580. 1JN 4:16. SAVING RELIGION A RELIGION OF LOVE

1Jn_4:16. Saving Religion a Religion of Love

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."’971Jn_4:16.

There are two peculiar modes of expression in the text, which are in harmony with other passages of Holy Writ, and which will first demand our attention. It is said of the character described, that "he dwelleth in God." Moses in the 90th Psalm, exclaims, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place," &c. The same idea is enlarged upon in the 91st Psalm, Psa_91:1, and Psa_91:9. It evidently signifies making God the rest, and the chief good of the soul. To trust all to him, and to seek all from him. Then it is added, "God dwelleth in him." Thus God delights in his people. He is their portion, and they are his portion. Paul speaks of this, 2Co_6:16; and Rom_8:9, so 1Jn_4:12. Now these two things are essential to saving religion: our dwelling in God, and God dwelling in us. So says the apostle Paul, "That Christ dwelleth in us, except we be reprobates," i. e., disapproved persons. Having explained these parts of the text, we now proceed to that, which is the great subject of our present discourse. Let us consider,

I. The objects and nature of Christian love: And,

II. Its essentiality to saving religion. Observe,

1. The objects and nature of Christian love. We refer,

(1.) To God. God is the supreme object of our love. No age, or dispensation, or circumstance, can affect the great commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God," &c. He is to be the first, the highest object of our affections. Our love to God must be,

(1.) Filial. We are his offspring. He is our Father.

(2.) Reverential. He is Jehovah, "Lord God, the high and lofty one," &c.

(3.) Confidential. Love which trusts in him, relies on him, &c.

(4.) Grateful. Our benefactor’97our Redeemer. "We love him," &c.

(5.) Of delight. Delighting in God’97joying in God’97blessing God, and being blessed in him. Our love must refer,

2. To God’s people. The love of the brethren: and it must embrace,

(1.) All of them. However different in sentiment, or form of worship. If they love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.

(2.) Not in the same degree. This is impossible. Those we have seen’97those who are most like Christ. Most lovely, &c. There are Christians who are so repulsive, that it is difficult to love them’97to others you are drawn sweetly and almost irresistibly.

(3.) They are to loved unfeignedly, in heart. Not merely in pretence or profession.

(4.) Manifestly. We are to show forth our love to them. By our kindness of speech’97by kindness of spirit, and of action: Prefer their company. "I am a companion of all them," &c. By praying for them. Praying for all saints. By doing them all the good in our power. "Do good, and communicate," &c.

(5.) Without respect of persons. Not having men’s persons in admiration. Not preferring the rich, and despising the poor. Respect of persons is sinful: and this is a great snare. Then our love,

3. Must embrace all men. Our neighbors as ourselves. Even our enemies’97those who despise or hate us. Now this love is not the love of complacency or delight, but of deep pity and compassion. Ready to return good for evil’97blessings for cursing. "If thine enemy hunger, feed him," &c. Such then are the objects and nature of Christian love. Now we remark,

II. Its essentiality to saving religion. It is so,

1. As love is the very atmosphere of religion. "Dwelleth in love." The air of the kingdom of heaven is love’97pure, spiritual love. It is made so, by the Holy Spirit pervading it; and the spiritual soul can only live in it, and cannot live in any other.

2. It is the chief element of the new nature, produced in regeneration. Born of God,’97born from above. Partakers of the Divine nature. Now the old nature is malevolent, its partakers are hateful, and haters of one another.

3. It is one of the especial fruits of the Holy Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is ‘love.’" Gal_5:22 : The first and most immediate effect of his divine influence. Now where the spirit of God dwells, there will be his fruits.

4. It is the necessary badge of Christian discipleship. "By this shall all men know," &c. Not by,

(1.) Identity of religious features:

(2.) Not by exact agreement of religious phraseology. For Peter complains of Paul 2Pe_3:15, &c.

(3.) Not by uniformity in religious worship, but by loving one another. Christ would have his religion known all the world over, as a religion of love.

4. It is the great New Testament commandment. The eleventh commandment. "A new commandment give I unto you," &c. See how Christ dwells on it. Emphasizes and reiterates it. See Joh_13:34, see also Joh_15:12-17.

5. It is one of the chief features of our resemblance to Christ. Many things in Christ above our imitation, but here he expects conformity. We are to be imbued with this spirit of our Lord. No other points of likeness can be sufficient, without this.

6. It is indispensable to fellowship with

God. If we dwell in the darkness of envy or hatred, then we can have no fellowship with God. If we pray with these elements in our hearts, God will not hear us. The spirit of benignity and love must dwell in us, or God will have no communion with us.

7. It is the leading element in true happiness. It is the soul’s real bliss. We may say so of knowledge, for that is the region of light to the understanding, or intellectual part of man. So also of righteousness, there must be integrity in order to peace. "If ye know," &c. But love is the religion of ecstasy and rapture to the whole soul. Here it finds satisfaction in its kindred region of gladness and delight.

8. It is the great prerequisite for heaven. A soul without love, is not only unfit for heaven, but could not enjoy it.

(1.) The God of heaven is love.

(2.) The throne of heaven rests upon immutable, eternal love.

(3.) The Lamb in the midst, &c., is the Saviour who loved, &c.

(4.) The songs of heaven all relate to the marvellous love of the Redeemer.

(5.) The society of heaven is one of pure unmixed love.

(6.) The streams are all flowing with love,

(7.) The absolute satisfaction,’97the plenitude of bliss is, bathing in the eternal ocean of love.

8. The law of heaven which binds God to all the beatified, and all the glorified to one another, is the great Divine law of love. One word more cannot be necessary to show you that’97saving religion is therefore a religion of love! We ask in conclusion,

1. Have you this love to God? This reverential, grateful feeling towards God? Is it your desire to obey him, please him, and glorify him?

2. Have you this love to his people, and towards all men?

3. This love and happiness are inseparable.

4. Want of it and misery are equally so.

5. A world where it exists not’97where selfishness, and hate, and wrath, mark all its inhabitants, is hell.

6. Let Christians cultivate it. Cherish it’97exhibit it; and thus honor God, and recommend religion.

7. To the inquiring contrite penitent, God will shed abroad his love in their hearts.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS