March 16: Living 3:16 - It's all About Love

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

You may have been witnessing to someone when the person adopted a supposed demeanor of wisdom and a far away look in the eyes. You then heard words similar to these. "I don't need the Bible to guide me. It's just a book of myths. As for me, I worship a God of love. That's all." The person does not realize that the Bible, standing alone among the world's great religious, describes God as the God of love. That assertion is uniquely biblical. Be careful, however, not to reverse the order and say love is God, a popular expression of heresy. Love is an essential attribute, but only an attribute of God.

We begin our study with the Father's love (Jn. 3:16). About half a century ago, I picked up the following outline of John 3:16, titled "The Greatest Gift." "God," the greatest lover; "so loved," the greatest degree; "the world," the greatest object; "that He gave," the greatest act; "His only begotten Son," the greatest gift; "that whosoever," the greatest attraction; "should not perish," the greatest promise; "but," the greatest difference; "have," the greatest certainty; "everlasting life," the greatest possession. No wonder this verse is so popular that signs extolling it sometimes are held up at athletic events.

Standing on an equal footing with the Father's love is the Son's obedience (1 Jn. 3:16). We rightly extol the love of God as measureless and pure, but the Son's love reaches the same sublime level. His obedience rested on the simple necessity of providing a basis for the saving of sinners. Because He died for us, we must be willing to lay down our lives for others. We elevate the faith of Abraham who was willing to sacrifice his son's life because he knew God would raise Isaac from the dead (Heb. 11:19). We sometimes overlook the faith of Isaac in being a willing sacrifice.

We turn our attention next to love's testimony (vv. 17-20). One of the continuing points of discussion in the Christian community concerns the connection between faith and works. We Baptists correctly argue that one produces good works to prove we are saved, and not in order to procure salvation. But the failure of many professing Christians to live up to their commitment remains an embarrassment.

The Bible appeals to a sense of shame on anyone who, seeing his or her brother in distress, refuses to render aid (v. 17). By helping the needy, the believers thereby reassure themselves they live in the truth (v. 19). Even when the heart condemns their failure to act, God, greater than the heart, knows its true intent (v. 20).

Living 3:16 necessarily requires the mouth's confession (4:15-16). To abide in God, seekers must confess "Jesus is God." The Bible adds the profound statement that "God is love," alluding to God's Self-revelation. As Jesus Himself said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will confess before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32). The Bible allows no room for compromise in that regard.

The Bible then adds the additional idea about love's assurance (vv. 17-18). When love is lived out in the world, we gain boldness in Christ to depend on Him in the day of judgment to be our defense attorney. Love banishes all fear. When we fear God we are not convinced He loves us completely (Living Bible).

Our study comes to its fullest expression in love's victory (5:2-5). Verse one, the key verse, is not a designated part of our study, but the new birth opens the meaning of all that follows. Being born of God, we prove that we love Him by keeping His commandments (v. 2). By this we know that we love the children of God. In this glorious bond between God and His children, victory over the world becomes a blessed reality (v. 4). And what is the source of the victory? Our faith in Jesus Christ gives the victory. Love is supreme.