Love of the world is forbidden by god, and conforming to it shows that a person loves it romans 12. Johns summary of verses 17 and 18 also serves as a reminder. Indeed, y the hour is coming when z whoever kills you will think he is offering service to god. Every spirit that confesseth that jesus christ is come in the flesh is of god. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with jesus into the high priests courtyard, 16 but peter had to wait outside at the door. Instead, perfect love casts out fear, for fear pertains to punishment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love in the sense above explained. He has been saying that perfect love produces courage in the day of judgment, because it produces likeness to christ, who is the judge. It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name. The first epistle of john, often referred to as first john and written 1 john or i john, is the first of the johannine epistles of the new testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. John has been speaking of boldness, and that naturally suggests its oppositefear.
He wants to make sure that we understand that love is not an optional virtue for the believer. Our lord not only knew in general, that he should suffer death, but of course, as the godman, was acquainted with all the particular circumstances of ignominy and horror that should attend his sufferings. Therefore, let us love god, for god first loved us 1 john 4. Therefore, when the lord knew that the pharisees had heard that jesus made and baptized more disciples than john though jesus himself did not baptize, but his disciples, he left judea and departed again to galilee. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in. Literary structure chiasm, chiasmus of gospel of john chiastic structure and concentric structure and parallel of each pericope 1the word became flesh john 1. John 18 16 i have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.
This passage primarily teaches us that perfection is ultimately achieved by loving god without servile fear. Every spirit that acknowledges that jesus christ has come in the flesh is from god, 3 but every. The arrest of peter and johnnow as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in jesus the resurrection from the dead. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from god. By our faith in the lord jesus, and the abiding presence of the lord, all fear of impending judgment is gone. Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a general epistle. As we look at the rest of the book of i john, well be referring back to this mission from time to time to make certain we are understanding in context. Literary structure chiasm, chiasmus of gospel of john. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his. Christian members please remember to read the statement of purpose threads for each forum within christian congregations before posting in the forum. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. Study guide for acts 4 by david guzik blue letter bible. I suggest that there is nothing more needed today, in this age of abounding confusion in this area.
So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. Our own prayer book, commenting in the catechism upon the lords prayer, bids us call three things evil. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. People do not wake up one day and decide to love romans 3. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the johannine works. The author of the first epistle is termed john the evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as john the apostle. John introduces the subject of the victorious life.
When we experience gods love in our lives and share it with others, we do not need to fear. We are not to take credit for the love we have and show to others. Instead, believers are to compare what they hear to the basic truths of the gospel. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. There is no fear in love no slavish or tormenting fear, diffidence, or distrust, can be where love reigns. Study therefore to increase more and more in that noble affection of love to god, and you will find your happiness increasing in proportion to it. Gen 1 and john 1, creation motif gen 2 and john 2, the troth or wedding gen 3 and john 3, condemnation and redemption gen 4 and john 4, naamah, noahs wife. Much of the time, the world equates lust with love, but nothing could be further from the truth. John chapter 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38.
What john writes here, in simple terms, is probably the major reasonother than the fact that mankind is cut off from godwhy we do not love more and better. That says, this is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment. John 18 when jesus had spoken these words, he went out. Every spirit that confesses that jesus christ has come in the flesh is of god, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that jesus christ has come in the flesh is. The forums in the christian congregations category are now open only to christian members. While the bible uses many terms to describe what christian are e. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought peter in. I could not love as you love unless you pour your supernatural love through me so that it may flow through me and out to others. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. The word accomplish here is the same word which in 1 john 4. Thats the mission of i john warning against false prophets.
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