Know Your “Nots”
the one who does not love does not know God for God is love 1 John 4:8 NASB
Not – This is a harsh verse. It may not seem harsh because we are likely to modify its meaning to accommodate our own failures. We want to feel better about our efforts to meet its demands, so we lessen the impact of the verse by acting as though it says, “people who are not kind and generous and don’t care about others – they don’t really know God.” But this is not what the verse says. John is very deliberate here. He uses two different words that mean “not.” The first is me. The second is ou. He uses two different words because he wants us to see something very important. We need to pay close attention.
Me means a conditional “not.” It is the “not” that is governed by circumstance. For example, “I may not go to lunch today” is governed by factors that might change. This “not” is used in the first part of the verse – “the one who does not (as a result of conditions and circumstance) love.” The idea is that this person weighs the consequences to determine whether or not circumstances are in his favor before he decides to act on behalf of another. John says, “This is not (ou, the second word for “not”) love.”
Then John uses the other word for “not” – ou. This “not” is absolute. It has no qualifications. It means “never the case.” John says that someone who is swayed by conditions in giving love never (under any circumstances or conditions) knew God at all. This is about as strong a statement as you will find. It is simply not possible to say that you know God if your demonstration of love is subject to weighing the conditions. God’s love demonstrates itself by giving no matter what the circumstances and conditions. Period!
Do you feel the incredible tension here? How easy it is for us to want to water this down. We want to say, “Oh, John couldn’t have meant that! I always try to do the best thing. There will always be people that I really don’t like, that’s just the way life is. But I take care of my own. And I give to charity too. But sacrificing myself for everybody? No one does that!”
How sad it is that the church has accommodated to a culture of self-interest. We have to be un-educated. Throughout the Bible, love is demonstrated as sacrifice and undeserved suffering. But putting that into daily practice means becoming a real slave of Yeshua, and for many people, that is just too much to ask. They would rather think that knowing God with conditions for others is good enough. I remember Yeshua’s judgment, “I never knew you.” It’s very scary. It uses the same words that John uses.
“Father, protect me from my all-too-human desire to lessen the impact of Your words. Let me be all that You want me to be without conditions. Cut away every inclination to weigh your command to love before I act. I want to be what You want, nothing less.”
Topical Index: not, me, ou, conditions, love, 1 John 4:8
In the beginning.. God. God started this. – And what He starts, He finishes.
~ Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus ~ (Philippians 1.6)
But please be patient with me,- I’m not “finished’ yet! God is not through with me- “He’s still workin’ on me- I (and you and you and you) “we” are a work in progress! This is the process of sanctification, the highway of holiness. (lol! “Are we there yet?”)
I was just recently thinking, What would be a good “definition” of holiness. What is holiness? – And, (more directly focused), “am I holy?” St. Carl ? lol! Oh? For what is a saint, but a saved sinner? (in this case, I “qualify!”)
Friends, we know the standard for holiness- (don’t we..?). ~ It is the LORD! ~ He is the True ONE- He is the Just ONE, in the wonderful words of His own Book- ~ He must increase and “I” must decrease ~ or as Rabbi Sha’ul (the apostle Paul) stated so succinctly- “Not I, (but) Christ!” – Don’t look at me, look at Him!
Oh yes, I am fully capable of laying down next to the drunkard in the gutter and proclaiming “look at me, I’m a full inch longer than he is!” – but NO. “Don’t look at me- look at Him.” I am not the standard, I am not the “end of all ends” I am not the rule nor the yardstick, (neither are you!) He is.
We must stop comparing ourselves with one another. In the words of our Redeemer and Elder Brother- ~ bring him to Me! ~. Why?- Christ is the center, the compass and the circumference. ~ Christ is all and in you all ~ Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free..~ (Colossians 3.11) But where is “here?”
I offer unto you- this day- two words. “In Christ.” And one question.. “Are you?” Are you, “in Christ?” Yes, -location, location, location. Do you belong to the Shepherd, and do you (experientially) know it? Do you have the “blessed assurance” – the seal of the Spirit- and know beyond knowing- “I belong to Him?”
A return to holiness. What do I know concerning “holiness?” What about the command of our Father- “be holy for I AM holy?” God is love- there is zero argument nor comment from me, (other than an amen- He is!), but even before “God is love”- there is “God is holy.” Thrice holy. Very holy.
It even is not about how sinful I am- it is how holy God is. The “standard” is perfection. One drop of poison is all it takes to pollute. And as far as I can discern, within my limited kith- there is only one “perfect Man” ever to have lived, (and surprise!)- it is not me. “Don’t look at me, – well go ahead if you wish- but I promise “disappointment” – for you see, I am not Him! But, He lives in me. This is why, ~He must increase, but “I” must decrease. Less of me-more of Him!. Hallelujah!, -“holiness is not the way to Christ-Christ is the Way to holiness.”
Now I can love. I can love people (all people) the way He loves. Does Christ “value” people? What, my friends, is the “worth” of one soul? One soul anywhere. Pick one. Joe, or Sue or Sally- or Carl. Which one does God love best? – (wrong answer!) Example: which one of your children do you love best? Is love “zero sum?” Is love like a pie with each getting a slice? No. Our Father loves each of us with all of His heart and (amazingly) while we were yet “sinners”- Christ died for us. Yes, I love my kids- even when they’re dirty!
Does God love us because we are valuable? – Or are we valuable because God loves us? Or do you even know (experientially) God, our Abba-Father, loves you?
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
tHis love. Calvary’s Love. He loved us to death. ~ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers ~ (1 John 3:16)
~By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another ~ (John 13.35)
~ The goal of this instruction is love that flows from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith ~ (1 Timothy 1.5)
~ and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you ~ (Ephesians 4.32)
[chréstos/Xrestus (“useful, kindly”) was a common slave-name in the Graeco-Roman world. It “appears as a spelling variant for the unfamiliar Christus (Xristos). (In Greek the two words were pronounced alike.)”
All of us are fully capable of giving love, of showing kindness and compassion to someone, whether it be a spouse or a stranger, this very day. Love is a choice, therefore today, I will…(through Him and because of Him) choose to love.
Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You stuck a dagger in and twisted it!
Prov 25: 5-6
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Thank you Skip!
I love this verse; I am striving daily to “humble my self” as a child, so that I can be an instrument for Heavenly Father. Not minding the things of my own, but of his. I think that this verse Skip is a companion verse to 1 John 4:8
James 1:26-27
New King James Version (NKJV)
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
The goal, to keep one’s self, unspotted from the world. Allow the Fathers will to swallow up your will.
Thank you
Skip, I thank you for today’s blog on the “not’s – another home run from the WORD! It cut to my heart like a razor blade nicking my throat.
Ours is a narcissistic world full of excuses for how we spend our time and our money and even our words overly pampering and indulging ourselves while doing just enough to soothe our conscience in our giving. Millions of human beings go to bed hungry every night! Millions hurt for want of clean water to drink every day! Many of the unfortunates look at us and our abundance on their remshackle little black and white televisions and ponder – “why do not these people blessed with so much care a little more?” Your blog poked me in the ribs and reminded me that God, in His WORD is asking the same question!
We all can fulfill 1John 4:8 by doing more for the “have not’s” all around us.
Blessings and shalom,
John Walsh
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Skip, thank you for picking up the sword today and cutting me to the heart. Hurts so good. Lord, we want to love as YOU love. We press on to know You, to love You, to love others as You have commanded and demonstrated. Please help us….
THANK YOU SKIP FOR LOVING US ENOUGH TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS.
I was about to say, AMEN!! But then I got this creepy feeling that I would close up my laptop, carry about some of my daily tasks — and keep acting more-or-less as I have. Why do I usually feel some sort of satisfaction or virtue from nodding my head in agreement?
I have a religion of good intentions. My best virtues are really aspirations. There are so many things I’d like to do for my wife, my kids, and for others…… IF,.. if only circumstances were a little different. If I just wasn’t always so busy, then tired — I would… I could….. but instead I just imagine.
“God please cure my lameness! I have an imaginary religion. Help me to actually, literally, and immediately walk!”
Gabe, Thanks for sharing from your heart. I can relate to your fears, except that my religion is not imaginary- it is vibrant, strong and rooted in historical accuracy. It is, I fear, that my religion has an imaginary God. So I can’t even say “God help me” whereas a pagan can at least call upon his (false) God. Oh what dilemmas we contrive when we allow our hearts to be deceived. But there is hope and He is real, not imaginary- as evidenced by His resurrection. Let us seek Him and not the fleeting god’s of our fanciful minds. Michael
Thank-you. I’m ready to do battle again today.
God says what He means and means what He says. I have have heard it here several times.
It has been my litany for many years. I don’t know how I could have come to think of it mine alone probably because in our group I am the only one who plays that song-that way. There is another one that goes with it. You believe in the Father, believe in also in Me. But believing IN God is not enough, you Must BELIEVE God.
God told the Israelits that the pagans around them never quit their gods and He wished that they had such a heart in them. The devils believe, and tremble. Who are these devils if not some of the third of the host of Heaven that Lucifer swept away. Beings that believed him and not God. Our God is a god of truth He can not lie, Satan is a liar from the beginning and the father of it.
Truth is light, God is a God of truth He must tell the truth, the whole deal is predicated on it. Satan is a liar but he can tell the truth when it serves his purposes. He can appear as an angel of light.
Every religion has some truth in it. The Egyptians believed in life after death, the Hindus believe in rebirth. the Buddhist believe in not being seduced by the worldly. Even Animists believe it is wrong to steal and murder, Baptists believe in water immersion, points of light, more light here, less there whatever it takes to deceive the whole world.
Eve just sinned a little sin, she listened to, reasoned with the liar, only tweaked the words a little bitty bit. “Surely you shall not die”, God is a good guy He doesn’t really mean that. He just means that you will become gods, isn’t that nice. Yes He does, He wants us to His like Him, His children, just not that way.
Here is a scary thought paraphrased; once saved if you willfully sin again there is no more propitiation for sin! Woe is me! He doesn’t really mean that does He? Yes boys and girls He does. Is there no hope then! Yes there is!
Jesus is the true bread that came down from Heaven, the Incarnate Word. My words are truth and they are life, no one can enter in unless they eat my flesh (words) and drink my blood (spirit). My words are light, My words are spirit.
The God that became flesh created everything that was created. He spoke and there was light. He breathed the Spirit of power. He blew the spirit of life into Adam’s nostril. Lord I believe come fill my belly with your words. Blow your spirit into my mind create in me a new person. Remake me in your image and after your likeness. Save me from myself. That is my payer, and He is faithful to do what he says.
That is enough to make an old sinner like me weep for joy.
Ann, you wrote: “But believing IN God is not enough, you Must BELIEVE God.” Thanks for the reminder and for sharing your thoughts with us. It is food for the heart. Shalom, Michael