1 John 4:7-11

God's Children Are Known By Their Love

God's children can be identified by their love for others, which was first demonstrated by the Father. God was willing to give up His Son for the good of those loved, and Christians must be willing to give up self for the sake of others. Some may have yielded to Christ but still hated former enemies who were now their brethren. Such stands as proof that individual is not a child of God. One cannot truly claim to be a Christian, or child of God, if he does not love. Love is one of God's characteristics, just as surely as it could be said He is light and spirit (1 John 4:7-8; 1 John 1:5; John 4:24).

God's love for lost mankind was shown in the sending of His only one of a kind Son, or only begotten (Hebrews 11:17). God does have other sons (Romans 8:14-17) but Christ partakes of the nature of God in a way none other does (John 1:1-5; John 1:14; 1 Peter 2:5-11). He came to earth for the specific purpose of dying for the sins of lost humanity, that they might have the opportunity to live (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:6-10). God showed the meaning of true love when He loved sinful man, who seemed unlovable (Titus 3:3-5). The love of His followers for God did not come first but is an outpouring of thanks to the Almighty for the great sacrificial gift he gave for sin on Calvary (1 John 4:9-10; 2 Corinthians 9:15).

God's great love for all those in Christ compels them to love one another (1 Peter 1:18-19). The word translated "if" in 1 John 4:11 would be better translated "since", as it is a clear conclusion based upon what John has already written. The love John calls upon Christians to have for the brethren is continuous, or ongoing.