The Perfected Love of God | 1 John 4:11-12

All right, good morning everybody. I've blessed Lord's Day today Let's turn to First John chapter 4 once again as we continue to unpack this chapter starting in verse 11 first first John chapter 4 verse 11

God's Word says beloved if God so loved us. We also ought to love one another

No one has beheld God at any time if we love one another God abides in us and his love is perfected in us

This is God's Word. Amen so I want to start out by Explaining the the sermon title a little bit

I Named the sermon that the perfected love of God now There's obviously a sense in which

God's love is not perfected because God's love is perfect It never was not perfect Because God is perfect.

He has perfection and all His attributes are perfect, so that's not what's meant here

It's but it's the Specifically pertaining to the verse we just read that the love of God is perfected in us in us right, so that's the the what the sermon title is is pointing to and Last week being the manifested love of God through the gospel in his son and this week the perfected love of God in us in God's people, so that being said

La again last Lord's Day I I Introduced the excellencies of God's love the excellencies of God's love of which there are many but The I focused specifically on four of them, right?

It was specifically on four of them Which I'll get to in a moment but and and you you'll recall that I also

Put forward an axiom for us to meditate on and to consider that in general

God's love is gospel God's love is gospel grace promise those things

While our love is law our love is obedience. It's law.

It's our response To God and his word So God's love is

Gospel in the sense of that it's because of what he has done for us what he has done for us through Christ's finished work primarily on the cross that's exactly why

Jesus Said very clearly unequivocally it is finished right in the

Gospels. It is finished The tele style is the Greek word that that's an important word.

That's going to come up again So that's God's love as gospel however, there there is some

So there's some addition Additional clarification or distinction that we need to make

Regarding God's love because God's love is also in another sense

Ongoing it's ongoing and it's bestowed on us and So his love

Also disciplines us his love disciplines us with his sanctifying word

Which includes law and gospel it includes both right he he?

His word is truth and that sanctifies us like Jesus prayed in John 17 17 and his high priestly prayer

So his love disciplines us Including with his Sanctifying law with his sanctifying law as we will continue to see

Lord willing today and his love of course never fails his love doesn't change his love is not fickle his love

It's not he loves me, and then he loves me not that's not God's love God's love never fails and The the four excellencies of God's love that I introduced last week

Were that God's love is redemptive and restorative the first two redemptive restorative and also regenerative and reformative regenerative and reformative and By redemptive and Restorative this is pointing to here's another

I think Helpful way to frame it His justifying love his his justifying love

Because God's love justifies us in That it redeems us it redeems us and restores us right amen so so God's love is a

Justifying love it points to our justification because it was accomplished by his love for us and Also What he has done for us through his son

Especially now it's Meaning it's forensic. It's Synthetic which is a reformation term that our justification is synthetic.

It's completely outside of us and It's legal. It's external and objective

This is something that's outside of us, and it's objective to the to the objective promises and and work of God and remember the the redemptive love axiom

That I that I laid down last week That you cannot have

God's love unless God's wrath has been satisfied on your behalf through his son alone whom he sent to be the propitiation for all our sins like the earlier verses of Revealed to us in verse 10 so That's those are the the the two excellencies that are

Justifying Aspects of his love now the second two redemptive and a store restorative love of God is a sanctifying love right and in in our understanding of salvation

There's two critical Doctrines that we have to distinguish in order Logically and properly there's justification which is always first Where God legally reckons us righteous on the count of what

Christ did for us, and we receive it by faith alone But then there is the follow -up

Doctrine of sanctification which is a lifelong process whereby we are growing increasingly in righteousness and dying to sin

Right so his love Covers both God's love covers both.

It's a justifying love and it's also a sanctifying love it's a sanctifying love that Renovates us it's renovated and it transforms us.

It's renovated and transformative and internal in that sense and it's subjective in that sense because it's it's personally working in us and through us and It's also behavioral it changes our behavior and conforms us to righteousness holiness and away from sin

So these are very important categories to understand and they're really just an application of The other doctrines in God's Word to God's love because God's love fits in and all of this perfectly and So, what do

I mean exactly by regenerative that God's love is regenerative God's love regenerates us

Because he recreates us in a sense and Causes us to adjust our course and to walk in newness of life as Renewed creations in Christ Right.

