What Does The Bible Say About Love: A Summary Of 1 John

What Does The Bible Say About Love?

The book can be divided into two major themes: Loving God and Loving Others.

Let’s explore what 1 John has to say about each of these.

Loving God

When it comes to loving God, 1 John emphasizes that it’s not just about feelings or emotions, but it involves actions. In fact, in 1 John 2:3-4, the writer says, “We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands. Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.” This means that loving God requires obeying His commandments and living according to His will. 

In addition, 1 John 5:3 says, “In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.” This verse emphasizes that loving God is not meant to be a difficult or overwhelming task. 

Rather, it is something that brings joy and fulfillment when we submit ourselves to God’s will and obey his commands. This obedience does not come from a place of obligation but of love and appreciation. So, what does the Bible say about love? 

According to 1 John, loving God involves obeying His commands and living according to His will.

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Loving Others

With the exception of one, the entire world is made up of other people. 

When it comes to loving those other people, 1 John emphasizes the importance of taking action to help and serve others. In 1 John 3:18, the writer says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 

This means that loving others is not just about saying the right things, but it involves taking concrete steps to help and serve those around us.

Furthermore, 1 John 4:20-21 says, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 

Loving God And Loving Others Are Interconnected

If we claim to love God but do not show love to those around us, then we are not truly loving God. So, what does the Bible say about love? According to 1 John, it’s an essential aspect of the Christian faith. We must learn to love God and love people. 

1 John emphasizes the importance of loving God and loving others. Loving God requires obeying His commands and living according to His will. And loving others involves taking concrete actions to help and serve them. These two concepts are intertwined.

True love for God is demonstrated by our love for others. As 1 John 4:12 says, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

Scripture emphasizes the importance of loving God and loving others. Loving God involves obeying His commands and living according to His will. Loving others involves taking action to help and serve others. These two concepts are inseparable.

Let’s dive into the book of 1 John and look at what it has to say together.

From Darkness To Light (Chapter 1)

In 1 John 1, the writer emphasizes the importance of being honest about our sins and shortcomings.

It says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

This highlights the need for humility and honesty in our relationship with God and with others.

By walking in the light and being honest about our sins, we can have fellowship with one another and God. As 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” 

This idea of fellowship is closely tied to the concept of love. It involves being in community with others and sharing a bond of mutual care and support. We walk in fellowship with Christ and we walk in fellowship with one another.

When we love others and are in fellowship with them, we are more likely to stay on the path of righteousness and avoid stumbling into sin.

Love And Fellowship

The themes of love and fellowship are closely intertwined in 1 John. Both are related to the concept of walking in the light. By being honest about our sins and shortcomings and by loving and caring for those around us, we can experience the joy of fellowship with one another and with God.

Later in his epistle, John goes on to develop this theme of fellowship and love. He says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). 

Love is not just an emotion or feeling, but it is an essential characteristic of God’s nature.

Love Is An Action Word (Chapter 2)

In the second chapter, John continues to develop the themes of love and fellowship that were introduced previously. In particular, this chapter emphasizes the importance of loving God and loving others as a way of walking in the light and living in fellowship with one another.

Obeying God’s Commands

The chapter begins by addressing the issue of sin and forgiveness. The writer reminds us that “if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). This highlights the importance of acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

He then goes on to say, “We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands. Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person” (1 John 2:3-4).

This emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s commands as a way of demonstrating our love for Him. When we love God, we will strive to obey His commands and live according to His will.

Put Legs On Your Love

Love for others is a key component of walking in the light and living in fellowship with one another.

Furthermore, the scriptures encourage us to love others not just in word, but in action and truth (1 John 3:18). This means that our love for others should be demonstrated through our actions and our willingness to serve and care for them. Put arms and legs on your love and show people how much you care!

Actions speak louder than words. 

This chapter emphasizes the importance of loving God and loving others as a way of walking in the light and living in fellowship with one another. 

What does the Bible say about love? 1 John 2 says that it is an essential part of your faith. It teaches that love is an action word. We’re learning that our genuine love for God will naturally spill over into loving other people. You can’t have one without the other. They are interconnected. 

What Does Love Look Like? (Chapter 3)

In the third chapter of 1 John, we see how our fellowship with God relates to our relationships with others. The chapter emphasizes that our love for others should be demonstrated through our actions, rather than just in words.

Love Gives Until It Hurts

The chapter begins by reminding us of the great love that God has for us. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). 

