4:13-16
The Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. He assures us that we live in Him. Acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God is a crucial sign too. Jesus is the focus of all the Father’s plans, so we testify that the Father sent His Son to be the saviour of the world. “So we know and rely on the love God has for us”. What we believe matters, but it is also a relationship, a love relationship with God.
4:17,18
We will have confidence on the day of judgement because of God’s love for us. False teachers often rely on fear, but perfect love drives out fear. “Fear has to do with punishment”. The cross has paid the price for us, Jesus took on Himself the punishment that should have been ours, so we have no fear. God’s love drives out fear.
4:19-21
God’s love for us is the starting point, we love in response to His love for us. Again John points out that hating a brother or sister is incompatible with loving God. How can we say we love God who is unseen if we do not love a brother or sister who we can see?
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