The time for today's lesson could easily be spent on the process of translation, on the uniqueness of Jesus as the Christ, and on religious technicalities. These things would mean little to most of us as we seek to be God's people. Rather than focus on those things, this study seeks to challenge students to an awareness of what it means to belong to God.
At times, Christians become so consumed with technical understanding (a) that faith in the Christ and (b) reflecting God's character in our lives become irrelevant religious considerations. Where we "stand" regarding an "issue" and how "knowledgeable" we are in our "issue position" becomes more important than faith in God's Christ or reflecting God's character in our lives.
The two ongoing challenges that face the man or woman in God daily are (a) loving people and (b) maintaining confidence in God's great love for us.
As a Christian, how do I relate to an imperfect spouse? How do I react to children who disappoint or hurt me? How should I let injustices in the unbelieving world impact the person I am? How should I let imperfections in the church affect me? How am I to react to a brother or sister that feels justified in hurting me? How do I relate to brothers or sisters who are very much unlike me?
If I am to believe God forgives me, why do I continue to feel so guilty? If God pardoned me, why do I feel so condemned? If Jesus is my redemption, why do I feel so far from God? If Jesus' resurrection is my hope, why does everyday life tear me apart with endless faith challenges and stomp a broken me with never-ending temptations?
John wrote to Christians who struggled with people among them who claimed great godliness (a) while substituting "special knowledge" for faith and (b) rejecting those who rejected their "special knowledge." These were people who said, "Being saved is merely a matter of having special knowledge, and we have that knowledge--so listen to us.
In today's text, notice the obvious. First, God is not displayed; He is evidenced. No one sees Him. People can see the evidence of Him in the way we love. Knowledge of God is evidenced in becoming a person of love because love is an important part of God's character. The Spirit of God in a person results in the person becoming more loving.
God defines what it means to love. Christians learn the true meaning of love from God and His actions. In love, God sent Jesus to be a propituation/expiation for our sins (the gracious replacement for our sins). God did not do this because we are lovable and inoffensive. God did this in spite of the fact people are unlovable and offensive. God loved us with a love that (a) ignored treating us with the justice we deserved and (b) treated us with grace which we did not deserve.
By His actions in Jesus, God introduces us to a love that exists, not because of the desirability of the loved, but because of the nature of the one who loves. That is most unnatural in this world and its relationships!
Those who are in Christ are dedicated to this kind of love. This kind of love refuses to hate another person in Christ!
No one sees God! They only see God in the person who belongs to God. They see God in the person because they see God's love in the person. The kind of love that moved God to send Jesus to remove our sins is the kind of love that motivates Christians to love each other and to be kind to those who do not believe.
Second, Christians were not ashamed to acknowledge that Jesus is God's son. When John wrote, it could be quite dangerous to affirm faith in Jesus as God's son. The circumstances were not at all like the circumstances in a democracy where it should be safe to affirm faith in Jesus. In John's age, to affirm faith in Jesus as a world Savior often produced disastrous consequences.
Affirming faith in Jesus as Savior was not a matter of convenience but a matter of appreciation. God did the inconvenient in sending and sacrificing Jesus. They were willing to do the inconvenient in acknowledging what God did in Jesus.
We are not talking about intentionally producing unnecessary resentment. We are talking about not being ashamed. It is the contrast between provoking resentment through obnoxious behavior and expressing appreciation for someone who has blessed and delivered us.
God's love for us was a matter of character. Our love for God's work through Jesus is a matter of character. It is because of who God made us to be in Jesus that we are who we are and act as we act. A Christian's love is not centered in his or her pleasure, but in the other person's need.
God's great concern for us is seen in His love that sent us Jesus!
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 6