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 have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:19-21

If I asked you “Do you love Jesus”? Many of you might say “Yes” or if I ask you “Are you a Christian”? Many of you would say “Yes”, but why? Why do you love Jesus? Why are you a Christian at all? Well the scripture is clear, we love Jesus because He loved us first! This is the amazing love of God, that he pursued us first , before we had any care for God whatsoever. It’s by the love of Christ you are saved, not by ourselves.

As the Apostle Paul said “God demonstrated His love towards us, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) I want you to really meditate upon what was just said there, while we still hated God, while we were still dead in our sins, Christ already willingly laid down his life to pay for our sins, God demonstrated His love towards us, He loved us first before we could even possibly have loved Him. That’s the amazing love and grace of God!

Now Jesus summed up The Law by saying “Love God and Love Your Neighbor”this is the fulfillment of The Law(Matthew 22, Mark 12) If you truly love God, because He loved you first, you must also love your neighbor as yourself, otherwise you are a liar and a hypocrite. Notice what the Apostle John says here “If a man says I love God, and hates his brother, he is liar” You can’t say you are a Christian and hate the Church, you can’t say you love Christ and hate this person and that person, the Holy Spirit is not within you.

Your question is “Why should I love my neighbor”? Your neighbor might not “love” you, in fact your neighbor might hate and persecute you. But remember we love because Christ loved us first. We don’t deserve the love of God but He loves us anyway, we don’t deserve the grace and mercy of God, but he gave it to us anyway. The same, your neighbor might not deserve to be loved, but love them anyway because Christ has loved us first. As Jesus said “Love your enemies and bless those who curse you” (Matthew 5:44)

As the Apostle John said “He who loves God, must love his brother also” Did you forget that you were dead in your sins when Christ brought you back to life? Did you forget you were the prodigal son living with the pigs, until the Father called you home? We love because Christ has loved us first, Amen!

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:17-18

The world wants you to live in a constant state of fear! If you don’t believe me just turn on the news, read the articles that are being posted by the media, look at what is being said on social media, what is the common theme? Fear! Why does Satan want to world to live in fear? Because people are more easily controlled and manipulated when they are in a constant state of fear. The world will have you live in fear about everything, your health, your family, your finances, your freedoms, ect. Anything that you value the world will go after because you are in a spiritual warfare whether you realize it or not

But as Christians , even though we are in this fallen world, even though we are primary targets by Satan, we can live in peace because the Holy Spirit lives inside of us. As the Apostle Paul said “The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7) While the world is in a state of fear, as a Born Again believer we are at peace, because Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33)

The real issue that the world should be worried about is the judgment day of God. Majority of the world dismisses this event or doesn’t even think about it, but one day everyone is going to stand before The Lord and give an account for your life! Everyone that is unsaved will pay for the consequences of their sins. As the Bible tells us “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus”(Romans 3:23) We as Christians can boldly stand in the presence of God with love, because we have been redeemed and justified by our Lord Jesus Christ, and we have been Born Again by the Holy Spirit. 

That’s why the Apostle John says “Love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have the boldness in the day of judgment” We as children of God don’t need to live in fear as the world because we have been redeemed by God in Christ. There is actually nothing a true Christian needs to fear. Even in illness, persecution, or death, we already have victory in Jesus Christ , The Lord has already overcome the world, including sin and death

That’s why the scripture says “Perfect love casts out all fear” The perfect love is Jesus Christ, as God is love and is perfect. If you abide in Christ, Christ will abide in you, there is nothing in this world you need to fear. You can have the peace of God knowing that your soul is saved, that you have been reborn, redeemed, and justified in the presence of God through our Lord Jesus Christ , Amen!

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:14-16

How do you get saved? Will religion save you? No , Will doing good works save you? No, Will being a “good person” save you? No, its only by faith in Christ that you can be saved, period. Many people believe they can “earn their salvation” or they can obtain salvation in some way, these are misunderstandings of the grace of God. If there was anyway we could earn our salvation, then there would have been no need for Christ to come into the world and die for our sins. But because we are completely unable to save ourselves, Christ came to save us!

