As observed in yesterday’s reading, one of John’s recurring themes in this epistle is to argue for the necessity of sanctification. Those who have truly been born again will display newness of life.
Running alongside that theme is another recurring one. John provides an example of what he is talking about with sanctification. He not only writes that true believers will practice righteousness, but he also conveys one key way righteousness expresses itself. For John, the chief evidence of the new birth is a new love toward others, particularly toward fellow believers. He does not mean “love talk,” but rather sincere actions toward each other which demonstrate deep affection. There is no middle road. You simply can’t just be “unconcerned” or just “dislike” a brother! If you don’t love him, you hate him to some degree. Your actions prove it because love reaches out to care and comfort.
The real punch is that John says if you don’t love your brother, you don’t know God! Love is the chief evidence of faith. Those who know God love others because God’s love has been poured out upon us and through us! Those who don’t have this river of love, don’t have the Source either!
4:7-8 - whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 4:16 - whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 4:19-20 - We love because He first loved us. If anyone says “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
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