1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. ²¹ And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

"ANOTHER TEST OF OUR LOVE"/1 JOHN 4:20-21

I don’t know about you, but John’s tests of our love for God and others is beginning to wear on me. In other words, John’s message that the proof of my love for God must be evident in my love for others has me doing some self-evaluation. Such self-evaluation has me finding it necessary to get alone with God and ask myself some hard questions. So, let’s do a little self-examination this morning by asking ourselves some hard questions, questions that flow naturally from John’s point in our text.

I) DO I LOVE GOD? Vv.20-21

A) We sing about loving God on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, we sing more about our love for God than about His love for us. But, John is not interested in what we say about our love for God, but our actions that prove our love for God to ourselves and to others.

B) Let’s follow John’s point here in verse 20. John begins by questioning "someone" who says that they love God. He’s even so bold as to call some who claim to love God liars. John speaking with the authority of God says that anyone who says they love God, but has no tangible proof of it is simply a liar. Christianity for John and the other Apostles is not a religion of words, but a relationship with the living God whereby there is tangible evidence in day-to-day life. As we have said on so many occasions, to love someone means that we have their best interest at heart, and we undertake to do what is best for them regardless of the cost to us. Therefore, John concludes, we show our love for God whom we have not seen by loving His own whom we see day-in and day-out. The truth is that "God’s love for us sets us free to love our brother even as God loves him."

C) John brings us to the end of this chapter with a reminder of the commandment of Jesus found in Matthew 22:34ff. Note, first, who the antagonists are in verse 34–the Pharisees. Second, note the setting–a test to ensnare Jesus in verse 35. Third, note the question in verse 36–" ... which is the great commandment in the Law?" Third, note Jesus’ twofold answer in verses 37-40. Jesus said that there were two commandments that summarize the Law and the message of the prophets–love God and love others. He did not say that we are to love self as a third commandment. Jesus’ point in verse 39 is that we already love ourselves, and that we are to give as much love to others as we do to taking care of ourselves. One commentator put it this way: "Not to love ... is to disobey Jesus and spurn the Father’s own love in sending Jesus. To live in love, however, is to live in God; and this results in complete confidence for prayer and judgment." With this said, let’s drive these verses home with ...

II) SOME APPLICATIONS

A) Since love is spoken of in Scripture as actions, then what actions show true, God-honoring love? This is all going to be pretty uncomfortable, but so be it, we must change if we continue to call ourselves followers of Christ. Let’s begin by considering 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a. This kind of love is to be evident in our marriages, families, church, friendships, and in the most difficult relationships of life. Here’s a difficult truth to swallow: We are to love in all our relationships, no matter how difficult they may be, even when we don’t feel like it. Why? Because it is a command! John Stott said, "Every claim to love God is a delusion if it is not accompanied by unselfish and practical love for our brethren."

B) The greatest laboratory of love is marriage and family. Love between spouses, and love within families foster some of the greatest challenges to loving regardless of the cost. God has ordained that our love for Him would be manifest in our love to our spouse, and to our family. Our marriages and our families are the battleground of our faith, and they are the proving ground of grace, and they are the soil and the nursery for growth and grace. So, the next time you struggle in your marriage and family, remember that there is more at stake than your happiness. "It is the proving ground of love."

C) The next great laboratory of love is the local congregation. As with marriage and the family, difficult times come in relationships within the church family. There are potential divisions, dissensions, and tensions every time we meet together. And, we ought to be aware that such events are opportunities to express our love for God by healing breaches. If we are to grow in Christ, then we must love as Christ loved–purposefully, strategically, and sacrificially. We need to think about what’s best for all, not just what is best for me. Does our love prove us to be truly in love with God? Or, Does it prove that we love self more, and hence we are classified as liars by John? Are we committed to growing in love for God and others? I pray that we are more concerned about others seeing God in us, than us getting our own selfish way. May God help us!