“We love him, because he first loved us” (KJV, 1 John 4:19).
“We love him”
This short verse is vital for the Christian to understand. But before we get to the foundation for the Christian’s love, we must first think about the love of the Christian. In these three words, John conveys a strong message.
First, he says, “We.” The “We” of the verse are the recipients of his letter. He did not exclude some of his recipients but instead included them all. In essence, he was saying, “We Christians.” Thus all Christians are included in the verse.
Second, he speaks of love. This is not a fleeting love based upon emotion but a commitment of the will. It is agape love that is sacrificial and selfless. It has another’s interests in mind and does not insist on its own way.
Finally, John speaks of the object of the Christian’s love. It is God. It is the God of creation. It is the God of the Bible, the one true God, and only God. Thus, John moves from the Christian to the command to the object.
The Bible has much to say about the Christian’s love toward God. For instance, when God sought to establish the Jews as His chosen people, He said, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:5).
God has always desired love from His chosen people.
The command is so exceedingly high that in the New Testament, one reads, “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live” (Luke 10:25-28).
The Jews knew of the importance of the command; to truly walk in it would be to inherit eternal life.
But what does it look like to love God? It consists of determination. David has said, “I will love thee, O Lord my strength” (Ps. 18:1).
The magnitude of David’s love toward God is not adequately appreciated. His heart was wholly true to God all his days except for the matter of Uriah the Hittite. He was a man after God’s own heart. As a result, he was determined to love the Lord and said, “I will love thee.”
To love the Lord is to be like a deer that pants for flowing streams. The Psalmist has said, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…” (Ps. 42:1-2).
A deer pants for flowing streams recognizing that the stream is its source of life. Apart from the stream, the deer could not go any further. He must come and drink, for without the refreshing stream, he would die. The heart of the Christian must be the same. God is the life of the Christian.
Until He is recognized as such, the love of the Christian will not get beyond the surface.
Love toward God consists of having a one-track mind. It is to see God as Asaph did when he said, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon the earth that I desire beside thee” (Ps. 73:26). It is to behold the glory of God and be captivated by Him.
It is a blessing to love God truly. The one who does will know that joy is the inevitable outcome. Scripture says, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee” (Ps. 5:11).
The joy of the Lord is directly connected with a love for God.
“because he first loved us”
But the question arises, “Why does a Christian love the Lord?” John says the Christian loves God because God first loved the Christian. God initiated the relationship. He did not see something special in some that was not there in others. Instead, God loved when man did not. Therein is the glory of the Gospel message.
The love of the Christian toward God will be radically affected when he sees that God loved him despite him.
The Bible says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:6-8).
For a righteous person, one would likely dare to die. But Paul had already said, “…There is none righteous, no, not one… there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10,12). Thus, Christ died for the ungodly.
The love of God is best seen in the work of Christ. In speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus told Him of the love of God. He said that God sent Him so that the people of the world could inherit eternal life. Jesus was not sent to condemn the world but to save the world. Therein is love. God sent His Son to die for rebels. God sent His Son to die for sinners.
As a result, Paul was taken aback by the love of God.
He confessed, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14-15).
The love of Christ constrained Paul. It controlled and compelled Paul. It was a powerful force that Paul could not help but notice.
Christ died for sinners of whom Paul was the greatest. At least, that is what he had said. He had God’s love before his eyes like David, who said, “For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth” (Ps. 26:3).
The love of God changes a person. It is not something that is adequately beheld without transformation.
The previous verse states that David placed the lovingkindness of God before his eyes. But the preceding verses of the Psalm must also be considered for Psalm 26:3 to be genuinely appreciated.
David said, “Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord: therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart” (Ps. 26:1-2).
David told God to examine, prove him, try him, and look into his heart. What a remarkable statement.
But why did David feel assured in God’s examination? He believed he was walking uprightly before the Lord. But why? He says, “For thy lovingkindess is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth” (Ps. 26:3).
When David set the love of God before his eyes, it changed him. He walked in love toward God, but God loved him first.
It is not a silly venture to set out upon the love of God. To search for an understanding of this love is time well spent. The Bible states, “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindess of the Lord” (Ps. 107:43).
Wisdom and an understanding of God’s love are close companions.
The love of God draws the Christian, perseveres him, comforts him, and revives him. It is the love of God that bestows mercy and gives much grace. It is the love of God that forgives and adopts. It is the love of God that causes the Christian to love God.
Final Prayer
Father, I thank You for Your love toward me. You have been loving beyond measure, and I have not been grateful enough for Your love. Thank You for helping me to love You by loving me first. In Jesus’ name, Amen.