1 John 4:12-16

Hey, hey, good morning, morning. Welcome to Coffee and Devotions. This morning we are going to talk about what does it look like to know we are with God, that God's in us. We've never seen him, so how do we know that he's with us? Let's have some coffee, we'll pray, and we'll get into God's Word. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for the blessing it is to get to read your Word. Father, we pray that you would please help us to understand, help us to wrestle with your Word. And Father, we pray that your Holy Spirit would please be with us, that you would teach us, that you would instruct us and let us walk in your ways. In Jesus' name, Amen. Here we are at 1 John chapter 4, verses 12 through 16.
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us His Holy Spirit. And we have seen and testified that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
So, we need to ask ourselves those three questions. A, what's this about? B, what's the best verse to summarize this? And C, what are we called to do in response to these words? What's this section about? Well, how do we know that God's abiding in us? How do we know that we're speaking the truth? How do we know that we are of God? Do you believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh? Do you believe that Jesus came to be the Savior of the world?
Right, that's what this is getting at here. Notice verse 12, no one has seen God at any time. And now that brings up questions about Isaiah chapter 6 or Moses and the elders as they go up Mount Sinai and they see God face to face. Most theologians will call those either Christophanies or Theophanies. People saw either an image that was either Christ or God showing himself in some way that the people could see him. but not as He truly is. And I think that's what John is getting at here. No one has seen God at any time.
If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. So if people can't see God, how will they see Him? They'll see Him by the love we have for Him and for one another. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given us His Spirit. So how can we love Him and love others? Because He sent His Spirit into our hearts. Galatians chapter 4 will say that spirit that cries out, Abba, Father. Because He loved us, so we love one another.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. This is the Apostle John speaking for the rest of the Apostles and saying, we testify to this. We've seen it with our eyes, man. God sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. I watched Him die on that cross. This is John saying, that's how you know you have the Spirit in you.
If you believe that the Son was sent to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God. Do you confess that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you confess with your mouth? that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him up from the dead. If you do, then you will be saved, right?
That's what this is getting at. There's no discrepancy between John or James and Paul. They're all speaking of the same Lord, the same Christ, the same hope. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. And so as we abide in that love, We know that His Spirit's in us and we know that we abide in Him and Him in us. Do you see the Trinitarian formulation here? He sent His Spirit into your heart. He sent His Son to be our Savior. And He abides in you even though He doesn't live in bodily form. Yet, He truly does live.
What's the best verse to summarize this? Well, I have verse 13 underlined, although I'd be very hard-pressed to not argue for 14 and 15 as well. So you let me know down in the comments what would you underline as the best verse to summarize this portion.
Well, ask, seek, calling. What have you called to do? Well, you've never seen God. I've never seen Him either. Not as He truly is, and so we have to ask ourselves. We know that He abides in us. Do you confess that the Father sent Jesus as Son, and do you confess that Jesus to be your Savior, your Lord? Do you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead? Has He poured out His Spirit in your heart that even though you have not seen Christ yet, you love Him? And as you abide in the Son, do you bear good fruit in keeping with your adoption, loving others?
This is not earning your salvation. There was somebody in the comments a while ago, they were like, well, blah, blah, blah. You're just trying to say that people earn their way into heaven. Go re-watch my videos from Ephesians. No, that's not what this is saying.
But there are times when Christians will wrestle. How do I know I'm saved? How do I know if this guy over here is saved? How do we know that anybody is saved? There's a number of litmus tests. Thank God for these. Thank the Lord that by his Holy Spirit, he gave the Apostle John these words. Because we're able to look at our lives and see, does it line up?
Jesus said that you can judge a tree by its fruit. The fruit doesn't make it a tree, but it does tell us what type of tree it is and can help us to know whether it's a productive tree or not. So what type of tree are you? Are you one who's abiding in Jesus Christ and bearing much good fruit? Are you abiding in the love of God shown to you and loving others? Because Jesus is your only hope, your Lord, and your deepest love.
Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for giving us this day. We thank you for allowing us to love you. Father, we pray that when our hearts condemn us, you who are greater than our hearts would assure us of your love. We pray that as we abide in you, as we love you, as you are our chief joy, we pray that we would turn from darkness, turn from sin, turn unto light, and live lives filled with love. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen. May God bless you. It's hard to love, but that's how much God loved you. So may you walk in and abide in the love of Jesus. I'll see you next time, bye.