Sunday, December 7, 2014

Is it important that you love the Children of God? 1 John 4-5

1 John 5:4-5
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

John writes this little epistle in what we might call syllogistic form.    A syllogism is a way to convey an argument of thought.    A simple syllogism is A = B; B = C; therefore A = C.    Another syllogistic argument might be:  Bald men are beautiful; David is bald; therefore David is beautiful.   :)))    John uses these arguments to make his case for the relationship between us and God; us and love; us and other believers.     He simply states:  God is love and loves His children; "If" we say we are of God we too are born and full of love;  Therefore we should treat others in love, as God does.     This love that God conveyed through His Son's death on the cross was the shinning moment of God defeating the world, Satan and sin.   God's love reigned supreme  and conquered all.   Therefore, (using syllogistic reasoning) since God's love overcame the World through His Son's act of death; and, that our faith in Christ conveys that love to us; then - We too have overcome the world with that same love .... that is demonstrated in how we treat others.    So, our "faith" (not just ours, but the Christian community of faith) overcomes the world and gives us victory in it.  This is what John is trying to tell us.  He makes a huge connection between theology and our every day practical life.   He tells us God is love and that love has been placed in us by the indwelling presences of Christ through the Spirit.   Since He does dwell in us (and is full of love) we, too, are full of love.   That love (since we are fill by it) ought to flow over into the lives of other believers.   This overflowing love, therefore, defeats sin, just like it did when Christ showed us the greatest love, by laying His life down for us.   We can't allow the world to steal our love for each other; sway our love for each other; or, prevent the proper expression of our love for each other.    Our "victory" over the world ... to overcome the sin in the world ... is to express love to all believers.  If we have another child of God whom we can't express love to or with, than we are allowing the world to attempt a coup.    The world can't win, but our lack of love causes us to stumble in this world.  Victory over the world can be relevant and successful as we express Christ's love in us, through us, toward others.   Christ loves His Children through love; We are given Christ's love through His abiding presence; Therefore, we should naturally love God's children in Christ's love.

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