How does 1 John 4:8 connect with John 3:16's message of love? The Core Verse “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Love Reveals God’s Nature • Love is not merely something God does; it is who He is. • Any genuine encounter with Him produces a life marked by love. • Absence of love signals a disconnect from the true knowledge of God. Linking to John 3:16 “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.” (John 3:16) • John 3:16 shows what 1 John 4:8 asserts: God’s very essence as love takes visible form in giving. • Love moves from attribute (“God is love”) to action (“He gave His one and only Son”). • The cross is the ultimate proof that divine love is sacrificial, purposeful, and life-giving. Other Scriptures That Echo the Connection • Romans 5:8 — “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” • Ephesians 2:4-5 — “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses.” • 1 John 4:9-10 — John repeats the same thought: love is shown in sending the Son as atonement. What This Means for Us • Knowing God = displaying love. If God’s nature lives in us, love shows up in everyday choices. • Evangelism flows from love. We share the gospel not out of duty alone but because God’s love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14). • Assurance rests in love. The same love that gave Jesus also secures believers’ eternal life (John 10:28). Living It Out 1. Receive the love: trust the Son given for you. 2. Reflect the love: serve, forgive, and sacrifice for others. 3. Rely on the love: in trials, remember the unchanging proof of Calvary. God is love—John 3:16 shows it, and our lives are invited to echo it. |
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