Our identity as children of God is rooted in His love for us. It is through our love for Him and others that we demonstrate our commitment to His will. It’s a beautiful thing! Not only do we love Him, but He loves us even more!

“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 and sisters” (1 John 3:16). Love is sacrificial in nature. We are called to love others in the same way that Christ loved us.

Love Does No Evil

In addition to loving others sacrificially, it’s important to live righteously and avoid sin. “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him” (1 John 3:6).

Living in righteousness and avoiding sin is another way of demonstrating our love and commitment to God’s will.

The 3 Types Of Sin And How To Stop Sinning

Because of our great love for Jesus Christ and His glorious gift of salvation, we avoid the sin that separates us from Him. By refusing to disobey God, we show God our love for Him. 

In the same way, we avoid acts of evil directed at other people, because we truly care for them. We have no interest in participating in actions that would bring them harm physically or emotionally.

No one would intentionally bring pain to someone they love! We are called to love others in the same way that God loves us. 

God Is Love (Chapter 4)

The importance of love in our relationship with God and others continues into the fourth chapter of 1 John as well. The chapter reminds us that God is love, and our love for others is a reflection of our relationship with Him.

Avoiding False Love

The chapter begins by encouraging us to discern between true and false spirits. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). This discernment is important because it helps us avoid false teachings that lead us away from God’s love.

“Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). 

Without an understanding of God’s love for us, we will never be able to love others the way God intends us to. It’s through our love for others that we demonstrate our commitment to God’s will and our understanding of His character.

Lavishing In Real Love

John also teaches that love is demonstrated through action. “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 and sisters” (1 John 4:16).

This highlights the sacrificial nature of love. It’s a reminder that we are called to love others in the same way that Christ loved us.

1 John 4 emphasizes the importance of love as a reflection of our relationship with God and others. Discernment is important because it helps us to avoid false teachings and stay in the light of God’s love. 

Our love for others is demonstrated through sacrificial action. It is through our love for others that we demonstrate our commitment to God’s will and His character as a God of love.

Loving Like God (Chapter 5)

In the fifth and final chapter, John concludes his letter by reiterating the importance of our love for God and others. The chapter emphasizes the idea that those who believe in Jesus Christ are born of God, and as such, are called to love them as God does.

The Source Of Love

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well” (1 John 5:1). Every person who is born again is called a child of God! As we love God, we are called to love all His children as well.

The source of our love comes directly from our Father in Heaven! He is love! It is His love that resides in us that teaches us how to have the same compassion for others that He has for us. 

The chapter goes on to emphasize the importance of obeying God’s commandments, which are rooted in love. “In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

Our love for God is demonstrated through our obedience to His commands, which are not oppressive, but rather rooted in His love for us.

Praying In Love

John also emphasizes the importance of prayer in our relationship with God and others. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). Our prayers are a reflection of our relationship with God and our love for others, as we seek His will in all things.

1 John 5 reiterates the importance of love in the life of believers. As we believe in Jesus Christ, we are called to love as He loves. This love is demonstrated through our obedience to God’s commandments and our reliance on prayer as we seek His will. 

Through our love for God and others, we reflect His character and fulfill our purpose as His children. What does the Bible say about love? It says that love is the very essence of our relationship with God and the foundation of our relationship with others.

Wrapping It Up

If you’re curious about what the Bible says about love, the book of 1 John is a great place to start. It emphasizes the importance of loving God and loving others. 

John repeatedly reminds us that these two aspects of love are inseparable. One cannot claim to love God while ignoring the needs of others. The book points out the fact that our love for God is demonstrated through our obedience to His commands. Our love for others is demonstrated through acts of kindness and sacrificial love.

What does the Bible say about love? It says that love is the very essence of our relationship with God and the foundation of our relationship with others. 

Self Examination

Are you loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are you loving our neighbors as yourself?

The book of 1 John provides us with a roadmap for how to love as God loves. It shows us that true love involves self-sacrifice, humility, and a willingness to put the needs of others before our own. What’s more, it reminds us that our love for others is a tangible expression of our love for God. It truly is a snapshot of what the Bible says about love.

11 Encouraging Bible Verses To Help You Persevere

As we reflect on what the Bible says about love through the book of 1 John, may we be inspired to love as God loves. May we seek to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. May our lives be a reflection of His love, and may we be a light in a world that so desperately needs to experience the transformative power of God’s love.

Help our lives to be a reflection of what the Bible says about love. Amen.