Studies Through 1 John - Lesson 12
Before we read this passage in 1John I want you to note as you read it all the verses that have to do with salvation and then we will talk about salvation. I will highlight all the ones that I see in red.
1 John 4:2,7 - 5:5
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
is from God. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 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. 18 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.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 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. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God
In verse 14 we see that Jesus is the savior of the world. What is He saving us from - vs. 17 and 18 say The Day of Judgment and Punishment. And what do we deserve punishment for - sins vs. 10. Verse 10 says that Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins or propitiation as other versions say. Propitiation means to turn away wrath and atonement means to cover over. This is illustrated well by the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament.
GOD
So what we see is God looking down from Heaven and He sees the tables of stone or the 10 commandments which we have all broken and the wrath of God is upon us. The priest would place blood on the Mercy Seat or Atonement Cover and this would cover over our sins and it would turn away God's wrath. Jesus took this to the next level by not only shedding His blood but also removing the sins from us so when God looks at us He sees only the righteousness of Christ.
This is the Gospel then; we are separated from a Holy, Just God by our sins destined for a day of wrath punishment and judgment. Christ came down from Heaven to be our Savior or rescuer and He shed his blood for our sins and took them upon Himself and made us not guilty anymore.
Who gets this forgiveness? Those who know(16) about it, believe(5) it, and by faith(4) rely(16) on His salvation(14) as their only hope.
What happens when it is received. Certainly the forgiveness of sins and the turning away of God's wrath and judgment as we previously mentioned. That is great but there is so much more! We receive the Holy Spirit(13) who comes inside of us giving us spiritual life(13), eternal life, and begins the lifelong process of transforming us(12). Not only that but we are adopted into the family of God and become children of God(2) and He becomes our Father(1) and we enter into a love relationship with Him(1).
That is the gospel, that is the essence, those are the facts. The question is, how does it effect me today? Do you know Jesus' #1 command? It's not love one another or stop sinning or have faith. Those are certainly all good commands but His most frequent command is "fear not". In fact Jesus says it so often that we think it is a greeting to people like "hello". With this in mind we look at verse 18 which says "perfect love casts out fear". Let me illustrate it in this way.
We are this man in the water who can't swim - we are in the process of drowning. The Bible says that we are headed for hell because of our sins but God sent Jesus to be our savior. Jesus is the tube that is thrown to this man. What does the man have to do? Admit his condition, humble himself to say that he can't save himself and cling to the saver as his only hope. That is the picture of "salvation". There are several problems with this illustration however. First of all, it leaves him in the water so he will, even though he is rescued, still have the fear that if he lets go he will drown and John says we don't need to fear punishment or judgment. If we are saved, God sets our feet on solid ground and enables us to live without fear of judgment and hell. The second problem is that the lifesaver is the wrong material.
This is an official lifesaver. Picture the man above clinging to the inner tube and the people on deck throwing these
Can you imagine the man's fear? What if he was holding the lifesaver. No fear. Well, maybe a little pain and suffering but no fear. This is what the world gives us. Everyday we have darts being hurled at what is holding us up. This is how we can identify idols in our life. Whenever we have fear and anxiety someone is throwing a dart at our inner tube. If we are trusting wealth, when the business is failing, when our debts are increasing, when the market is crashing fear increases. Perfect love casts out fear. If you are relying on Christ, He tells us in Matt. 6:25-34 that He will take care of us and seek first His Kingdom. If we are putting our salvation in relationships, popularity, children what happens when those falter, fade, or fail - fear and anxiety. Peter says, "cast all your cares on Him for He careth for you". If we are staying afloat by what others think about us that inhibits our stand for Christ, our witnessing, serving, loving - basically our radically living for the Lord is inhibited by fear. John says that relying on Christ alone for salvation gives fear - free living. Paul says that if he cared about what others think he could not be an effective disciple of Christ. There are many other idols we could look at but suffice it to say, if you are experiencing fear and anxiety in your life or the thought of stepping out for Christ makes your heart palpate, use those fears to be a tracker to identify the inner tube that is holding you up and start living a life of perfect love with your Father who loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you to be your Savior!
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