Lesson 23: Love’s Necessity (1 John 4:19-21)

God’s love is meant to shape a Christian’s life. Believers have experienced it through God’s example and are then commanded it through writings like those of John. True to form, the Apostle took issue with those who thought they could be followers of Jesus and turn up their noses at others in the church—once again, he stated plainly that such people were liars about their love for God. Pastor Daniel brings out the prominence of this idea in 1 John by stating, “In case you doubted it before, love must be part of your life. It is vital that you not fail this test.” He makes the point that we must love 1) because of love’s source, 2) because we’re not idolaters, and 3) because it is commanded.

Summary by Seth Kempf, Bethany Community Church Staff