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"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."
(1 John 4:9)
In 1 John 4:7-11, John uses the Greek word agape 11 times.
The popular definition of love is tainted with notions of self. We love out of ulterior motives: what is in it for me. But for the Christian, the biblical definition of love is not this selfish, emotional, sentimental, mystical feeling. Agape love is best defined by the word sacrifice. If you say you love God, others, your family, or your church, then you are saying you sacrifice for them. You are more concerned for them than yourself.
The greatest demonstration of this love is God giving His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world. Jesus sacrificed His life so you and I could be forgiven of our sins and spend eternity with Him.
Note these three truths with me:
- God's love is manifested through the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John 3:16-17 and Romans 5:8 are well-known biblical texts, and both speak profoundly about the love of God.
- Jesus died so you could live an abundant life. Look again at 1 John 4:9: "that we might live through Him." Because of God's sacrificial love, you can live an abundant, meaningful, purposeful life, both now and forever. You do not have to wait until you die to enjoy eternal, abundant life (John 10:10)!
Jean Paul Sarte wrote a book in 1964 entitled Nausea. The main character in the story tries to find the meaning of life in love. But all he finds is meaningless sex. He concludes that one loves only to enslave his lover; a person gives only to destroy the one who receives the gift. The character is so unfulfilled in love that he contemplates killing himself to rid the world of one more nauseated life. (Taken from John MacArthur's sermon on 1 John 4:7-21.) Obviously, Sarte's character did not experience the love of Christ, because in Jesus Christ, one finds forgiveness, meaning, and purpose!
- Jesus is your propitiation. John uses this word two times in his Epistle, in 1 John 2:2 and 4:10. It is the Greek word hilasmos which means atoning sacrifice. When Jesus Christ, God's Son, died on the cross, He died in your place. He took all the wrath and punishment that you deserved and placed it upon Himself so you could be forgiven. No wonder John Newton referred to God's love as "Amazing Grace."
God loves you. His very nature is love, according to 1 John 4:8, 16. If you ever doubt God's love for you, think about verses like the ones we have discussed today, and please look at the cross of Jesus. He loved you so much that He died for you so you could be forgiven and live a blessed and abundant life.
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