“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (KJV, 1 John 4:9-10).
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us”
To say that something has been manifested is to say that something has been very clearly revealed. The Greek word translated as manifested is phaneroo, which occurs nine times in the Gospel of John and nine times in 1 John.
In context, we see the love of God was manifested toward God’s creation. Elsewhere we read John telling us that God is love. Thus, we can see that there is an invisible element concerning love. In the same way, the believer’s love will first reside in his heart; in that sense, it is not seen and known.
However, there is more to the story. The invisible love of God was manifested to His creation. Real love cannot be contained. Invisible love is made visible by its very nature. The love within gets poured out for all to see.
But it is important to note yet again that God’s love was made manifest, and therefore it has been revealed clearly. God has clearly shown His love, and so should the Christian’s love be clearly visible.
“because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world”
The love of God was made manifest to the world in the sending of His Son. In the Gospel of John, we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1,14). When God sent His Son, Jesus, to the world, He displayed His love clearly and tangibly.
At the begging of 1 John, John tells us that he saw Jesus with his eyes, heard Jesus’s voice, and touched Jesus. What the Christian is getting a glimpse of in 1 John 1:1-4 is the clear display of God’s love. John heard the love of God, saw the love of God, and touched the of God. John’s senses were overwhelmed with the love of God.
It should never be said that God must do more than He has already done. Christ came into the world, and in Christ, the love of God has been revealed. The beloved Son, the only begotten Son, who dwelled with the Father throughout all eternity, was given to the world as a ransom for sin. The rebels of the world were given a Savior. The enemies of God were sent a Redeemer. The depths of the love of God can be seen in Christ.
The problem is not that God has not given man enough evidence of His love. The problem is man loves himself more than God. However, the believer has been captivated by the love of God and has turned from sin to the Savior.
“that we might live through him”
God sent His Son so that the Christian would have life. It was Satan who came to steal, kill, and destroy. However, Jesus came that the believer would have life and have it abundantly. Life in Christ is twofold.
First, the life that God offers is for the here and now. Paul tells us that the believer has been baptized into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for the purpose of bringing newness of life to the current moment. Elsewhere, Paul tells us that the Christian has been made into a new creation, old things have passed away, and new things have come.
The new life that is given to the believer is nothing short of the divine life of Christ. Through union with Christ, the believer is born again and connected to the Vine. The Vine is active in the Christian’s life, and the Christian is now a branch of the Vine. The branch does not have life by itself. The branch’s life is directly related to the life that the Vine gives.
John’s words must be met with deep meditation and with the hope that the Spirit of God would do something with them in the heart. God has given Jesus to the world so that the Christian would live through Him.
There is no life apart from Jesus. Evidence of life in the Christian, such as fruit-bearing, does not come apart from Christ. It only comes by way of Christ dwelling within. John starts his Gospel by introducing the reader to Jesus. Here is what he says, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:3-4). In Jesus alone can life be found.
However, John is also looking ahead to eternal life, which is also life with Christ. Nevertheless, the Bible tells us that Jesus within is the hope of glory. The union that Christ shares with the believer is inseparable. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that since God would not cast His Son into hell, he will not cast the believer into hell either. The believer’s union with Christ is firm and will stand.
“Herein is love, not that we loved God”
The striking reality presented to the reader is that amid God’s work of sending His Son, man’s love toward God was nonexistent. God did not send His Son into a world longing to know God. Instead, we read of the reception of Jesus.
Jesus was mocked by many and ridiculed. He was persecuted and hung on the cross to die a sinner’s death. The people conspired against Him to accuse Him of crimes He did not commit. One of His disciples betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave.
The majority of His followers deserted Jesus, and many who approached Him had their excuses as to why they could not follow Him. For example, one said he needed to bury His father first, while others could not fathom drinking the blood of Christ and eating his body.
People did not love Jesus because they did not love God. The words of Scripture rang true, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Rom. 3:10-11).
“but that he loved us”
Nevertheless, although none sought after God, God relentlessly pursued man. God’s pursuit of man was nothing short of extraordinary. It was a miraculous pursuit and has no equal in the world man finds himself in. God’s display of love toward man was absolutely grace and nothing less. It was entirely merciful.
God, the Great Initiator, loved man in man’s helpless and sinful state. When man shook his fist at God, God held out His hand. When man spit in the face of God, God astonishingly pursued. Despite man attacking God repeatedly, God humbly turned the other cheek. The grace of God on display in sending His Son should not be taken for granted. The grace of God should not be assumed, either.
God is patient and full of love, but man must respond to this grace while the Gospel call goes out.
“and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins”
And herein, we see the Gospel. God sent His Son into the world to die a sinner’s death and satisfy the wrath of the Almighty God. When Jesus hung on the cross, and the whole world was clouded with thick darkness, it was a time of mourning and a time of wrath.
God the Father crushed the Son for the sake of the sinner. Herein is love, not that man loved God, but God loved man. Repent and believe.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the love of Christ. What a blessing it is to know Him. You have been so good to me; words cannot do justice to Your work. You have been faithful. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.