“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13)
God’s PropitiationÂ
Jesus died as a propitiation for the world’s sins. A propitiation is a special kind of sacrifice. In the ancient world, people offered gifts to appease their gods’ anger. The world’s sins anger our Heavenly Father. Paul warns in Romans 1:18 that the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness. Thus, Jesus came to our world to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, satisfying God’s anger and His need for justice. The sacrifice of Jesus is a gift that removes God’s anger.
Perfected Love as Evidence of the Unseen God
According to John, the sacrifice of Jesus produces two results. First, we will live through Him. Because we have sinned, we face eternal condemnation, but the sacrifice of Jesus cleanses us and gives us eternal life. The second result is that we must love one another. If God loved us when we were unlovable, then we have no excuse but to love one another. Our love for one another demonstrates that God lives in us. John begins with, “No one has seen God at any time.” God told Moses in Exodus 33:20 that no man can see His face and live.
The Spirit’s Fruit as Evidence of the Unseen God
To follow God means we walk by faith and not by sight. John cites two pieces of evidence of our relationship with the unseen God. First, we love one another. As we grow in our ability to love one another, John says God’s love has been perfected in us. Second, His Spirit abides in us. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3 that the wind cannot be seen, but its effects are evident. Paul compared the effect of the Spirit to fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. The Spirit helps me grow more loving, joyful, and kind.
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