How does 1 John 4:10 define the nature of God's love for us? The Key Verse “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Love Initiated by God, Not Earned by Us • “Not that we loved God” highlights our inability to spark the relationship. • Romans 5:8: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” • God moves first—His love is self-originating and unprovoked. Love Proved in Action, Not Sentiment • “He loved us and sent His Son” shows love expressed, not merely felt. • John 3:16 underscores the action: “For God so loved the world that He gave…” • Genuine divine love always acts for the beloved’s highest good. Love Centered on Propitiation, Not Mere Pardon • “Atoning sacrifice” (propitiation) means wrath satisfied, justice met. • 1 John 2:2 and Romans 3:25 use the same term—Jesus’ blood turns God’s righteous anger away. • Love meets holiness head-on; it doesn’t sweep sin aside but pays its full cost. Love That Is Sacrificial, Not Superficial • The cross involved real blood, pain, and death—Leviticus 17:11: “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” • Isaiah 53:5: “He was pierced for our transgressions.” • God’s love endures the greatest personal loss to secure our gain. Love That Is Personal, Not Abstract • “For our sins” makes the sacrifice specific. • Galatians 2:20: “The Son of God… loved me and gave Himself for me.” • Every believer can say, “He did this for me.” Summing It Up 1 John 4:10 defines God’s love as initiating, active, propitiatory, sacrificial, and deeply personal—love that moves first, pays all, and secures us forever. |
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