1 John 4:19
Verse
Context
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
We love him because he first loved us - This is the foundation of our love to God. 1. We love him because we find he has loved us. 2. We love him from a sense of obligation and gratitude. 3. We love him from the influence of his own love; from his love shed abroad in our hearts, our love to him proceeds. It is the seed whence our love springs. The verse might be rendered, Let us therefore love him, because he first loved us: thus the Syriac and Vulgate.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
him--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. Translate, We (emphatical: WE on our part) love (in general: love alike Him, and the brethren, and our fellow men), because He (emphatical: answering to "we"; because it was He who) first loved us in sending His Son (Greek aorist of a definite act at a point of time). He was the first to love us: this thought ought to create in us love casting out fear (Jo1 4:18).
John Gill Bible Commentary
We love him, because he first loved us. Lest love to God, and so to one another, should be thought to be of ourselves, and too much be ascribed unto it, the apostle observes, that God's love to us is prior to our love to him; his love is from everlasting, as well as to everlasting; for he loves his people as he does his Son, and he loved him before the foundation of the world; his choosing them in Christ as early, and blessing them then with all spiritual blessings, the covenant of grace made with Christ from all eternity, the gift of grace to them in him before the world began, and the promise of eternal life to them so soon, show the antiquity and priority of his love: his love shown in the mission and gift of his Son was before theirs, and when they had none to him; and his love in regeneration and conversion is previous to theirs, and is the cause of it; his grace in regeneration brings faith and love with it, and produces them in the heart; and his love shed abroad there is the moving cause of it, or what draws it first into act and exercise; and the larger the discoveries and applications of the love of God be, the more does love to him increase and abound; and nothing more animates and inflames our love to God, than the consideration of the earliness of his love to us, of its being before ours; which shows that it is free, sovereign, distinguishing, and unmerited. Some read the words as an exhortation, "let us love him"; and others as in the subjunctive mood, "we should love him", because, &c. some copies read, "we love God", and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, and the Alexandrian copy, read, "because God first loved us": and so some others. We love him, because he first loved us. Lest love to God, and so to one another, should be thought to be of ourselves, and too much be ascribed unto it, the apostle observes, that God's love to us is prior to our love to him; his love is from everlasting, as well as to everlasting; for he loves his people as he does his Son, and he loved him before the foundation of the world; his choosing them in Christ as early, and blessing them then with all spiritual blessings, the covenant of grace made with Christ from all eternity, the gift of grace to them in him before the world began, and the promise of eternal life to them so soon, show the antiquity and priority of his love: his love shown in the mission and gift of his Son was before theirs, and when they had none to him; and his love in regeneration and conversion is previous to theirs, and is the cause of it; his grace in regeneration brings faith and love with it, and produces them in the heart; and his love shed abroad there is the moving cause of it, or what draws it first into act and exercise; and the larger the discoveries and applications of the love of God be, the more does love to him increase and abound; and nothing more animates and inflames our love to God, than the consideration of the earliness of his love to us, of its being before ours; which shows that it is free, sovereign, distinguishing, and unmerited. Some read the words as an exhortation, "let us love him"; and others as in the subjunctive mood, "we should love him", because, &c. some copies read, "we love God", and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, and the Alexandrian copy, read, "because God first loved us": and so some others. 1 John 4:20 jo1 4:20 jo1 4:20 jo1 4:20If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother,.... Than which profession nothing can be more contradictory, not black and white, or hot and cold in the same degree: he is a liar; it is not truth he speaks, it is a contradiction, and a thing impossible: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen; his person, which might have drawn out his affection to him; and something valuable and worthy in him, which might have commanded respect; or his wants and distresses, which should have moved his pity and compassion: how can he love God whom he hath not seen? it cannot be thought he should; the thing is not reasonable to suppose; it is not possible he should; See Gill on Jo1 4:12.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:19 God loved us first, while we were sinners, not only after we gave sin up (Rom 8:5-11). God started the process; when he loved us he enabled us to respond to him in love and to extend that love to others.
1 John 4:19
Love Comes from God
18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love because He first loved us.
- Scripture
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(Pdf Book) My All for Him / 5 Chapters
By Basilea Schlink9.1K00:00First LoveEbooksDiscipleshipPSA 23:3MAT 9:15MAT 13:45LUK 6:38LUK 10:42JHN 7:37EPH 5:32PHP 4:81JN 4:19REV 2:4Basilea Schlink emphasizes the necessity of 'first love' for Jesus, which is crucial for enduring the trials of our time. This love, akin to 'bridal love,' is a powerful force that enables believers to face suffering and persecution with courage and joy. Schlink illustrates that true discipleship stems from this intimate love for Christ, which should be undivided and prioritized above all else. She encourages believers to cultivate this love through personal devotion and worship, as it is the key to genuine happiness and fulfillment in their faith. Ultimately, she reminds us that Jesus, as our Bridegroom, desires a deep, loving relationship with each of us, inviting us to surrender our hearts fully to Him.