Let’s see what the Apostle John says here under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “The Father sent the Son (Jesus) to be the Savior of the world” Christ was sent into the world to save us, without Christ there is no hope for your salvation. I think it’s important for people to realize their state of depravity and their total inability to save themselves. We must put our full and true faith in Christ, meaning total reliance and allegiance to The Lord as our God and Savior

“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God” There’s alot going on with this statement, first we must truly have faith in Christ, to publicly confess Jesus Christ is our Lord and not the world. But another important aspect of this is the Holy Spirit, as the Apostle John says “God dwells in us”, God is living inside of us, the Holy Spirit will seal us in God, He will convict us of our sin, He will be our teacher and advocate, He will help us to pray to the Father and Son, The Triune God is united within us as a Child of God

The last point I want to bring with this text is you can’t have true love without God. As the Apostle John says “God is love, and he the dwells in love dwells in God and God in Him” Have you ever noticed the majority of non-believers, especially atheists are always very angry and combative. Why? Because there is no love within them, there is no peace of God which surpasses all understanding. They are at war with God for their soul, and they in a constant state of turmoil. They will never find real love or peace without Christ as their Lord. 

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and not from yourselves, its a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8) Salvation is found in only Jesus Christ alone, submit to The Lord and obtain the love and peace of God, Amen!

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:12-13

The Apostle John makes an interesting statement “Nobody has seen God at anytime”, he makes this same statement in the gospel of John also (John 1:18) Seems like a pretty straightforward statement, however when we understand this statement more deeply , we understand more how much we need Jesus Christ!

As Jesus said “He who has seen Me, has seen the Father” (John 14:9) Christ is the express image or exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3) the only way to get to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) there is no other way to “see God” or to become saved. Christ is the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5)

A couple things we need to understand, our sinful nature and Gods holiness. We could never expect to “see God” or stand before God in our sinful state, the only way we could be in the presence of God is through Christ. As the Apostle Paul said “He who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:8) The only “good” thing about us is Jesus Christ, without Christ we are to be consumed for our depravity.

Think back to the tabernacle in the Exodus or the temple, nobody was able to cross the holy of holies, the viel, unless they were purified of their sin. The levitical priests used to wear bells on their garments so people knew if they were struck dead or not by the “presence of God” The holiness of God is far beyond our comprehension,  a perfect love that can’t be changed

Another perspective I want us to think about this verse, many people try to comprehend God, they try to simplify the Trinity, some go to extremes that eventually deny the deity of Christ and make the Holy Spirit just an “active force” Another way to look at this statement by the Apostle John “Nobody has seen God” meaning Nobody could possibly comprehend God, as John Wesley once said “show me a worm that can comprehend a man, and I’ll show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God” I know some will say this an excuse, however you need to humble yourself, can you possibly understand the One who spoke the Heavens and Earth into existence?

Here’s the amazing thing, we can be reconciled back to God through The Lord Jesus Christ, also as the Apostle John says here “God dwells in us” wow! The Triune God that nobody can see or comprehend is living inside of us by the Holy Spirit, do you understand how radical this is? Don’t be fooled by false religion who tells you anyone can come to God, I will end with the words of Christ “I am the way, the truth, and the life, Nobody comes to The Father except through Me “ (John 14:6)

Herein is love, not that we loved 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. 1 John 4:10-11

Why did God save us at all? Was it because we deserved mercy? No, Was it because of our good works? No, Was it because God needs us? Absolutely not, the only reason God saved any of us, is because God loves us, period! It’s amazing when you hear the non-believer or atheists state that God is hateful or cruel. God gave His only begotten Son to save us from our sins, that’s true love demonstrated on the cross!

