Love Test
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. 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 that isn’t 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, something completely obscured in English.
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 my plans. This “not” is used in the first part of the verse – “the one who does not as a result of conditions and circumstance, love (that is, give hesed to another).” 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.
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 of 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! Why, 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. 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 YHWH, and for many people, that’s just too much to ask. They would rather think that acting good is good enough. I remember Yeshua’s judgment, “I never knew you.” It’s very scary. It uses the same words that John uses.
Topical Index: not, ou, me, hesed, love, 1 John 4:8
The writer of this epistle, John, himself tells us what he means by love. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” (I John 5:3).
This echoes the words of the Messiah: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
This idea of love eliminates the sentimentalism of Romanticism that arose in the 19th century and instead turns us to Torah as the true meaning of love. So it is not how I “feel” about God and people that is it important; it is how I act. Do I keep the commandments? If not, I cannot say I love God or my neighbor.
Or, as Skip’s text indicates, if I don’t obey the commandments I cannot even say I “know” God. Why not? Because God is holy, righteous — yes, and that means love — and if I know God then I know what it really means to love. Commandments. Torah! Now that’s love.
Hollywood’s never going to make a move on that idea of love. It offers no emotional intrigue, and no love triangles where one married partner takes off with someone else.
If you wonder why there is so much anger and hatred in the world, think of Torah — love. It is the rejection of Torah as the standard of love that has created so many of the problems of our age.
If you wonder why there is so much anger and hatred in the world, think of Torah — love. It is the rejection of Torah as the standard of love that has created so many of the problems of our age.
Amen Ian.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” (I John 5:3).
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
It was these very verses that brought me to a shuddering realization in my former Christian life. I thought I loved God and was earnestly trying to serve Him and please Him. Yet, it was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. I wanted the Holy Spirit to work through me, but I didn’t seem to be supernaturally empowered. I wondered why other Christians claimed to be “moving-in/led by the Spirit” yet, they didn’t seem to be any more victorious than me.
I felt huge guilt on the occasions when I couldn’t put on cheerfulness, skipped Bible Study, took a break from teaching Sunday School, inadvertently didn’t extend greetings to someone, felt irritated, was judgmental, got divorced, didn’t “feel” love for Jesus, got bored in church, became disenchanted, etc.
One day, as I read these verses (though I’d read and heard them countless times), I remember saying out loud, “I guess I don’t love you God”. I cried and cried. Others tried to console me and assure me that I did love God and that His grace was sufficient. Thankfully, God put His hook in me and didn’t let me find false comfort. Asking Jesus to forgive me, once again, wasn’t the answer. I wanted to know what it meant to “love God”. The answer didn’t come for a few years, but He has graciously been leading me to understand it is about embracing and following His Torah.
This is a beautiful gift, and the agony of “trying to be a good Christian” no longer dictates my well being. I am no longer a Christian, as once defined by my false beliefs. Today, I am walking each day, observing Torah the best I can, learning from Skip and many in this community, talking with my Father and giving thanks throughout each day, and I know I’m on the right(eous) path. Lots to learn and unlearn, but it is different now. Better, much better, though seriously challenging.
Thank you for mentioning these verses. It allowed me to once again marvel at the great breakthrough they brought in my life.
God Bless and Keep all in this community.
Marci
~ This is love: not that we loved G-d, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins ~ (1 John 4.10)
~ But G-d demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us ~ (Romans 5.8)
~ Greater love hath no man than this, that a Man lay down His life for His friends ~ (John 15.13)
He gave His life, -what more could He give..? – O how He loves you and me.
~ But the fruit of the Ruach HaKodesh is love.. ~ (Galatians 5.22)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqoPnatf6cA
Ian Hodge,
Good to see your comments this morning. Blessings to you and your family!
Skip,
Thanks for the teaching this morning.
Love is not based on how I feel but what has been revealed by the written Torah and demonstrated out in complete obedience by the living Torah.
Skip,
I think there will be many believers on Judgement Day who are a lot less ashamed than they otherwise would be, due to your frequent reminders to “raise the bar.” G-d continues to use you to drive home this message because our tendency to “water down” the meaning of becoming a “slave to YHWH” is very strong.
I’m often stunned by your messages as I realize how much more I could be doing, and how far I have to go on this journey, but, after the initial shock, I’m always so grateful because I sense that G-d is whispering (sometimes shouting) to me through your teachings. I feel like a little child who has to be continually reminded.
Thanks again for your faithfulness to “continually remind us,” to never settle for complacency or mediocrity in our walk with YHWH!!
“I remember Yeshua’s judgment, “I never knew you.” It’s very scary.”
Hmmm
It will be Yeshua in “GodFather mode” so we never want to “take sides against the family”
If our love is not demonstrated as sacrifice and undeserved suffering
We will get an offer we can’t refuse: “no protection”
And without God we are dead
WOW, MICHAEL – I THINK YOU GOT IT… 😀 AND IN A VERY POETIC WAY…♥
This echoes the words of the Messiah: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
and this, Ian, reminds me of His “command” to love one another! Another “command” of Christ is for husbands to love their wives even as Christ loved (and loves!) the church, -(His (universal) bride) and we are to love the LORD our G-d with all our heart-soul-mind and strength, (no Greek commas, but rather Hebrew dashes!) the “all” of us, with the totality of our being. Do you find it strange (as I do) that we are commanded to love? (Houston, -do we have a problem?)
~ By this, shall all men know you are my disciples “if you love one another..” ~
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Hi Carl,
Makes me think of the movie (Holy) “Ghost Protocol”
Hebrew 613 or Gentile 6+1+3 = 10 commandments
Like
” John says that someone who is swayed by conditions in giving love never (under any circumstances of conditions) knew God at all. ” Truly, Skip. It is doubtful if this someone indeed know YHWH for Who HE is.
“”the one who does not as a result of conditions and circumstance, love (that is, give hesed to another).” 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.” Isn’t this the selfish nature of fallen, degenerate mankind, who desperately is in need of being renewed by Torah and ABBA’s Ruach to come forth as a new man in Y’shua?