My Jesus, I Love Thee (Brookyln Tabernacle Service)
By Jim Cymbala4.7K02:38HymnWorshipLove for JesusPSA 100:2JHN 14:15ROM 12:1EPH 5:191JN 4:19Jim Cymbala emphasizes the deep love and devotion we should have for Jesus, encouraging believers to express their affection through worship and song. He reflects on the grace of God and the importance of recognizing Jesus' sacrifice and love in our lives. Cymbala calls the congregation to respond to this love with heartfelt praise and commitment, reminding them that true worship flows from a genuine relationship with Christ.
Walking in the Glory
By David Wilkerson4.1K50:54Glory Of God1JN 4:19In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of experiencing and reflecting the glory of God in our lives. He highlights that this revelation of God's glory cannot be obtained through external means such as seminars or Bible school, but rather through prayer and seeking understanding from the Holy Spirit. The preacher encourages the audience to have a heart for intimacy and communion with God in order to truly grasp the significance of His glory. He also emphasizes the connection between loving God and loving others, stating that if we claim to love God but hate our brothers, we are liars. The sermon concludes by reminding the audience that the glory of God is a revelation of His nature, and that seeking a deeper understanding of His glory is of utmost importance.
Love
By C.H. Spurgeon3.6K48:16MAT 11:28EPH 2:81JN 4:19In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the fallen state of the world and the need for redemption through Jesus Christ. He describes how the world was once in perfect harmony with God, but sin has caused discord and brokenness. However, the preacher assures the listeners that there is hope for restoration and a future paradise when Jesus returns to reign and bring glory to the earth. The sermon also highlights the transformative power of the gospel, which compels and constrains the hearts of believers to love God. The preacher challenges the audience to consider what they would do for Christ if he were physically present, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating love through actions. Ultimately, the sermon emphasizes the central role of God's love in initiating and enabling our love for Him.
(Genesis) Genesis 3:14-19
By J. Vernon McGee3.0K10:00GenesisGEN 3:15MAT 6:33JHN 8:44JHN 11:25JHN 15:16ROM 3:111JN 4:19In this sermon, the preacher discusses the judgment of the fall as described in verse 14 of the Bible. He emphasizes that God must deal with the creature He made, who has turned away from Him. The serpent, which was different at the beginning, is cursed by God and Satan is also judged, affecting mankind. The preacher highlights the call of divine justice, sorrow, and love in this judgment, offering redemption through the promise of the coming Savior. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is God's search for man, as man ran away from Him.
Useful for the Master - Part 3
By Jackie Pullinger1.9K08:39PSA 36:5ISA 41:10JHN 15:13EPH 5:251JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes God's love and faithfulness towards His people, highlighting the sacrificial nature of Jesus' love and the call for believers to reciprocate that love by surrendering their hearts to Him. It speaks of the intimate relationship between Christ and the church, symbolizing it as a marriage where Jesus gave His life for His beloved. The message encourages trust in God's purposes and splendor, assuring believers of His unwavering love and faithfulness despite their fears and weariness.
Nicky Cruz Powerful Conversion Testimony
By Nicky Cruz1.9K00:00God's LoveTransformationPSA 34:18ISA 61:1MAT 11:28LUK 19:10JHN 3:16ROM 5:82CO 5:17EPH 2:8PHP 4:131JN 4:19Nicky Cruz shares his powerful conversion testimony, recounting his initial hostility towards the message of God's love and power to change lives. He vividly describes a confrontation with David Wilkerson, who, despite Cruz's aggression, expressed unconditional love and prayed for him. Witnessing the transformation of others around him, Cruz felt an overwhelming sense of conviction and confusion, ultimately leading to his own emotional breakthrough. He experienced the profound love of Jesus, which changed his life forever, emphasizing that Jesus can truly transform anyone who opens their heart to Him. Cruz concludes with a heartfelt prayer, inviting others to experience the same freedom and love he found in Christ.
