Once again this morning, join
me in the book of 1 John. Book of 1 John. We're going to be looking at
1 John 2, verses 7-11 with some thoughts this morning, and I'd
like to call this episode, Godly Love, Godly Love. The book of 1 John, the word
love is mentioned a lot of times in the book of 1 John, and in
several directions and several meanings, I think, that we're
looking to, and that It defines what godly love is,
and we're going to look at a few things today. I'd like to read
chapter 2, 1 John, verses 7 through 11 to start with. It says, Brethren, I write no
new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had
from the beginning. The old commandment is the word
which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment
I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you, because
the darkness is past and the true light now shineth. He that
saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness
even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth
in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in
darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness
hath blinded his eyes." And this commonly taken, I think, in the
book of 1 John and of the scriptures by natural man that love speaks
about as we would feel it, and as we consider that, and as we
have human love for one another or those special ones to us. And we're going to see here in
the book of 1 John that's not contrary to any of the other
scriptures, but dovetails with it completely, that what it speaks
about as love. It talks about here also, part
of what we're going to look at is the love for the brethren
it's speaking about. This is written to God's people,
the book of 1 John, as all the Scripture is, is to God's people
and to the church. And it says in verse 9, and we're
going to look at several passages that speak to these things, He
that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in
darkness even until now." And the brethren he's talking about
is, there's affinity for God's people. God's people are going
to have an affinity for others of God's people. because they
have that in common. They have life that is given
to them. They have eyes that have been
opened. The spiritual darkness has been
lifted from them. And that's going to, there's
just affinity, those things that are in common that God's people
have. God's people all come the same way. If He has revealed
Himself to them, they've all come the same path. A lot of
common things that He has had to reveal to teach God's people
in that way. And we're going to look at several
passages today that relate to this. We'll see how they connect together
as we go. In 1 John chapter 2, in that
passage we read, you're going to see that theme
over and over again in the book of 1 John, of man's love to the
brethren and how that connects with God's love to his people.
But in chapter 4 of 1 John, Also starting in verse 7 of chapter
4 of 1 John, it says, Beloved, let us love one another, for
love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and
knoweth God. He that loveth knoweth not God,
for God is love. In this was manifested the love
of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son
into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love,
not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved
us, we ought also to love one another." And then also, verse
19, It says, we love him, speaking
of the Lord, we love him because he first loved us. If a man say
I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar, for he that loveth
not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen? And this commandment we have
from him, that he who loveth God loveth his brother also. Now, there's going to be a couple
of comments on this. It says here that In this, verse 9, in this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His
only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
And this indeed, you have to go back to Genesis 3, where the
promise is given. of the Savior that will come,
that will deal with the fall and redeem us from the fall and
from spiritual death that came on all mankind when Adam fell. And that that this is His love
manifested towards us, and it says, not that we love God, but
that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for
our sins. And it's not as we love, because
this was due to the everlasting covenant,
had a people that was given to the Son, and the Son, in His
part, as the one responsible for the Church, would come and
die and be the propitiation, as it says, or pay the payment
for the sin of the Church and His people. Where it talks down
here, and it says that, that love not his brother, and
it's not speaking about flesh and blood brother particularly.
We do love our brothers, but we may not have that close of
a tie to them. But in the Savior, those brothers
that we have, and sisters, it uses that word brother, but it's
all of the church, has those things in common, and that's
the love that we are connected with. His love is what connected
us, and not how our feel is for it. We are so variable as humans
in our love for people, for individuals, and those things that, just by our
natures, that, like you say, we are so variable, but in Him,
just as our feelings of all things are so variable,
and He is not variable, and as it says there in verse 19 of
this chapter four, where it says, we love Him because He first
loved us. There's nothing of ourselves
that caused us to love God except His love toward us. And it's
not like we love each other humanly, and so I love you, and so you
love me, and there's kind of that mutual thing there. The
love that God had for our people in eternity past was not based
on anything that - there was no value to the - it was pretty
one-sided. It was all one-sided. those that
Christ was to die for, He knew what they were like. It was no surprise to Him of
who He was purchasing when He was going to be that sacrifice.
