Verse of the Day 9-30-22

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:17-21

John concludes this section of chapter by coming back to verse 12: God’s love is made complete in us. There are two marks of those in whom God has been brought to completion: confidence before God and love for one another. The final day of judgment will not be a day of fear for the child of God. Such confidence is the opposite of fear. God’s love for his children means there is no reason to fear his coming judgement because our sins have already been cleansed¹. John focuses on our imitation of, and conformity to, Christ. We are born of God as is the eternal Son, though clearly not implying that the Lord was created². Our conformity to him is not yet complete³, but we imitate him when we love one another and keep his commandments⁴. Just as there are antichrists who deny the truth, walk in darkness and hate one another, the children of God confession the truth, walk in the light and love one another. Divine love cannot originate in the hearts of sinful humanity. We are spiritually dead in our sins⁵, but God has graciously chosen to set his love on us and bring us to himself.

Today’s Bible Readings:

Isaiah 60:1-62:5, Philippians 1:27-2:18, Psalm 72:1-20 and Proverbs 24:11-12

Footnotes

1. 1 John 2:2, 28 and 1 John 4:10
2. 1 John 1:1-3 and John 1:1-5
3. 1 John 3:2
4. 1 John 2:7-8; 5:2-4 and John 13:34
5. Ephesians 2:1-3