The First Epistle of John

1. The First Epistle of John God is Love, Part 1 - I John 4:17-19 • I John 4:17 – “Herein love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” • What does it mean herein love has been perfected in us? • Does it relate to the previous verse? • I John 4:16 - And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. • Is this conditional? • The verb tense here for perfected is perfect passive indicative • perfect is better translated ‘having been made full’ or ‘complete’ • The perfect tense in Greek corresponds to the perfect tense in English, and describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated. • How does this verb tense relate to the first half of this verse? • Is having been perfected dependent on our love? • How should this statement make us feel? • How then should we respond? 1 Aug 21, 2011 Bob Eckel

2. The First Epistle of John God is Love, Part 1 - I John 4:17-19 • For what purpose? • Can you picture this - having boldness in the day of judgment • What judgment – here on earth, following our rapture, or at the Great White Throne? • This is John’s only use of the phrase – day of judgment. • The three options: • I Peter 4:17For the time [has come] for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if [it begins] with us first, what will [be] the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? • I John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (II Cor 5:10, I Cor 3:12-15 – rewards). • II Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. • that we may have - present active subjunctive 2 Aug 21, 2011 Bob Eckel

3. The First Epistle of John God is Love, Part 1 - I John 4:17-19 • boldness – confidence, all out-spokenness, frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication assurance (Strong’s) • This is anything but being a passive participant in this judgment • Does this give us some idea as to which judgment is forthcoming? • Only at that time? • No, now because as He is so are we now – in this world. • Both is and are - present indicative; now and factual! • Positional and/or conditional? • Eph 2:6 ‘and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,’ • I John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” • Fear and perfect love are therefore like oil and water. • casts out – present active indicative • Is fear always self-centered?. 3 Aug 21, 2011 Bob Eckel

4. The First Epistle of John God is Love, Part 1 - I John 4:17-19 • Is this fear only of the judgment? • Perhaps death? • But see Heb 2:14,15 • If not just these two things, then why at times do we still have fear? • fear involves bondageor has to do with torment (judgment or punishment). • Rom 8:15 - For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father.“ • II Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. • How do you interpret perfect love casts out fear? • Godly fear of offending God is quite distinct from a fear of bondage that puts us in a position of consciously deserving punishment. • Is this fear then Spirit-lead? • If we understand by love, that we are in God, and God is in us, and that we are sons and we know God, then only peace and solitude should follow. • I John 4:19 – “We love [Him] because He first loved us.” 4 Aug 21, 2011 Bob Eckel

5. The First Epistle of John God is Love, Part 1 - I John 4:17-19 • [Him] is not in the original text – does this make any difference? • Our love is present active subjunctive whereas God’s love is aorist active indicative. • The subjunctive mood is the mood of possibility and potentiality. The action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances. • Is this a surprise? • The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time. There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, though it is generally rendered as a simple past tense in most translations. • And like our love, His love is active but unlike our love his love is a fact and unequivocal. • Notice the condition for our loving here. • How do we respond to this? 5 Aug 21, 2011 Bob Eckel

6. The First Epistle of John God is Love, Part 1 - I John 4:17-19 • 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. • Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, • Titus 3:3-5 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, • Thus, our love has nothing to do with the circumstances, how we feel, or whether our neighbor is deserving, but who we are! 6 Aug 21, 2011 Bob Eckel