He was not caught unawares. He didn't There's no love that we showed
to God that caused Him to think anything of us. It was, as it
says, we love Him because He first loved us and manifested
that to His people. And that's the only drawing that
can cause that is His doing that. And we have, as it says, His
love is manifested to us, and only God's people realize that
and know that. and they're the ones that that
love is there for and is unchangeable in Luke chapter 24, the book of
Luke. And you'll see how this ties in with what we're saying
in 1 John about the love of God and the love that He places in
His people for one another, for Himself and for one another.
In chapter 24 of the book of Luke, right down by the end there,
starting with verse 44, and the Lord Himself speaking to the
group there, And it says, And he said unto
them, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was
yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were
written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the
Psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them,
Thus it is written, and thus it behoove Christ to suffer and
rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and
remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. and ye are witnesses of these
things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you.
But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power
on high." And here, when it says up here, in verse 44, It says that all things must
be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the
prophets and in the Psalms concerning me. And we see in Isaiah 53,
we're not going to go through that, but it details in that
whole chapter 53 of Isaiah what took place, what was agreed on
from the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, and what took place and
what was gone through to accomplish those things for us, for redemption
for His people. And again, the love of God is
displayed and is manifest there, and it's not a human-type love,
because this is not Again, it's not variable. It's on an everlasting
covenant that this would take place. And he was faithful to
accomplish and take care of those things and do those things. And
then it says in verse 46, Thus it is written, and let us behoove
Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and that
repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And this is the
outpouring and the revealing of God's love to a people through
all the scripture we have from eternity past that it speaks
of this, and it says that it behooved Him to suffer and rise
from the dead the third day. And it behooved Him as far as
fulfilling that was that which was covenanted in the eternity
past and which was promised. And he must fulfill that. It was who he is and who he was
that he do that. And it wasn't an option. He took
on that people as his own and what
the requirement was to give them life, life eternal. In 1 Corinthians, turn the book
of 1 Corinthians with me, in chapter, just a minute, chapter 13, Okay, chapter 13. 13, starting with the first verse
and reading down a bit, commonly quoted chapter or referred to,
but it says, 1 Corinthians 13, Though I speak with the tongues
of men and of angels, and have not charity, I become as sounding
brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of
prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though
I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not
charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods
to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and
have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth
long and is kind. Charity envieth not. Charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly,
seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth
not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth, but whether
there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there be tongues,
they shall cease. Whether there shall be knowledge,
it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy
in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that
which is part shall be done away. When I was a child, I speak as
a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when
I became a man I put away childish things. For now we see through
a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part But
then shall I know, even as also I am known. And now abideth faith,
hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity."
And this speaks about, here speaks about love that we have that
is manifested to others, that we have. And that is, as Paul
says, the things I would, dearly do, I find that I do not do."
And these things, when it speaks about this that we have and these
virtues that we hold up as virtues that we should attain to, we
know we do not. We cannot attain to this. It
speaks of the one who has attained these things, who has accomplished
these things. Is it true that brotherly love
or charity is an attribute that God's people have? It should
be. In some degree it should be. It's never going to be, as
the Lord Himself showed to all men, when he was, he showed all the
same charity or this type of regard to whoever he was with,
whoever he was with, whenever he was with. And this is something
that we, it's like in James when it says about controlling the
tongue. It's something that is a good thing to do, But we don't
find the ability to do those things of ourself, only as God
allows and permits that to be. But it speaks and points to the
one who is the perfect one. And it's not a standard to keep,
but it's one that has kept that standard. And that when we see
in 1 John, when it says we should live like Christ lived, well,
by His grace we would show some of those things, and He does
put some of those things in God's people. They are gracious, and
I guess that covers a lot of ground, but God's people should
be gracious most of all to the brethren, to each other, in that
way that it speaks about love for the brethren, but to all
people because of the grace that we've been shown through our
Lord and those things that He has done, and only He can put
that graciousness in His people. And I think that there will be
a reflection of that. And while we're in 1 Corinthians,
turn the page a little bit over to chapter 15. Chapter 15. Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians,
and also starting from the first verse
and seeing what It says here to the same thoughts
that we have in 1 John. It says, Moreover, brethren,
I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which
also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are
saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye
have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you, first
of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our
sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that
He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He
was seen of Cephas, and then of the twelve. After that He
was seen of above five hundred brethren, of whom the greater
part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After
that, he was seen of James, then of all the apostles. And last
of all, he was seen of me also as one born out of due time. And here that we saw in Luke
there, And here where it speaks about according to the Scriptures,
it said that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according
to the Scriptures. And an important thought here, not only
that He died for our sins, that He buried and rose again, but
it was according to the Scriptures. Again, we can go back to Genesis
3, where it speaks about His coming, the first record we have
of proclaiming that there's going to be a Messiah come, and here
again mentioning the carrying out of it. And we just saw in
the last couple of weeks messages about the coming of the Lord
physically, of the Messiah coming, and in fulfillment of the Scriptures
that it speaks about here. And that is, again, the revealing in time
and carrying out that that God covenanted to do in eternity
past, based on the love he had for a people, and that he has
for a people. And it's based on that. In 1
John, we're going to see over a number of lessons over a number
of weeks, Lord willing, it speaks about the topic of love a lot
in there. And there'll be some that applies
and we can, that how he works in his people, the showing forth
of that love to the rest of his people, the church especially,
but primarily that love that was shown to God's people, how
that love worked out and what that means. And it's sure not
the kind of love that we have that, you know, I can love you
today, but you do something that I don't like tomorrow, and it
might be a little bit thinner, you know. and that's not the
type of love that we have record of God's doing. In fact, as God's love is revealed
to us, there's no There's no point at which he
loved us because of the, he didn't sort out the best of the bunch,
I'll tell you that. And he got the ring-streaked
ones and those spotted ones. So it's all of His doing, as
it says there in 1 John, that verse. If people look to work
up or say that you should love God, it's because He first loved
us, if it's going to be there. And that's always the case. It's always that which God has
done that reveals His love to us. In the book of Acts, in the book of Acts, and it weighs
farther than where Norman is at. Acts chapter 17. Acts chapter 17. And just a couple
of verses here. It says, chapter 17, starting
at verse 2, verse 2 and 3, it says, And Paul, as his manner
was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them
out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging that Christ must
needs have suffered and risen again from the dead, and that
this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. reasoned with them out of the
Scriptures, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered
and risen again from the dead, and this Jesus whom I preach
unto you is Christ." And that those things that took place
had to have taken place. There wasn't an option. He had
to have suffered, and again refer back to Isaiah 53, It tells all
the things that he did to redeem a people, that he did physically
what he did, but spiritually what he had to do and what he
went through for those people. And as that shows the love that
he had from the beginning for a people. It wasn't a love in
time. It wasn't that he grew to love a people. It was that
he had those people set aside. The Father gave him a people
that he had a love for before they ever came along and before
they ever acknowledged or knew anything of him. And then as
he opens the light, the eyes, as the veil is lifted, Spiritually,
from people's eyes, they see some of these things. We see
some of these. We understand the words of some of these, and
we pray that spiritually He reveals more all the time of what we
have, that we have gained at His expense, as it were, and
by His love for us. In Jeremiah, Turn to the book of Jeremiah,
chapter 24. In fact, Jeremiah 23, to start
with-we're going to back up just a little bit, and we're just
picking a few spots out of Jeremiah that speak to what we're looking
to of all of the book of Jeremiah-it says, Jeremiah 23.3, It says, And I will gather the
remnant of my flock out of all countries, whether I have driven
them, and will bring them again to their folds, and they shall
be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over
them, which shall feed them, and they shall fear no more,
nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto
David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper,
and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his
days Judas shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely. This
is his name, whereby he shall be called the Lord our righteousness."
And these two thoughts are one, that He gathered His flock, it
says, and set up shepherds over them, shall feed them, and they
shall not be lacking. And we just, like I said, we
just went in the last couple weeks up several messages and
lessons about the Lord coming Himself, and here it speaks to
that, and that righteousness that He is. And we're going to
see, here it says in verse 6, His name whereby He shall be
called the Lord our righteousness. And we're going to see in just
a little bit where the church is called the Lord our righteousness. In chapter 24, In verse 4, starting with Jeremiah
24, verse 4, it says, Again the word of the Lord came unto me,
saying, Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Like these
good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive
of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of
the Chaldeans for their good. for I will set mine eyes upon
them for good, and I will bring them again to this land, and
I will build them, and not pull them down, and I will plant them,
and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart
to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people,
and I will be their God, for they shall return unto me with
their whole heart, And then with that in mind, turn
to chapter 31 of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 31, in the first verse
of Jeremiah 31 says, at the same time saith the Lord, will I be
the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my
people. Thus saith the Lord, the people which were left of
the sword found grace in the wilderness, even Israel, when
I went to cause him to rest. The Lord hath appeared of old
unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting
love. Therefore, with lovingkindness
I have drawn thee." And here it's speaking to the church.
