This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

The word “love” is used 27 times in 1John, not even
counting when John calls his community “beloved.”

That’s because love is intrinsic
to God's nature; God is love.

God is the definition of love.

And God has further defined love
as Jesus dying so that we can live.

Love is not defined as our love for God but as
Jesus’ sacrificial death to cover our sins.

And if we accept that redemptive
love, we become children of God.

Children always carry the
characteristics of their Father.

Jesus demonstrates this family resemblance
by revealing his Father’s love—and so must we.

All children of God must carry the defining mark
of loving brothers, sisters, and even enemies.

John uses the term “antichrists” for
people opposed to Jesus and his family.

And the tell-tale sign
of an antichrist is hatred.

But antichrists are hateful not because they’re
uncharitable and violent (although they often are),

but because antichrists deny the
revelation of “God-Is-Love” in Jesus.

Antichrists can be either cruel
and violent or kind and inclusive.

What defines an antichrist is that he or she is against
Jesus’ sacrificial death for our sins,
and so against God’s definition of love.

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By denying Jesus’ death, the antichrists have eroded the
confidence John’s community has in God’s love for them.

But John wants his disciples to
be confident that God loves them.

God’s love is a matter of history.

God’s love has died in the past
and has been raised forever.

God has loved us first
and continues to do so.

We don’t need to be unsure of God’s love for us because
God’s love is defined and demonstrated on the cross.

We have no reason to be
afraid inside of God’s love!

John says that fear has to do with punishment.

We’re afraid we’re not enough,
and God will reject us for it.

But God knew all about our sin, lack of
love, and hatred when he died on the cross.

In perfect love Jesus died fully
aware of what he was paying for.

So, there’s no reason for you to be afraid
inside that type of unconditional love.

God shows the world the
definition of love by giving us his Son.

And now, like our Father and Brother, we can
show the world God’s love by loving those around us.

That begins by proclaiming that God has come and died
in Jesus and is perfected when we love as Jesus loved.

But in the same way that it’s possible to fear God doesn’t
love us, it’s also possible to fear not loving others well enough.

But John says we know we love one another
because we love God and keep his commandments.

The love we have for God and for his sacrificial death,
necessarily bleeds over and transforms
our love towards one another.

The work of loving others isn’t another
reason to be afraid we’re missing the mark,

but celebratory proof
that we are God’s children.

The good news is that the world, its
hate, and its antichrists are passing away.

The good news is that love brings confidence and casts out fear
because in love Jesus has come, died, and overcome the world.

May the Holy Spirit open your
eyes to see the God who is love.

And may you see Jesus as your atoning
sacrifice who demonstrates and defines love—

and by his resurrection
overcomes the world.