I'm gonna repeat that so God's love regenerates us and recreates us

Causing us to adjust our course and walk in newness of life obedience holiness righteousness

Repentance Modification all those things as renewed creations in Christ as new creatures like 2nd

Corinthians says so This is Another very important aspect of God's love and so Here we

I Want to go back to the verses again in verse 11 where we see

God's Word telling us beloved if God so loved us and There again, it's that love with all his excellencies, but especially

Regenerative love. Why do I say that? Because the verse continues we also then

Therefore ought to love one another Because God so loved us

So we therefore ought to love one another because God's love is regenerative

It's transformative and it causes us to obey and walk in God's statutes like Ezekiel 36 also says

We also ought to love one another that's law. That's God's law.

We must we are called to love one another fellow believers in Christ, especially

No and verse 12. No one No one has beheld

God at any time if we love one another if We love one another

Now note this it's because of not therefore. Okay, because of Because of God because God a bar abides in us

Not not therefore, right we love one another

Not therefore God abides in us the reason we love one another is because God abides in us.

Okay, and we'll we'll prove that further with more scripture, but His God rim abides or remains in us

Remains in us. That's gospel. That's gospel right there beloved God abides in us and his love is perfected in us

It's perfected in us It's made complete and that word is a very special word

It's the same word that Christ used on the cross that tell us die. It is finished the word here's

The word here is That the layo many that the layo many it's the same word and there's kind of a wordplay going on here because the word abides is many and God's love

God abides he many in us and his love is perfected.

It's the tele the tele yo many the tele yo many so in us right very interesting wordplay that The word is using here

In the sense that it's perfected in us in that it be it's visibly.

It's visibly outwardly Reformative it's visible

Now it's it's subjectively at work and being perfected in us, so God's love then gives us it gives us repentance and faith.

Those are gifts from God to change our mind repentance and understand and agree with the gospel and That gives us new spiritual life

From death to life it brings us from the dead to life and Gives us a new moral nature

Right not a new nature altogether because we're still human. We're still who we are

It's just that we have a renewed nature a renewed moral nature meaning a new disposition a new inclination by Because God's love realigns our deepest convictions thoughts words and actions to his word and his will

Because his spirit abides in us amen God's word and will that's what we are being transformed to to look more like his his

Monogamy son his unique one -of -a -kind son so Now let's let's exercise the analogy of scripture here and compare another verse 1st

John 4 verse 7 just so back up with me there a little bit Because what

I said about verse 12 that if we love one of one another It's because of the fact that God abides in us not we must love one another in order for God to abide in us and 1st

John 4 chapter 4 verse 7 Says this very thing it says everyone who loves who loves especially the brothers has been born of God has been born of God already and Knows God Okay, and then if we if we look at verse 9

It's so that we might live through him. That's God's regenerative

Reformative love so that we might live through him his son

Or that might be to through God the father but but it's the same

God obviously so That's very important to understand here. There's a there's a doctrinal

System that God is teaching us and this system literally this is a reality

This is a reality in all of us who belong to God who were chosen by God and who have been loved by God God's love

Changes us it conforms us it transforms us it regenerates us

That's why people who say Oh, I know God. I love

God, but then they they they contradict their words by their lifestyle

That's hypocrisy and that's making God a liar Because scripture is clear God God's love is

Renovative and transformative as well It's the whole package.

We don't we you don't get some and not other benefits. We get all the benefits

All the benefits are in God through the in part through the mediate the mediatorial work of Christ the

Son and the Spirit our advocate All these things come together work together now

Titus turn with me to Titus chapter 3 verse 4. We'll see here a more explicit

Explanation here of what regeneration is This is a very important verse

To know very important verse for for several reasons and we'll see why

God's Word says verse 4, but when the kindness and affection and Love and love right of God our

Savior appeared Appeared was manifested displayed his gospel his son.

He saved us not by works which we did in righteousness not by works, but according to his mercy his mercy alone

Through the washing of regeneration through the washing of regeneration and Renewing there you see it again

Renewing by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our

Savior So that having been justified by his grace. We would become heirs according to the hope of eternal life and That's something that we can all shout.

Amen to So So here there's so many important things being taught here

Notice that it says the the washing of regeneration not the regeneration of washing

We don't we don't wash ourselves and then become regenerated. We are regenerated and that is what washes us

Because the sanctifying work of the Spirit Renews us it renews us it transforms us and conforms us to the image of a son and that's what we have to understand in the order of God's salvation in the order salutis as the theological term says so we must understand this carefully

God's order of how redemption and His his sanctifying work is applied in all of us who believe so In light of that passage turn with me now to 2nd

Corinthians chapter 5 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 This is a very very clear and important memory verse as well

We should all seek to commit this to memory very important text 2nd

Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 God speaks and says therefore if Anyone if anyone without exception is in Christ He is a new creation he is a new creation a renewed creation

The old things passed away behold behold look and see new things have come and It will be

Manifestly evident because God's love is being perfected in all of us who have been given the gift of repentance and faith so That's very clear.

