God is love, and His love is being perfected in us
FOCUS TEXT: 1 John 4:7–21
This morning at Anchor Church, we stepped into Episode 8 of our series, KNOW: You Can Be Sure, exploring one of the most profound passages in all of Scripture. After weeks of building gospel-rooted assurance, John brings us to the very heart of the Christian life—God’s love. He shows us that love isn’t just what God does—it’s who He is. And if we truly know Him, that love must be visible in us and through us. This text unfolds in five powerful movements—taking us from knowing the love of God, to displaying it in action, to boldly proclaiming it to a world that desperately needs it.
Truth #1: God is love—so love is not optional (1 John 4:7–8) — Love is the defining mark of those who truly know God. John says, “Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God… Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” In other words, love isn’t just a good Christian trait—it’s evidence of a new heart. The absence of love is not a personality quirk; it’s a spiritual problem. God’s love, when received, changes how we live and how we treat others—especially those who are difficult, different, or even our enemies. Love is not an elective for believers—it’s essential.
Truth #2: God showed His love through sacrifice (1 John 4:9–10) — John reminds us that God’s love was made visible through action—through the sending of His Son. “In this is love… that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Jesus didn’t just teach love—He embodied it. The cross wasn’t symbolic; it was sacrificial. He took on our sin and satisfied God’s wrath so we could live through Him. That’s the source of real love. And it’s the kind of love we’re called to reflect.
Truth #3: We display His love through action (1 John 4:11–12) — God’s invisible nature becomes visible in us when we love one another. “If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” That doesn’t mean our love becomes flawless—it means it comes to maturity. The church is meant to be a living display of divine love. When we forgive, serve, and show up for others, the world gets a glimpse of who God is. Our mission flows from His love, and it begins right where we are.
Truth #4: God’s love abides and matures in us (1 John 4:13–18) — John connects love to assurance. As God’s love takes deeper root in our lives, fear is driven out. “Perfect love casts out fear… because fear has to do with punishment.” If we’re in Christ, we don’t live under fear—we live in confidence. The Spirit testifies that we belong to God, and His love grows in us as we abide in Him. That maturing love not only brings peace—it empowers boldness and mission.
Truth #5: We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19–21) — John finishes with clarity and conviction: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar.” Love for God and love for others cannot be separated. The vertical must shape the horizontal. If we’ve received the love of Christ, it should transform how we relate to everyone around us—including those outside the faith. As Easter approaches, we have a unique opportunity to show and share God’s love in tangible ways.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Am I receiving and abiding in God’s love—or just talking about it?
Where is the Spirit prompting me to show sacrificial love this week?
Who in my life needs to see the love of God through my words or actions?
PRAYER RESPONSE: Father, thank You for revealing Your love through Jesus. Help us not only to receive it, but to reflect it. May Your love be perfected in us—driving out fear, healing division, and compelling us into mission. Let us love, because You first loved us. Amen.
MEMORY VERSE: “We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
*Service available on YouTube every Sunday at 2PM.