If I ask you “Do you love Jesus”? You might say Yes! But why do you love Jesus? The reason you love Jesus is because He loved you first! God called you by name, He regenerated your heart, and put the love of Christ inside you. The only reason we are saved is because God loved us first, not that we loved Christ first

The Apostle John says here “This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved Us” Before you were saved you didn’t love God, in fact you were an enemy of God. In fact by your actions, you hated God. You rebelled against God in every aspect of your life, you blasphemed his name, you disregarded His laws, yet God still loved us and saved us from our sins.

How did God save us? As the Apostle John continues “And sent His Son (Jesus) to be the propitiation for our sins” The original Greek word translated as propitiation is “hilasmon” which can also mean “atoning sacrifice” Christ is the propitiation and atoning sacrifice for Your sins! Think about that! God has every right to send us to eternal Hell for our sins, however Christ took our place on the cross to pay our debt. That is the true love of God demonstrated for us!

So how do we respond? As the Apostle John says here “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to also to love one another” We love the Church, because Christ loves Us. Those who neglect the Church, have trampled on the blood of Christ. You have no choice but to love others, this is your calling and your orders by Christ, this is not an option.

We don’t do “good works” to be saved, yet because we are saved we produce “good works” because the Holy Spirit is living inside of us! This is not a hard concept to understand, yet many live in rebellion against God to not “Love their neighbor”. If you are truly saved, you will love your neighbor because Christ loves you. As Jesus said “A good tree produces good fruit” (Matthew 7:17) 

Remember you love Jesus because Jesus loved you first! God has called you, cleansed you, and sanctified you to be Born Again, Amen!

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not 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. 1 John 4:7-9

We often hear the phrase repeated over and over again “God Is Love”, and this is a true theological statement as we see here in our scriptures. But what does it mean “God is Love”, how do we define love? The world likes to perverse the meaning of love by justifying whatever carnal sin their flesh desires. When they are convicted of their sin, they simply say “God is Love” as if this is the magic words that justifies all sin, however this couldn’t be farther from the truth!

As the Apostle John says here, In this the love of God was manifested towards us” meaning God demonstrated His love towards humanity, see love is not just words, its not just a cliche or a bumper sticker, love is an action (1 Corinthians 13) True love is demonstrated with your actions. For example, you claim to love your spouse, how do you demonstrate this love? You get married, you make a covenant with that person that you are united together under God for eternity. Many people want to claim they love their partner, but they won’t get married, why? Because they don’t really love that person, its just a convenience for them not a covenant

So how did God demonstrate or manifest his love towards You and the rest of humanity? As the Apostle John continues to tell us “God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” God demonstrated his love towards us on the cross (Romans 5:8) God didn’t just say He loves us, God demonstrated his love to us, so we can be forgiven for our sins!

Jesus loves You, as the old Hymn says, however the question really is “Do you love Jesus”? If you truly love Jesus Christ, then you would do what He says, right? Jesus said “ If you love me, Keep my commandments” (John 14:15) So did you “Repent of your sins and believe the gospel”? (Mark 1:15) These are the words of Jesus Christ, turn away from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. Christ will send you the Holy Spirit to transform and sanctify your life. 

Christ died on the cross, not only because He loves you, but to pay the penalty for your sins. To justify your sin by saying “God is Love” is blasphemous and depraved. Christ demonstrated his love towards you by taking your place on the cross, to continue in your sin is to spit in the face of The Lord

The salvation of Christ is a Covenant, just like Marriage is a covenant. You are either all in or you’re an adulterer in heart, to truly Love The Lord your God is with all your mind, heart, and soul, Amen!

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:4-6

As Christians, the reality is the world is against you! As Jesus said “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me first” (John 15:18) You are in a spiritual warfare of good and evil, you are fighting against the demonic forces of this world, understand this is not going to be an easy walk.

However God has equipped you for this walk! As Jesus said to his disciples “It is to your advantage that I go away, if I don’t go away the Helper (The Holy Spirit) will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send Him (The Holy Spirit)  to you” (John 16:7) Christ has sent us the greatest gift , the gift of the Holy Spirit that is living inside of us, God living inside of his people, to guide, lead, and convict us!