I hope we see More clearly now how God's love is regenerative.

It's a regenerative love Because it renews us and it washes

Us of all our Sin, so I want us to focus now on on A phrase here on an important phrase in verse 12 and it's back in 1st

John chapter 4 verse 12 where it says no one has

Beheld God at any time. No one has beheld

God at any time So that's that's a that's a very curious interesting

Phrase there. No one has seen God at any time the word the word there for beheld or seen is

To have an intent look at something to take something in with one's eyes

With implication that one is especially impressed by or with to see to look at to behold and In this passage it means in a very literal sense

Seeing with your own eyes No one has seen

God at any time in that respect now Why does why does the

God breathe Apostle? John Say this here. Why did he say this here?

It's kind of it's sort of a sudden Like like like almost a hey, by the way, no one has seen

God or beheld God at any time why did he stick that in there and This phrase if you know your

Gospels might be familiar Because the the same Apostle Uses the same phrase back in the gospel of John chapter 1 verse 18 if we turn back over there and we'll see the parallel there

Here we see some some parallels in this verse in the gospel of John the gospel of John chapter 1 verse 18

God's Word tells us No one has seen

God at any time Y 'all see that the same exact phrase

No one has seen God at any time any time without exception the only begotten

God Who is in the bosom of the father? He has explained him

He has explained him so here the verse is actually pretty clear. There's a contrast

Even though nobody has seen God at any time The only begotten

God that is Christ Who is in the bosom of the father? He has explained him.

He has revealed him. He has Exegeted him. That's what the Greek word means.

They're exegeted him He has explained Him He has made him known to us so Why then did the

Apostle use that same phrase in 1st John 4 verse 12? Why did he do that?

Well? the answer in part is because God uses means

This is the this is one of the most critical Lessons in all of Scripture.

We have to understand that God uses means And this is very important because knowing this helps us to keep a balance in How we understand

God's works and providence and how he works in us through us through the church and in the world

Because God doesn't always do everything directly He very frequently uses means

Although no one has seen God directly at any time because God is a spirit and has not a body like men like the

The Children's Catechism teaches us That would that's question nine of the

Catechism for young children the Baptist version so no one

Because God is spirit and has not a body so that like that's what John 4 24 says right

God is spirit And he must be worshipped in spirit and in truth So God cannot be seen in that sense

Now and yet he gave us his own one -of -a -kind son

He gave him to us the word became flesh and Dwelt among among us he became visible through the son through the means of his son

He made himself known That's what verse the gospel says in 118 the son has explained him

Revealed him and what does Jesus tell us in the same gospel?

He that hath seen me hath seen the Father And because the the apostle one of the apostles is like well.

How do we can we see the Father? Can you show him to us are you and Jesus like what do you are you kidding me haven't you been paying attention?

He that has seen me has seen the Father we are one Amen that is an amazing revelation of God's triune

Relationship intra intra trinitarian relationships with the persons of the Godhead it is a fascinating reality

If you have seen Christ you have seen the Father So He is the exact imprint of the

Father The fullness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily like like Colossians and all these passages expound

For us now again

So there's that aspect of his son and even though no one has beheld beheld

God at any time like first John 4 says Yet he also

Demonstrates his abiding love through us his other means

Through us and perfects his love in us Because he chose us to be the objects of his love and affections and that love is consequentially transformative regenerative reformative

Renovative it's another in other words. It's visible

We can't see God directly, but we can see each other and the love that God has for us by our fruit

By what God is working in us to conform us to his son So he chose us to be the objects of his love and affections and his love is regenerative and sanctifies us with a holy love for others

That's what the verse tells us Especially for our precious brothers and sisters in Christ That's how people see

God They see they see God working through our love for one another

Isn't that amazing? so so Christ Teaches us the exact same thing that the word tells us here because it's all his word.

