Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 91st. Edition.
Dear Co-Labourers,
In today’s passage (1 John 4:12-16), the major themes that John has been trying to impress on his readers, namely, love for one-another, assurance of being in him, and the confession of Christ, are again summarised here.
The Centrality of Love (vv. 12, 16). The import of the statement “no one has seen God at any time” (compare with John 1:18) is that the only evidence of what is not seen is the outcomes it produces. Since by his very definition, God is love, anyone who has experienced God should love. People who are in God should love one another. This is what will show that God’s love has been perfected (made complete or wholesome) in us. The English say the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Likewise, the evidence of being in Christ and therefore, in God, is love. The converse is also true – the absence of love confirms the lack of true commitment.
The Confirmation of our Location (v. 13). We have encountered this earlier, also (2:27; 3:24). Our position in Christ is confirmed by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, who “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). This cannot be overemphasized, “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his” (Romans 8:9).
The Confession of the Link between Jesus and God (vv. 14, 15). Knowing and believing who Jesus is, is key to salvation. The false teachers denied that the human Jesus was also the divine Christ. The dual nature of Christ in one person is unique and is what makes Christ the perfect mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). It is therefore important that one understands that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. This is why he could say “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). So it is not enough for some to claim that Jesus was a great prophet, or an Archangel, or a great spiritual being, only second to the Father. If he is not the Son of God, and that would mean that he is God, then we have no hope of salvation! This is an essential tenet of our faith. It is not negotiable.
Where do you stand on this matter? Examine yourself, whether you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Your Loving Pastor Chris.