Dear Christian friends:

If I asked you, "Do you love God?", you would quickly answer, "Yes." Perhaps you would feel insulted because I ask you that question or doubt that you love God.

But we should ask ourselves that question, because we may think that we love God but we truly do not love Him. People often deceive and fool themselves. We often refuse to see and accept the truth about our ourself and refuse to confess the truth about ourselves.

So we may think we love God but truly in our heart we do not love Him. In our text John gives us a good test. By this test we can see if we love God or not and how much we love Him. So today I ask you this question:


Our text shows you love God if you are not afraid. Our text says in John 4:17-19, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us."

People are afraid. You and I are afraid. We fear punishment because of our sins and our conscience. So we are afraid of sickness and pain, war and death. We are afraid that people do not like us and are not friendly with us. We are afraid to try and make friends with someone because we are afraid he may say, "no". We are afraid to try something because we are afraid to fail, and somebody may laugh at us.

Sometimes we are afraid to run for a office. The other candidate may win and I lose. We are afraid to get beat, so we never try. Some don't come to Bible class; they are afraid to let others see that they are ignorant and can't read English. Some are afraid to come to Adult Classes because of the same reason.

Do you love God? If you love God, why are you afraid? If God lives in you if you live in God, if His love is in your heart, you will not fear. John says,"God's love has accomplished what He wants when we can look ahead confidently to the day of judgement." (verse 17)

We can look ahead confidently to the day judgement because of Jesus Christ. "We love Him, because He first loved us." In Jesus God has freed us from condemnation. Paul says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)

Although we must live through many troubles and storms, sorrows and griefs and finally death, yet we should not fear. God has forgiven our sins. He loves us very much and will save us from all evils of this life and bring us to rest and glory above.

Paul says, "If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) God is for us nothing can really hurt us or destroy us now.

Paul asks the question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35) Then he answers, "In all things He who loved us helps us win a great victory." (Romans 8:37) "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

So if we believe that God loves us and forgives our sins in Jesus then we will not fear. God's love throws out fear. Do you love God? You do if you are not afraid. That's the first test. Now the second test. You love God if you love your neighbor. (Read verses John 4:19-21)

"We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

You can't love God and at the same time hate your brother. But many church members do that. Baptists in the South. Lutherans in the North. Our church members here: Sometimes glad when others have troubles and problems. Quick to criticize and blame but never praise and encourage others. Jealous of others. Suspicious of others. Afraid of others. If we hate our brother we hate God. God's order is: "If you love God love your brother."

God loves all people. He gave His Son Jesus to suffer and die for all. If we love God we will please Him and love whom He loves.

You say, "How can I love my enemy? How can I love someone who hates me or doesn't care for me?" That's a good question. John answers, "We love because he first loved us." God loves you and forgives your sins that gives you the power to love your enemy. He loved you "first" John says. You didn't love Him first. First you hated Him and were enmity against Him.

While you were still a sinner Jesus died for you. God first offered His hand to you, You didn't offer your hand to God. Such wonderful love and mercy should touch our hearts and help us to love our brother and forgive him and help him, even if he hates us and doesn't care for us.

Do you love God? Are you afraid? Do you love your brother?

Amen.