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John referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” on several occasions in his writings (John 20:2).   That sounds very brash and egotistical.  Think about it for a moment.  Have you ever went up to someone and said, “hello, I’m the one whom Jesus loves.”  Why was John so confident in his relationship with Jesus?  What does it mean to be loved by Jesus?  I know no better reference than John to discover the answer to these questions.

John first met Jesus while fishing on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  When called, he left his family and business to become a disciple of Jesus.  He was appointed as one of the twelve Apostles and was part of Jesus‘ inner circle of three.  He was one of the “sons of thunder” and yet it was John who leaned on the breast of Jesus during the last supper.  Jesus charged him with the responsibility of taking care of His mother after He was gone from the earth.  He was invited to hear the private teachings of Jesus before the crucifixion and during the forty days after the resurrection.  He was one of the 120 in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost.  He wrote the Gospel of John, three epistles and the Book of the Revelation.  John was intimately acquainted with Jesus, His teachings and His love.

The idea of God’s love being unconditional is generally accepted in Christian circles, and I agree.  God has extended His loving hand to Jew and Gentile alike, doesn’t discriminate between race or gender and is not limited by regional boundaries.  The whosoever in John 3:16 means you!.  However, the following verses (3:17-21) in John’s Gospel addresses our need to respond to God’s love.

Those who believe are promised eternal life and salvation from the wrath that is to come.  On the other hand, unbelievers love darkness rather than the Light and don’t want their evil deeds exposed.  Jesus didn’t come to judge the world because it has already been judged.  The unbelievers have chosen to remain in the darkness and reject God’s loving offer of salvation.  A believer has received by faith the love of God and forgiveness for their sins.  According to John our relationship with God doesn’t end there.

The unique quality of love is that it takes two to make it a rewarding and eternal experience.  The connection between two people is made upon receiving the offer of love, not when it is offered.  The response to an offer will determine the longevity of any relationship.  True love is offered and received by choice without coercion.  John provides a better understanding of a proper response to God’s love in his first epistle.

First, obedience is the test of our love to God (1 John 2:3-6).  Jesus taught those who love Him will keep His commandments.  John said you’re a liar if you claim to know God but don’t keep His commandments.  It’s not possible to love the Messiah without loving His message.  It is through obedience that our love is perfected and grows.  His abiding love causes us to walk in the manner He walked.  If we claim to love God, then we will love His Son.  If we love the Son, then we will love His commandments.  If we love His commandments, then we will love His church and our enemies, including the betrayers and deniers.

Second, the fruit of our love is righteousness (1 John 3:8-10).  God’s love is transforming.  Salvation is described as the “new creation” or the “born again” experience.  We are new creatures in Christ, therefore, old things have passed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).  God replaced the seed of Adam with the seed of Christ and the fruit of that exchange is righteousness.  The idea of practicing sin should be repulsive and foreign to anyone with a God conscience.

Third, the Substitute is the source and strength of our love (1 John 4:7-14).  It’s impossible for a believer to live the Christ-life apart from the Holy Spirit.  The word “propitiation” means substitute.  Jesus was our Passover Lamb (substitute) who died on Good Friday.  In obedience to the Father’s will, our sin was laid upon Him and He was condemned with our death sentence.  In exchange, our sentence is repealed and our account reconciled when we put our faith in the work of the cross.  Rather than being overcome, He became the conqueror of sin and death by snatching the keys out of the devil’s hand.  Now we are more than conquerors because He overcame.  In all this, the Holy Spirit was sent to walk along beside us and empower us to live the Christ-life.

Fourth, the power of love destroys fear (1 John 4:15-21).  Love casts out fear like you throw out the trash.  Fear is the residue of a sin conscience and responding to God’s love will drive it out.  We have confidence the punishment reserved for the devil and his angels in the day of judgement is not our destiny.  The chains of guilt and shame are broken and cast out with the fear.  We are now free to be all Jesus died for us to be.

According to John, God doesn’t just have love – He is love!  All His dealings with mankind are rooted in love that is unconditional, moral and unselfish.  God respects our will and ability to choose whether we want a relationship with Him or not.  Upon acceptance, our growth in His love results in obedience, righteousness, liberty (freedom from fear) and His presence in our lives.  The effect of loving Him is transformation, renewal and eventually eternal life.

We are His children because we have His Spirit and, therefore, His mind and nature (1 Corinthians 2:16).  His commandments may be burdensome in the flesh but not in the Spirit.  We are challenged to walk as He walked to the point of loving even our enemies.  We have overcome the world because we have been born of God (1 John 5:1-4).  The victory that has overcome the world is our faith.  Our faith only works in conjunction with love (Galatians 5:6).

John was the first of the Twelve to believe in the risen Lord (John 20:8).  John realized the impact of God’s love in his life because he loved God in return.  He did not consider it common.  The resurrection was real the moment he stepped into the empty tomb.

He is risen indeed but not for believers to remain in their sin.  His resurrection was an open display of His victory over sin and death.  The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us.  The same resurrection power gives us the victory over this world.

Romans 8:11 (KJV) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Does God love you?  Indeed He does.  Do you love God?  That is a question only you can answer.  Will you be one whom Jesus loves?  I hope your answer will be settled before Judgement Day.