How does 1 John 4:11 connect with Jesus' commandment in John 13:34? Setting the Scene “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11) “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.” (John 13:34) The Echo of Christ’s Command • John writes decades after the Upper Room, yet he repeats Jesus’ words almost verbatim. • The apostle shows that the “new commandment” is now the normal ethic for every believer; it has not changed or lessened with time. • Jesus issues the command; John re-affirms it. Same Lord, same authority, same expectation. Motivation: God’s Prior Love • John grounds obedience in God’s finished action: “if God so loved us…” (1 John 4:11). • Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet and would soon give His life; that self-giving love is the pattern (John 13:1; 15:13). • Other confirmations: – 1 John 4:19 — “We love because He first loved us.” – Romans 5:5 — His love is “poured into our hearts” through the Spirit. • Obedience flows from gratitude, not coercion. Definition of Love: Sacrificial and Practical • Love is not sentiment alone; it acts. – 1 John 3:16 — “we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” – Ephesians 5:1-2 — “walk in love… gave Himself up for us.” • “As I have loved you” sets the bar: humble service, costly sacrifice, steadfast commitment. Evidence of the New Birth • 1 John 4:7 — “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” • Love proves the reality of regeneration; absence of love contradicts profession (1 John 4:20). Community Impact and Witness • John 13:35 — “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” • When believers mirror Christ’s love, the watching world encounters a visible testimony of the gospel’s power. Empowered by the Indwelling Spirit • Obedience is impossible in human strength, but the Spirit produces “love” as His first fruit (Galatians 5:22). • The same Spirit who inspired the command now enables its fulfillment. Living It Out Today • Remember the Source: continually meditate on Christ’s cross-shaped love. • Rely on the Spirit: pray for fresh filling and sensitivity to His promptings. • Reach out actively: meet practical needs, forgive offenses, and give time, resources, and attention to fellow believers. • Reflect Christ publicly: let congregational love become a beacon that draws others to the Savior. |
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