1 John 4:16
1 John 4:16 is three statements,
two of which get lost in that people primarily quote only the middle statement:
“GOD IS LOVE*” But the Power of this statement is in the other two statements!
First is “We have known and Believed
The Love that GOD has for us!” John is speaking of his and the other apostles
personal experience of living and ministering with JESUS for over a year; (1
John 1:1-4) plus their experiences since being baptized in The SPIRIT of GOD!
(1 John 3:23-24)
Then he makes the obvious statement
“GOD IS LOVE!”
Followed by “He who abides in Love
abides in GOD and GOD in him!” (John 8:28-32; 14:22-24; 15:1-17)
Verse 16 was preceded by this
statement: vss. 12-15, “No one has seen GOD at any time! (Exodus 33:15-23; John
1:18)
If we Love one another GOD abides
in us! (Luke 10:26-28 [Deuteronomy 6:5-6;
Leviticus 19:18]; Matthew 5:43-48; John 13:34-35)
And His Love has been perfected in
us! (John 1:14) [Think about “His Love has been perfected in us”, has it?]
By this we know that we abide in
him and He in us, (by what? His Love in us) because He has given us His SPIRIT.
(John 14:15-17, 16:8-14)
And we have seen and testify that
The Father has sent The Son as the Savior of the world. (John 3:16-17)
Whoever confesses that JESUS is
The Son of GOD, GOD abides in him and he in GOD.” (Romans 10:8-13)
* Love = agapaō: to Love in a
social or moral sense. (compare to philĕō) 4:12 “if we love”
Love = agapē: (from agapaō) affection
or benevolence; love feast; charity; dear; love. 4:12 “His Love is perfected”;
4:16 “…and believed The LOVE that GOD has for us…” “…GOD IS LOVE…” “…he that abides
in Love…”
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of
The Bible with Greek Dictionary and Lexicon, MacDonald Publishing
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