. Love considers God as most eminently good, and most eminently loving us in Christ, and so puts off dread, and puts on joy in him; and, as love grows, joy grows too; so that perfect love casteth out fear or dread. Those who perfectly love God are, from his nature, and counsel, and covenant, perfectly assured of his love, and consequently are perfectly free from any dismal dreadful suspicions of his punitive power and justice, as armed against them; they well know that God loves them, and they thereupon triumph in his love. That perfect love casteth out fear the apostle thus sensibly argues: that which casteth out torment casteth out fear or dread: Because fear hath torment (Jo1 4:18) - fear is known to be a disquieting torturing passion, especially such a fear as is the dread of an almighty avenging God; but perfect love casteth out torment, for it teaches the mind a perfect acquiescence and complacency in the beloved, and therefore perfect love casteth out fear. Or, which is here equivalent, he that feareth is not made perfect in love (Jo1 4:18); it is a sign that our love is far from being perfect, since our doubts, and fears, and dismal apprehensions of God, are so many. Let us long for, and hasten to, the world of perfect love, where our serenity and joy in God will be as perfect as our love! 3. From the source and rise of it, which is the antecedent love of God: We love him, because he first loved us, Jo1 4:19. His love is the incentive, the motive, and moral cause of ours. We cannot but love so good a God, who was first in the act and work of love, who loved us when we were both unloving and unlovely, who loved us at so great a rate, who has been seeking and soliciting our love at the expense of his Son's blood; and has condescended to beseech us to be reconciled unto him. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at such love! His love is the productive cause of ours: Of his own will (of his own free loving will) begat he us. To those that love him all things work together for good, to those who are the called according to his purpose. Those that love God are the called thereto according to his purpose (Rom 8:28); according to whose purpose they are called is sufficiently intimated in the following clauses: whom he did predestinate (or antecedently purpose, to the image of his Son) those he also called, effectually recovered thereto. The divine love stamped love upon our souls; may the Lord still and further direct our hearts into the love of God! Th2 3:5. II. As love to our brother and neighbour in Christ; such love is argued and urged on these accounts: - 1. As suitable and consonant to our Christian profession. In the profession of Christianity we profess to love God as the root of religion: "If then a man say, or profess as much as thereby to say, I love God, I am a lover of his name, and house, and worship, and yet hate his brother, whom he should love for God's sake, he is a liar (Jo1 4:20), he therein gives his profession the lie." That such a one loves not God the apostle proves by the usual facility of loving what is seen rather than what is unseen: For he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen? Jo1 4:20. The eye is wont to affect the heart; things unseen less catch the mind, and thereby the heart. The incomprehensibleness of God very much arises from his invisibility; the member of Christ has much of God visible in him. How then shall the hater of a visible image of God pretend to love the unseen original, the invisible God himself? 2. As suitable to the express law of God, and the just reason of it: And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also, Jo1 4:21. As God has communicated his image in nature and in grace, so he would have our love to be suitably diffused. We must love God originally and supremely, and others in him, on the account of their derivation and reception from him, and of his interest in them. Now, our Christian brethren having a new nature and excellent privileges derived from God, and God having his interest in them as well as in us, it cannot but be a natural suitable obligation that he who loves God should love his brother also.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:17 our love grows more perfect: The Greek word translated grows more perfect does not mean flawless, but mature and complete. We mature as our relationship with God grows, and God’s love makes our love complete. • Experiencing and expressing God’s love and doing what it requires does not make us acceptable to God, but it does give us the assurance that we have been accepted, and our fears of the final judgment melt away.