14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin." Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin." Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 3:7-12
This is the second in a short series on the love passages. Last week we discussed John 3:16 and the following verses. John says much the same in this letter, same author, probably 40 years later: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” We talked last week about a love that promotes a life that is free from condemnation. This passage takes the next step.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
This is the most famous passage in the Bible, arguably in all of human history. But it sure is worth another look. As we start a study of the “love passages” in the New Testament, this one is the perfect place to start. In Jesus’ first major teaching in the Gospel of John, he claims an intimate love that God feels for us and, slightly obliquely, reveals himself for the first time as the Son of God.
At this point, he also proclaims the certainty of eternal life. At that time in Israel, this issue of eternity with God was debated and uncertain. Jesus made it very certain. Then he proceeded to reassure everyone that God does not condemn us, rather he sent Jesus to save us, to redeem us.
There is the interesting “whoever” tucked in here, “whosoever” in older versions. Jesus says that whosoever believes in him will have eternal life. That statement is completely inclusive. It does not exclude anybody, not rabble-rousers or Democrats or prostitutes or Baptists or Mexicans or homosexuals or Jews or bigots or rich folks or anybody. God does not exclude but He knows the heart and knows the essence both of conviction and resistance to conviction. Jesus notes that some people prefer to hide in the dark, believing that their evil deeds will remain hidden. But those who live in truth walk in the light, unconcerned about what will be revealed and happy to confess that God is at the heart of their lives and deeds. God’s love is liberating but also transforming. It sets us free and brings us to our knees. That might be a good place for us, at least some of the time.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:13-18
John starts this passage with the assurance that our faith and assurance come from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In verse 14 he states that “the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” It’s worth noting that this is the third time that John said that in only two paragraphs, in verse 9, 10 and here, verse 14. Perhaps John is into the idea of teaching by repetition. Maybe he employs the literary tool of redundancy to underscore what is really important. It’s only fair to note that in verse 9 he says that God sent his Son so that we might live through him. In verse 10 he adds he gave us Jesus as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. In verse 14 he goes a little bit more general, he sent His Son to be Savior of the world. I’m not wanting to be too academic here, the point is that the emphasis broadens: first, God speaks to those of us who respond through Jesus His Son, second, he says that through Jesus our sins are atoned for, then he points toward to our mandate to take this message to the whole world.