As the Apostle John says here “You are of God and have overcome them, because He (The Holy Spirit) who is in you (Church) is greater than He who is in the world” God has equipped his Church to overcome the world because the Holy Spirit lives inside his people. Greater is the Holy Spirit than is any demonic force that may come against you! Rebuke the demons in Jesus mighty name!

Listen to these words of Jesus Christ also “In the world you will have tribulation, be of good cheer or peace, I (Christ) have overcome the world” (John 16:33) Satan has already been defeated at the cross, It Is Finished! As a Child of God, don’t walk this world in self-defeat you are victorious through Christ, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11)

The Apostle John continues to say “We are of God, He who knows God listens to us, he who is not of God doesn’t listen to us, By this we know the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error” Notice the separation, The Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit) and the Spirit of Error (demonic) the only way to know truth is to know Christ, because Jesus is the truth (John 14:6)

Child of God, walk in victory because Christ has already overcome the world and The Holy Spirit is living inside of you, Amen!

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.  1 John 4:1-3

There are many people within the Church, who claim to be prophets, who claim to be apostles, they claim to be speaking for God, yet these people are not of God , but of Satan. Just because someone quotes scripture or has a following, don’t automatically assume that they are filled with the Holy Spirit. We must test every spirit that comes into our path! As the Apostle John says “Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are from God”

Remember when Satan confronted The Lord Jesus he quoted scripture also (Matthew 4) Many people today would have believed Satan, they would have said “Well he is quoting scripture” but he twisted the Word of God to fit his agenda. Doesn’t that sound familiar today? Or remember Eve was deceived by Satan in the garden, “You surely won’t die” promised Satan, but it was a lie from the pit of Hell that condemned humanity. Be careful when believing the promises of a false prophet, because they could condemn your soul

So how do we identify a false prophet? Here are a few things from my experience and perspective. Firstly, everything they say must line up with the Word of God. Every statement the false prophet makes, can it be backed up with scripture? Every promise or “prophecy” can it be verified with scripture? Remember Satan used scripture also, are they using scripture in the complete context of the chapter in the Bible?

Secondly, a false prophets ministry will always be carnally minded and not interested in the Kingdom of God. As the old saying goes “follow the money trail” , when a preacher is mostly interested in money, its a huge red flag. When a preacher just keeps asking for money and makes claims your money can produce “blessings” in your life, they are false, they are carnally minded. The false prophet desires the things of the flesh instead of crucifying their flesh. Money, power, sex, worldly possessions, are all driving points for a false prophet. As Jesus said “What does it profit to gain the whole world and to lose your soul” (Mark 8:36)

One common denominator I always find with a false ministry is the denial of the Trinity, the denial of the Deity of Christ,the denial of the bodily resurrection of Christ,  which typically leads to the denial of the authority of scripture. As the Apostle John says here “By this you will know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come into the flesh is from God” Many cults claim to follow Jesus, but what is their description of Jesus? Is their belief of Jesus Christ, the same as what the Bible says? Most cults always believe in a false Jesus, the purpose is they deny his deity, they lower Christ into nothing more than another creation of God. Beware of these false prophets and groups! Nobody can be saved without Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) If you don’t know the real Jesus, it doesn’t matter what you do know!

As the Apostle John said “And this is the spirit of the AntiChrist, and is now already in the world” Satan’s ultimate goal is to mislead people on who Jesus is and damn everyone’s soul to Hell. You need to make sure you are following the real Jesus Christ of the Bible, any other variation is just a false idol and you are simply not saved at all! Test the Spirits, because your soul is on the line! Amen!

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1 John 3:24

What is the key to the Christian life? To abide in Christ! Because if we abide in Christ, Christ will abide in us, we are in total union with God through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The original Greek word often translated as “Abide” is “Menei” meaning to remain, to stay, to wait. It’s putting your full and complete faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, even when you might not understand the way, you abide in Christ. Even when you don’t understand the purpose, you abide in Christ. Even when you don’t understand the pain, you abide in Christ!

