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This week we’ll recognize the birth of Jesus as we also consider the phrase of the Apostles’ Creed that reads, “I believe in the communion of saints.”
What difference does it make that Jesus came into this world?
We can answer that question in a lot of different ways. The most obvious answer is that we would still be in our sins. But did it ever occur to you that we would not be able to love if it were not for the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus?
As you likely know, the Greek language has several different words for” love,” each word denoting a different form of love. What Greek word does John use here in our text? In other words, what form of love is John writing about here in our text?
According to our text from 1 John 4:7-12, to be able to love is a condition of being “born of God” (verse 7). Can we conclude from this that non-Christians are incapable of love? What does this say about Christians and the type of communion that we enjoy?
Why does John remind us that “nobody has ever seen God” in verse 12? What is his point in saying this? |