Scripture

All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.

Observation

Since God loves us, we ought to love one another, for this brings full expression to God’s love for us.

God has given His Spirit as proof that He lives in us. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is the Son of God has God living in them.

As we live in God, our love becomes more perfect. Perfect love casts out all fear because fear has to do with fear of being punished. If we fear then it shows we have not experienced God’s love.

God has given us this command- if we love God then we must also love our christian brothers and sisters.

Application

If we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, then God is living in us and we are living in God.

Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God is not just about words- it is about expressing heart- felt conviction that stems from relationship.

Paul says something similar in Romans: “if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

If we believe this with our heart, then it is a sign to us and to others that God is living in us. When we come to Jesus and confess that He is our Lord, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, comes and resides in us.

As John describes repeatedly in this letter, the result of this is that we love God and love other christians. Love is the fruit of relationship with God, and it is the sign of it.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for loving me. Please grow your love in my heart so that I can love other people with your love. Amen.