Useful for the Master - Part 7
By Jackie Pullinger1.8K09:10ISA 61:1MAT 25:40LUK 15:7JHN 3:16ACT 1:8ROM 8:281CO 1:27EPH 2:41JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the power of God's love and redemption, showcasing a transformative story of reaching out to the marginalized and witnessing the impact of Jesus' sacrificial love. It highlights the unexpected ways God works in people's lives, the challenges faced in ministry, and the profound change that occurs when individuals encounter the unconditional love of Christ.
Travailing - Part 6
By Leonard Ravenhill1.6K09:02PRO 3:5MAT 16:24ACT 16:161CO 13:42CO 12:9GAL 2:20PHP 3:7JAS 1:221JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the importance of suffering loss for the sake of God's calling, reflecting on past mistakes and the need to wait on God and obey Him diligently. It delves into the concept of carrying burdens for God, seeking a burden that aligns with God's heart even if it is challenging. The message highlights the necessity of selfless love and anointing in fulfilling God's mission, urging believers to surrender all for the sake of the Gospel and to live a holy life empowered by the love of Christ.
Loving Jesus Is Most Important
By Zac Poonen1.6K1:01:121JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the importance of loving Jesus passionately with all our hearts, highlighting the need to meditate on His love for us and to remember our own sins and His forgiveness. It stresses the significance of being forgiven much, leading to a deep love for Jesus and a willingness to serve and sacrifice for Him and others. The speaker encourages a life of humility, forgiveness, and devotion to Christ, rooted in a profound understanding of God's love and grace.
Talk on Marriage and Courting
By Keith Daniel1.5K1:23:30GEN 2:24PRO 18:22MAT 19:61CO 13:4EPH 5:25COL 3:191PE 3:71JN 4:71JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the importance of maintaining love, tenderness, and respect in marriage, highlighting the need for forgiveness, grace, and a renewal of love through God's intervention. It challenges individuals to seek God's help in restoring and strengthening their marriages, urging them to prioritize their relationship with God and their spouse above all else.
God Cares and Loves You 1 - Part 2
By Joshua Daniel1.2K09:111JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the care and attention God gives to even the smallest creatures like sparrows, contrasting it with the prevalent selfishness and indifference in the world. It delves into the negative qualities within human nature like greed, lust, and sin, highlighting the need for redemption and restoration through the cross of Jesus Christ. The speaker reflects on the pain caused by unrequited love and the lack of genuine love in a world focused on superficial desires.
God Cares and Loves You 2 - Part 3
By Joshua Daniel1.1K08:48PSA 103:13PSA 139:1LUK 15:20ROM 5:8ROM 8:38EPH 6:14HEB 4:161PE 5:81JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the importance of never losing the will to return to God, highlighting the unconditional love and forgiveness the Father extends to those who come back to Him. It encourages believers to maintain the determination to seek God, acknowledging His love and grace even in moments of feeling helpless or stricken by the enemy's attacks.
The Extent of Christ's Love
By Zac Poonen1.1K1:00:00PRO 25:2MAT 26:39JHN 16:14JHN 17:231CO 16:222CO 5:21EPH 1:171JN 4:19This sermon delves deep into the profound love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the value of intimate fellowship with God and the importance of understanding the depth of God's love for each individual. It highlights Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, his sacrificial death on the cross, and the significance of forgiveness in response to Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
A Radical Revolution Taking a Stand for a Literal Genesis
By Ken Ham90144:11PRO 3:5PRO 16:3ROM 12:21CO 10:31EPH 2:10PHP 4:13COL 3:23HEB 4:121PE 4:101JN 4:19This sermon focuses on three intentional goals for the audience: expressing love to God, encountering a word from God, and experiencing transformation by God. The speaker emphasizes the importance of people and their interactions, highlighting the need for passion, creativity, and confidence in one's actions. Additionally, there is a call to examine and understand the work being done, especially in light of current challenges and the need for preparation and readiness.
God Is My Strength and Power - Part 2
By Joshua Daniel89128:30DEU 10:12PSA 37:23PRO 16:9MAT 22:37GAL 5:13EPH 2:10PHP 4:131PE 5:71JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the importance of fearing the Lord, walking in His ways, loving Him, and serving Him wholeheartedly. It highlights the transformation that occurs when individuals surrender their will to God, allowing Him to guide their paths and actions with love and service. The message encourages a life of faith, love, and service, reflecting Christ's love and overcoming challenges through God's strength.
