1 John 3v16-18

16 In this, we have Aknown1 the love, because that one Alay down-a the soul of him for the sake of us and we Aought to Alay down the souls for the sake of the brothers.

What is ‘the love?’

We can only know experientially ‘the love’ because Jesus lay down-a the soul of him.  This is God’s love towards us.

  • Many translations use the word ‘life’ rather than ‘soul;’
  • When translated as life, we tend to only think of the crucifixion but laying down your soul is much more than that;
  • What is the soul?  The will, the emotions, the affections/desires, the imagination and possibly the intellect (depending on where the mind fits);
  • Notice the aorist tense – continues to do so but not continual sacrifice of His life; 
  • Jesus did and is laying down his will and desires to please His father which included the crucifixion but also by continually being atonement for us, interceding for us and working on our behalf; 
  • So following the example of Jesus, we are to lay down our souls for other Christians;
  • It may not mean physical death but there are numerous ways in which we can selflessly lay down our soul (will and desires) for other Christians.

‘The love’ is also described in 1 John 4v10:

  • This verse speaks of the selfless, sacrifice of Jesus’ blood so that He could be atonement for us.

17 Moreover, whoever might Ahave the livelihood of the world and might Alook at the brother of him Ahaving need and might Ashut up-a the bowels of him, from him, how the love of (the) God Aabides in him?

In addition to laying down our soul:

  • We are to give to other Christians in need;
  • Livelihood – the material things we need to survive in life;
  • Bowels – the bowels were regarded by the Hebrews as the seat of the tender affections such as kindness, benevolence and compassion.

The question John asks is how does a Christian have the love of God abiding in him if he is not helping his brother so:

What is the love of God? 

  • It can have 2 meanings depending on context:
  • God’s love to/for us;
  • Our love for God.

Examples:

  1. 1 John 4v9 – God’s love to us;
  2. 1 John 5v3 – Our love for God.

In this verse, does John mean God’s love given to us or our love for God?

  • I would lean towards the view that it is God’s love given to us as it should abide in us, whereby we can then love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

18 Little children of mine, we might not Alove by word nor by tongue, but by deed and by truth

  • Easy to say the words like ‘I love you’ or ‘I’m praying for you’ or ‘I’m thinking of you’;
  • We are to love by deed;
  • Love is a verb – it is a doing word – selfless, sacrificial action;
  • Love by truth – to be continued…