The products of Love:
- God came down to join us: (4:12-13, 15-16): When we became believers, the Holy Spirit lived in us as a proof that we belong to Him. He also gives us the power to love others to lead them to Christ. In the same way believers love each other more than their blood brothers or sisters. Although each one come from different background and different culture, it is the love of God which binds them together and worship our Lord. Again a believer’s Spirit-led obedience becomes the evidence that he is enjoying the mutual abiding relationship with God and others. “God is love” is the unique verse only found in (1 Jn.4:16b).
John says: “God is love” but not “Love is God.” Our world with its shallow and selfish view of love, has contaminated the understanding of these words. The world thinks that love is what makes a person feel good and that it is all right to sacrifice moral principles and other’ rights in order to obtain such love. But that is the love. Real love is like God, who is Holy, just and perfect. If we truly know God, we will love as He does.
- God gives us the confidence: (4:17): The day of judgement is that time when all people must appear before Him to give the accounts. When God (Holy Spirit) is in us, we will have no fear to face Him. Rather we can look forward to the day of judgement, because it will mean the end of sin and the beginning of a face to face relationship with Jesus Christ.
- God gives us protection: (4:18): There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear. The fear has punishment carries with it a kind of torment. An unloving believer experiences punishment precisely because he feels guilty and is afraid to meet His Judge. But a Christian who loves has nothing to fear and thus escapes the inner torment which a failure to love can bring. A believers’ love is essentially a derivative.
Of God’s love because He first loved us. A believer who loves other believers also loves God, and in facing his Judge he is simply facing One whom he loves. There is no fear in such an experience; yet he recognizes that his love for God originated in God’s love for him. Therefore a believer is shielded from the fear of facing Judgement of God.