Review:
The Apostle John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s.
He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing.
He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches.
The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter:
To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3)
To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4)
To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1)
To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26)
To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13)
1 John 4:7-12
Transformational love flows from God—to believers—to others (1 John 4:7-8).
Transformational love is supernatural.
Transformational love is Christ-centered.
Transformational love flows from God and involves significant sacrifice (1 John 4:9-10).
Transformational love flows from God and is completed when we love others (1 John 4:11-12).
God lives (abides, remains) in us.
God’s love is completed in us.
On Easter Sunday in 260 AD, Bishop Dionysius of Corinth praised the efforts of the Christians, many of whom had died while caring for others. He said:
Most of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves, and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains.
caregiving@biblechapel.org
Ready to begin your spiritual journey or grow deeper in your walk with Jesus? Contact Greg DeVore, gdevore@biblechapel.org.