There’s alot of question whether someone is a true Christian or whether someone is saved at all, well what does the Bible say? The Apostle John says “He that keeps His (Christ) commandments dwells in Him (Christ) “ Those who remain in the “Will of God” , who are demonstrating fruits of the Holy Spirit, those who are obedient to their Lord Jesus Christ, are truly saved. How can you claim to love Jesus and not do anything he says? Is this truly love? Is this truly obedience? Is Jesus truly your Lord? 

Many want to abuse the grace of God to remain in sin, as the Apostle Paul said “What shall we say then, shall we go on sinning so grace may increase? Certainly Not!,  How shall we who have died in sin, live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2) The grace of God is not a license to sin, the grace of God is His loving mercy , however we must become Born Again in Christ (John 3:3) We don’t remain as we are, once we have an encounter with Jesus, we will never be the same!

Again, how do we know if we are truly saved? The Apostle John continues “And by this, we know that He (Christ) abides in Us” As the Lord Jesus said “We will be known by our fruit” (Matthew 7:16) This is not legalism, this is the teachings of The Lord Jesus Christ himself. As Jesus also said “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) If you are truly saved, then you keep the commandments of God because you abide in Christ and Christ abides in You!

Now you might say “I’m a sinful, fallen, wretch, I can’t keep the commandments of God” read the last part of this scripture today , the Apostle John says “By the Spirit, whom He has given us” If you are Born Again, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you that has written the Law on your Heart and mind (Hebrews 8) You have been regenerated, you are a new creature, you are no longer that old wretch, you are no longer dead in sin, but alive in Christ

How can we simply apply this? Abide in Jesus in all things, in every facet of your life abide in Christ, and Jesus will abide in you, greater is He living inside of You, than He who is living in the world, Amen!

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 1 John 3:21-23

“Whatever we ask, we receive of Him” says the Apostle John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the carnal world will take this promise and try to exploit and use it for their will. We see false teachers , mega Pastors, telling you to ask Jesus for money, for a job promotion, for a house, is this proper exegesis of the scripture? Or is this a false teacher selling snake oil? There are many false converts in Christianity, because there are alot of false teachers pushing heresies for their own financial gain. Let’s read the Word of God in context.

First the Apostle John says “If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God” Notice first if our heart is right with God? What is the intention of your heart? Did we deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow Christ? (Matthew 16:24) Or are you following after the lusts of your own heart? Remember God searches the hearts and minds of us all (Jeremiah 17:10) You can’t deceive God, The Lord knows your heart, are your intentions for the Kingdom of God or for your own Kingdom?

Next the Apostle John says this “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, BECAUSE we keep HIS commandments” There is a stipulation in this relationship, we receive from Christ because we keep Christ’s commandments. Again, the false teacher will tell you to ask Jesus for the carnal desires of your heart, this is a heresy, we ask in the will of God because we are Christ’s servants. 

If you are not a servant of Christ, then Christ is not your Lord. Jesus said “You are either a slave to sin or a slave to Christ” (John 8, Romans 6) You were bought with a price , you as a Christian don’t belong to yourself anymore (1 Corinthians 6:20) So why do you try to exploit your Master for your own carnal desires? Remember the words of Christ, “deny yourself” This is the first step in becoming a disciple of The Lord, until you do this, you are not following the commandments of Christ. 

The Apostle John then goes on to say “That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he commanded us” Love God and Love your Neighbor, this is the summary of Gods Law. Do the intentions of your heart and mind love God? Do the desires of your heart love your neighbor? Or do the desires of your heart have Love for yourself instead? 

The Apostle James said this “When you ask, you don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3) What are the motives of your heart? Is your intentions in the will of God or are you in the will of yourself? Is Jesus Christ truly your Lord? Or do you pretend to be your own Lord? Remember we receive of Christ because we keep His commandments, Amen!