1 John 4:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

NIV: No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

NASB: No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.

CSB: No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is made complete in us.

NLT: No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

KJV: No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

NKJV: 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.

John reminds his readers of an important biblical truth. No person has ever seen God in His full divine essence. Even Moses saw only the back of God (Exodus 33:18–23). However God's love allows humanity to "see" Him through the actions of His people. This echoes statements made in 1 John 2:5, and coming up in verse 17. When we have a thorough, complete experience of walking in God's love, we demonstrate Him to ourselves and to others. God abides in those who seek to love Him. We do not need to physically see Him; He is already in us.

Also, God's love is made perfect or complete in us. This does not mean we become sinless. Instead, the focus is on maturity or the quality of love in us. We can find no greater love than God's love. The believer experiences God's love inside of them, offering us everything we need to live for Him and to love others. We do not need to seek another experience, person, or teaching, as false teachers would suggest. The love of God is sufficient.

First John 4:11–19 is the backbone of John's letter. The primary way Christians are to be recognized is by love. This is not merely what we feel, but what we do for others. True, godly love is the most powerful evidence of being ''born again'' as a child of God. This love comes from God, who loved us before we loved Him. When we live in obedience to God, according to love, we can be confident in our relationship with Him, and have no need to fear His judgment.

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 4/27/2024 6:47:19 AM