It's all God's Word It's all Christ's Word Turn with me back to the gospel of John in chapter 13 and we will see what

Christ himself said that the analogy of scripture further confirms and parallels for us

What an amazing love that God has for us so John chapter 13 verse 34 beloved

Christ Christ says a new commandment. I give to you that you love one another

Love one another even as I have loved you That you also love one another

By this By your love for one another all will know that you are my disciples

In other words that you belong to God that you are loved by God If you have love for one another that is one of the most powerful ways

That God's love is shown in the world It's by our love for one another by the love that we reflect the love that Christ has for us and Demonstrate it to each other in our marriages in our families in our with our children with our fellow believers

We express that though one another's Care for one another bearing for one another's bearing one another's burdens

We are not just seeking our own interest, but the interest of each other

That is the powerful supernatural love of God that transforms us to To Walk according to his word in that way

It's by God's means in spirit. This isn't something that we do on our own. Obviously we can't

We're hopelessly wretched and fallen and condemned apart from God's Spirit Grace means and everything that comes from God But it will be visible it will be demonstrated

By the fruit of God working in us So that's so important to understand because you know

Some of you might be thinking in the Old Testament, right? Because there's certain places where Moses for example

It says in the Bible that Moses spoke to God face to face Right. It says he spoke to God face to face

But we have to understand what the Bible means by that phrase in Exodus 33 19

Does it literally mean that God spoke to Moses face to face? Is that literally true or is it an anthropomorphism?

Where God has a human face or is described as having a few human face and having an intimate

Relationship with a fellow with another human being like Moses Now we can demonstrate this very clearly further on in the same chapter in Exodus 33 verse 18 if you turn with me there and we'll help to settle this this

What what God means here? Did God really see

Moses? I mean did I mean I'm sorry did Moses really see God directly? Well, let's find out now in Exodus 33 verse 18

Then Moses said I pray you show me your glory show me your glory and He God said

I Myself will make all my goodness pass before you and I will proclaim the name of Yahweh before you and I will be

Gracious to whom I will be gracious and I Will show compassion on whom

I will show compassion Notice how a me what God says there. I will be gracious on whom

I will be It's an expression of God's sovereignty and God's sovereign love of choosing whomever he desires to choose

Amen that's right, baby. So His compassion will be shown on whom he desires to have compassion on but verse 20 he said

You cannot see my face for no man can see me and Live there it is

That's the answer No man can see my face and live

Because God is a consuming fire of holiness Our flesh can't survive the sheer holiness of God's face or presence in that regard so Moses did not literally see

God's face that's an idiom It's a it's a it's a an anthropomorphic language

To describe the intimate relationship that Moses nevertheless did have with God It was a very special relationship and God used

Moses mightily in the history of God's people right, so That's very

Powerful and important to understand beloved and I wanna

I Want to take the time For us to dwell on these things

To make good sense of them and Lord willing Next next

Lord's Day we can we can cover I will cover

God's reformative love God's reformative love because after regenerating us

God's love Continues to it continues to mold us to rebuke

Chasing discipline us and conform us to the image of his son We will see that very clearly as well

So in there's a sense in which God's love is regenerative, but that's sort of a one.

That's a one -time thing at the beginning of our Transformation that's that we don't we're not continually being regenerated

You're regenerated once from death to life and God keeps you alive Through his sanctifying love history his reformative love

Right, so we have to understand the two and how they are Distinguished there one is and it's so one is a

An act of God's grace. The other one is a work a continual work of God's grace and love.

Amen So with that beloved Let us take heart to these things and bask in the glory of God's love as we close out with a word of prayer our

Precious dear Lord and Almighty Father. We thank you so much for your amazing love

Father God that you have for us that you have visibly expressed to us through the precious life and death of your son

Christ Jesus we thank you Lord for sending him to be the full Savior the full propitiation the full satisfaction of wrath on our account

Lord and for Also sending us your spirit to regenerate and transform us according to your will and your word father

Lord help us to rejoice and take comfort and peace and joy in These things in these precious truths in these excellencies father of your love

The the amazing excellencies of your love Lord that you have Chosen us to receive

By your mere grace compassion and mercy that you have decided to show us

Lord We thank you for for humbling us with your love father and for giving us everything that we need by your means father and for also transforming us to become your means of The visible love that you have

For us and expressing that love our love to each other and Consequently showing to the world

The city on a hill that you have set us to be and be an example a light that shines to the dark world

That is lost in sin Lord we thank you for these precious truths father once again.

We ask that you help us to receive and to be Renovated transformed renewed By these deep truths father we thank you and we ask these things in the precious name of your almighty son

Amen Thank you for listening to the sermons of thorn crown covenant

Baptist Church Where the Bible alone and the Bible in its entirety has applied to all of faith and life we strive to be biblical reformed historic confessional

Loving discerning Christians who evangelize stand firm in and earnestly contend for the

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Such as Semper Ephraim on the radio and thorn crown network podcasts Please contact us at thorn crown ministries comm and may the mercy peace and love of our triune