Connect 1 John 4:9 with John 3:16. How are these messages similar? Key Texts Side by Side “This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.” “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The Shared Heartbeat of Love • God takes the initiative; love starts with Him, not us. • The gift is identical in both verses: “His one and only Son.” • The scope is global—“the world.” • The purpose is life—“that we might live through Him” and “have eternal life.” • Love is proven through action; it is not abstract but embodied in Jesus’ coming. Four Strands That Tie These Verses Together 1. God’s Initiative • Romans 5:8—“But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” • Love is revealed, not discovered; it descends from heaven to earth. 2. The Gift of the Son • Galatians 4:4–5—“When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son… so that we might receive our adoption as sons.” • The same unique, singular Son is the centerpiece of God’s plan. 3. The Universal Offer • 1 Timothy 2:4—God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” • “The world” and “everyone who believes” display God’s open invitation. 4. The Purpose of Life • John 10:10—“I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” • Eternal life is not merely endless existence but a restored, vibrant fellowship with God. Tracing the Theme through Scripture • 1 John 4:10—Love defined: “He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice.” • 1 John 3:16—“By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us.” • John 1:14—“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” • Isaiah 53:5—Prophecy fulfilled in Christ’s sacrificial role. • 2 Corinthians 5:21—The exchange of our sin for His righteousness, securing the promised life. Implications for Us Today • Rest—God’s love is secure; it was proven before we ever moved toward Him. • Believe—Eternal life is received by trusting the Son God has given. • Live—We now “live through Him,” empowered for holy living and confident hope. • Love—“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19); His sacrificial example becomes our pattern toward others. |
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