And it's not, as we see over there in I will give them," verse 7 of
24, "'I will give them in heart to know Me, that I am the Lord,
and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for
they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.'" And then,
as we see in verse 3 of chapter 31 particularly, The Lord hath
appeared of old, saying, I have loved thee with an everlasting
love. Therefore with lovingkindness
have I drawn thee." And both these passages here and a lot
more of Jeremiah that shows here that I have loved thee with an
everlasting love. with lovingkindness have I drawn
thee." And all of God's people can attest to that is the fact
that we did not seek Him, but He sought us. And again, it's
an everlasting love. And where it says there that
we saw that, I'll be their God, and they shall return unto me
with their whole heart. That, we can do none of that. We can do none of that. He has
found us and brought us to Himself. And like I said, that love is
everlasting love. That's a different type of love
altogether than what we can manage on a human level. We're just
not loving that manner other than what he gives his people
to be that way. While we're in Jeremiah, turn
over to chapter 33. We're going to read just a little bit of
chapter 33 also that speaks to this. Chapter
33, let's start with verse 14. Verse 14 of Jeremiah 33, it says,
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform
that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel
under the house of Judah. In those days and at that time
will I cause the branch of righteousness to grow up unto David, and he
shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall
Judah be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely. And this is the
name wherewith she shall be called, the Lord our righteousness."
And that's the name the church goes by, the Lord our righteousness. And previous to this, in this chapter
of Jeremiah, it talks about cleansing from all our sin and iniquity.
Again, those things come about only because of the love that
God had to a people, and all the other things that manifest
out from that as we see it over time. But in eternity past, those
things were done. It's said that I have performed
that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel
and Judah. And that good thing is, as we,
like I say, recently saw and looked at quite a bit, the coming
of the Messiah. And the coming of the Messiah
was, according to Scripture, He was coming to do what the
covenant promised to do and fulfill that. And He indeed did that. And part and parcel with the
love of God, turn to the book of Isaiah chapter 9. Isaiah 9. I'll leave it to you
to read the in-between parts of some of these books, because
these are not stand-alone thoughts in the Scriptures or in these
books, but are what the Scripture speaks to.
Chapter 9 of Isaiah, starting with verse 2. Chapter 9, verse 2, it says,
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. They
that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath
the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation,
and not increased the joy. They joy before Thee according
to the joy and harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the
spoil. For Thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff
of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments
rolled in blood. but this shall be with burning
and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born,
for unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace,
of the increase of His government and peace, there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order
it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even
forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts
will perform this. And here again, a passage we
mentioned in the coming of the Messiah. And here it comes at the end of a short passage
we looked at, that the great light has come, the darkness
is in him, the veil is lifted away. And we see that it says
in several places, to this day, When those that refuse that the
Messiah has come and that those things have taken place, the
veil is over their heart. Not just their eyes and dim in
that way, but the veil is over the heart. And it says, what
veil is done away with in Christ? What veil is done away with in
Christ? And these passages are saying,
the promise is still being kept, the promise being kept. And this
was still sometime in the future, physically, that this child was
going to be born, that the Messiah was coming. But it was the fulfillment
of the promise, and of the love that God had for
his people. And then, in closing for this
morning, turn to the book of 1 John. One more time. 1 John, and the 3rd chapter. 1 John, the 3rd chapter. And like I say, through the book
of 1 John, this theme is pervasive of God's love to His people and
what that means and what that is to His people. 1 John 3. starting with verse 1, it says,
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we
the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like
him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath
this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure. And then
verse 11, it says, for this is the message that ye heard from
the beginning, that we should love one another. not as Cain,
who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore
slew him? Because his own works were evil,
and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the
world hates you." And then verse 16, it says, "'Hereby perceive
we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." And have the
same thought there, that the true love of God, as it says
here, hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid
down his life for us, and not... not for what we are, but for
what he did for us. And we're going to see through
the book, the true God and eternal life is based on and founded
in his love for his people and the other attributes he had.
But this is one that the first John dwells on and spend some
time in. So we're going to we're going
to stop for today and pick this up again next time, but The love of God is shown to us
in what He has done for us. Thank you for your attention,
and we'll pick this up, Lord willing, next week.