Because God First Loved Me – 1 John 4:19
God loves me. In spite of who and what I am. And, because God first loved me, I am able to love other people in return.
Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:12 NIV)
Studies from the first epistle of John
God loves me. In spite of who and what I am. And, because God first loved me, I am able to love other people in return.
How do you recognize the spirit of truth and distinguish it from falsehood? If it does not conform to the Scripture, it is not from God.
John tells us to keep ourselves from idols. An idol is anything that takes away from God’s rightful place in your life.
What does God expect of me as his child? To faithfully walk with Christ. And to love those that I am walking with. That is his command.
John proclaimed what he knew about Christ in order to have fellowship with new believers and to make his joy complete.
How great is the love that God has for us? It is so great that he has called us his children. The creator of the universe is our Father.
Can you have assurance of your salvation? Yes. When we live in obedience to his commands, his Spirit will live in us and gives us assurance.
Can you have assurance of eternal life? You can! John says that all who have the Son can know with certainty that they have eternal life.
John here challenges us with the need to love fellow believers. And not just the lovely. But also to those who act unlovingly toward you.
Not many of us would likely think of themselves as martyrs. But as believers we are called to lay down our lives for other believers.
If we do indeed know Christ, then we will keep his command to love each other. This love is a product of a saving relationship with Christ.
Can you love God without obedience to him? John pretty clearly responds to that question saying that obedience to God is love for him. I cannot rightly claim to love God and blatantly disregard his instruction for my life.