1 John 4:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

NIV: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

NASB: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

CSB: Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

NLT: This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

KJV: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

NKJV: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

John emphasizes in this verse that godly love is not something which originated with man. Rather, it comes from God to us. As verse 19 will say, it was God who loved us first. As a result, and only as a result of this, we can love Him. His love provides us the opportunity to be born of Him, to know Him, and to love others.

God's love was not simply a feeling, or an opinion. John taught that love needs to be acted out (1 John 3:18). This, again, is because of the example God has given to us. God sent Jesus to our world (1 John 4:9) as an act of love. Here we find the purpose: the "propitiation" for our sins. The word "propitiation" involves a payment or sacrifice to cover the cost of our sins. Under the Mosaic Law, the Jews offered ongoing sacrifices for their sins. Yet Christ provided the only sufficient payment, once for all, to cover the sins of the world. This was because He is the perfect sacrifice, without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

First John 4:7–10 returns to the theme of love. Here, John explains how true, godly love in a person's life is a sign of being born again. Those who truly love God will act on that love, towards other people. Those who don’t demonstrate love have no fellowship with God, at minimum. Love is something God showed us first, by sending Christ. Our love for Him is ultimately rooted in His original love for us. We are again reminded that true love involves acting, not just feeling.

Chapter 4 warns Christians not to accept every claim they hear. Instead, believers are to compare what they hear to the basic truths of the gospel. John then returns to the theme of love, explaining how believers ought to live out the presence of God's love in their lives. In addition, living according to God's love takes away our fear of judgment. In no uncertain terms, those who claim to love God, but hate others, are liars.

First John chapter 4 emphasizes the way God's love removes the natural human fear of rejection. Fear is a punishment of its own, and those who do not believe have reason to fear judgment. Believers, on the other hand, have confidence. Not only has Christ forgiven our sins, but He gives us God's love. Following in this love leads to acceptance, which leads to confidence, driving out fear. This passage is the key section of John's letter, explaining how confidence in the life of a believer ought to be accomplished.

First John seems to assume that the reader is familiar with the gospel. Rather than re-state these facts, John is concerned with building confidence in Christian believers. At the same time, his words encourage believers to examine their own lives for signs of their relationship with Christ. This letter also challenges false teachers and their incorrect claims about Jesus. Many themes are shared with the Gospel of John.

Accessed 5/2/2024 6:57:29 AM