Loving Christ Supremely
By Zac Poonen89058:28PSA 73:25MAT 10:37MRK 12:30LUK 7:472CO 11:31TI 1:15HEB 3:131JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the importance of developing a deep and pure devotion to Jesus Christ, focusing on the need to love Him fervently and to understand the depth of His forgiveness towards us. It challenges listeners to prioritize worshiping God above all else, to seek a genuine relationship with Him, and to be aware of both conscious and unconscious sins in their lives. The message encourages a humble and repentant heart, acknowledging the need for God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin and grow spiritually.
Evangelizing the Western Mindset - Part 6
By Winkie Pratney84357:54PRO 3:5MAT 16:24GAL 2:201JN 4:19This sermon delves into the comparison between the philosophy of communism and the radical message of Christianity. It explores the concept of selfishness, the need for a fundamental change, and the difference between legalism and the gospel. The speaker emphasizes the radical nature of Christianity, which calls for a complete surrender and transformation through trust and love in contrast to the legalistic approaches of other ideologies.
May 18, 2003 Pm
By Stephen Fenton82206:49MAT 6:33MRK 5:19LUK 6:38ROM 12:82CO 8:12CO 9:61JN 4:19In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of generosity and sharing God's blessings with others. He highlights the story of the demoniac of the Gadarenes, who was instructed by Jesus to go home and tell others about what God had done for him. The preacher connects this concept of generosity to our finances, stating that it is not just about money but about deeper things. He also mentions the cheerful givers who serve in the church and encourages the congregation to be cheerful givers in all aspects of their lives.
Love Is the Greatest
By Zac Poonen80759:26MAT 5:44LUK 7:47LUK 18:13ROM 5:82CO 5:14EPH 5:2COL 3:141PE 3:71JN 4:19This sermon emphasizes the importance of maintaining a deep love for Jesus by understanding the depth of His sacrifice on the cross and the significance of forgiveness. It highlights the need to prioritize fellowship with God above all else and to love others as Christ loved us, focusing on genuine, sacrificial love that reflects God's mercy and grace.
One Life Is Far Too Little
By Basilea Schlink80404:35Radio ShowISA 43:1MAT 10:39MRK 12:30LUK 14:33ROM 12:11CO 2:91JN 4:19In this sermon, the speaker reflects on her decision to enter a sisterhood and the criticism she faced for it. Despite the doubts and judgments of others, she finds immense joy and fulfillment in giving her whole life to Jesus. She emphasizes that Jesus wants complete possession of our lives and that His love is unmatched. The speaker encourages listeners to love Jesus exclusively and wholeheartedly, as only those who have fully given themselves to Him can experience His great and intimate love.
We Love Him
By John Ridley78130:55MAT 22:39JHN 13:34ROM 5:8ROM 12:22CO 3:181JN 3:141JN 4:19In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not just taking snapshots of our faith, but truly studying and immersing ourselves in the love of Christ. He highlights the example of early saints like John and Paul, who spent time adoring and studying the love of Christ. The speaker encourages listeners to behold the love of the Father and to be transformed by it, becoming more like Christ. He also shares a story about a boy who would gaze upon a carved face in a quarry, symbolizing the power and vision of Christ. The sermon concludes with examples of Jesus' love and miracles, reminding listeners that Christ's love should inspire and compel us to love others.
Chosen to Love
By Basilea Schlink77104:35Radio ShowMAT 22:37JHN 17:26ROM 5:81CO 13:1EPH 1:41JN 4:71JN 4:19In this sermon transcript titled "Chosen to Love" by Basil E. Shlink, the speaker emphasizes that God has chosen and called us to be His hands and feet in bringing love and relief to a world in need. The speaker shares the example of John Hyde, a missionary and prayer warrior, who was so consumed by his love for Jesus that he would pray through the night for souls to be won for the Lord. The speaker highlights the importance of love in our lives, quoting John 17 where Jesus prays for his disciples to have the same love that God has for him. The speaker concludes by emphasizing that true love can only be found in Jesus and encourages listeners to fully commit themselves to Him, as He is the source of eternal love.
Redeemed to Love
By Basilea Schlink65004:35Radio ShowMAT 25:34JHN 13:34ROM 5:5EPH 2:101JN 4:19In this sermon, Basilia Schlink shares a testimony from the life of Basilia Schlenk, one of the founders of the Lutheran Evangelical Sisterhood. The sermon emphasizes the importance of love in the lives of believers. The dying spiritual father of the sisterhood's last words were "Love, love, love," emphasizing the significance of divine love in their mission. The sermon encourages listeners to break free from self-love and embrace the love of Jesus, which can transform their hearts and enable them to love others.
With All Our Heart
By Basilea Schlink63904:35Radio ShowMAT 22:37LUK 15:11JHN 3:16ROM 5:81CO 13:8EPH 2:41JN 4:19In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of loving God with all our heart and strength. He shares a story of a man who served God faithfully and upon entering eternity, his life's work was represented by a coin. However, the coin was reduced to only one small grain, symbolizing the limited extent to which the man had loved Jesus sacrificially. The speaker explains that God longs for our love and reveals His love to us through the sacrifice of His Son. He encourages listeners to experience the abundant and incomprehensible love of God, which can transform sinners into great loving souls who love Jesus with all their hearts. The sermon concludes by highlighting the eternal nature of love and its significance in our relationship with God.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
We love him because he first loved us - This is the foundation of our love to God. 1. We love him because we find he has loved us. 2. We love him from a sense of obligation and gratitude. 3. We love him from the influence of his own love; from his love shed abroad in our hearts, our love to him proceeds. It is the seed whence our love springs. The verse might be rendered, Let us therefore love him, because he first loved us: thus the Syriac and Vulgate.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
him--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. Translate, We (emphatical: WE on our part) love (in general: love alike Him, and the brethren, and our fellow men), because He (emphatical: answering to "we"; because it was He who) first loved us in sending His Son (Greek aorist of a definite act at a point of time). He was the first to love us: this thought ought to create in us love casting out fear (Jo1 4:18).
John Gill Bible Commentary
We love him, because he first loved us. Lest love to God, and so to one another, should be thought to be of ourselves, and too much be ascribed unto it, the apostle observes, that God's love to us is prior to our love to him; his love is from everlasting, as well as to everlasting; for he loves his people as he does his Son, and he loved him before the foundation of the world; his choosing them in Christ as early, and blessing them then with all spiritual blessings, the covenant of grace made with Christ from all eternity, the gift of grace to them in him before the world began, and the promise of eternal life to them so soon, show the antiquity and priority of his love: his love shown in the mission and gift of his Son was before theirs, and when they had none to him; and his love in regeneration and conversion is previous to theirs, and is the cause of it; his grace in regeneration brings faith and love with it, and produces them in the heart; and his love shed abroad there is the moving cause of it, or what draws it first into act and exercise; and the larger the discoveries and applications of the love of God be, the more does love to him increase and abound; and nothing more animates and inflames our love to God, than the consideration of the earliness of his love to us, of its being before ours; which shows that it is free, sovereign, distinguishing, and unmerited. Some read the words as an exhortation, "let us love him"; and others as in the subjunctive mood, "we should love him", because, &c. some copies read, "we love God", and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, and the Alexandrian copy, read, "because God first loved us": and so some others. We love him, because he first loved us. Lest love to God, and so to one another, should be thought to be of ourselves, and too much be ascribed unto it, the apostle observes, that God's love to us is prior to our love to him; his love is from everlasting, as well as to everlasting; for he loves his people as he does his Son, and he loved him before the foundation of the world; his choosing them in Christ as early, and blessing them then with all spiritual blessings, the covenant of grace made with Christ from all eternity, the gift of grace to them in him before the world began, and the promise of eternal life to them so soon, show the antiquity and priority of his love: his love shown in the mission and gift of his Son was before theirs, and when they had none to him; and his love in regeneration and conversion is previous to theirs, and is the cause of it; his grace in regeneration brings faith and love with it, and produces them in the heart; and his love shed abroad there is the moving cause of it, or what draws it first into act and exercise; and the larger the discoveries and applications of the love of God be, the more does love to him increase and abound; and nothing more animates and inflames our love to God, than the consideration of the earliness of his love to us, of its being before ours; which shows that it is free, sovereign, distinguishing, and unmerited. Some read the words as an exhortation, "let us love him"; and others as in the subjunctive mood, "we should love him", because, &c. some copies read, "we love God", and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, and the Alexandrian copy, read, "because God first loved us": and so some others. 1 John 4:20 jo1 4:20 jo1 4:20 jo1 4:20If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother,.... Than which profession nothing can be more contradictory, not black and white, or hot and cold in the same degree: he is a liar; it is not truth he speaks, it is a contradiction, and a thing impossible: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen; his person, which might have drawn out his affection to him; and something valuable and worthy in him, which might have commanded respect; or his wants and distresses, which should have moved his pity and compassion: how can he love God whom he hath not seen? it cannot be thought he should; the thing is not reasonable to suppose; it is not possible he should; See Gill on Jo1 4:12.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
4:19 God loved us first, while we were sinners, not only after we gave sin up (Rom 8:5-11). God started the process; when he loved us he enabled us to respond to him in love and to extend that love to others.