God is love. If God is love, it makes sense that Christians would love God and love others. This is the second time that John wants to address this issue. John is facing a church that is divided by conflict and tension. In this passage, we can see the true heart of a pastor as he exhorts and encourages the fractured congregation to reflect on God's love for them. John teaches that the motivation and inspiration of Christians' love for one another is the healing work God has done in their lives. The work of God in our lives leads to a natural outpouring of love within the church.

"I've received a word from the Lord." I can't tell you how many times I have heard this phrase. It also comes in other forms: "I have prayed about this," "I heard the next best thing to an audible voice," or "[insert mega-church pastor name here] has said." Many times this phrase is used by excited Christians to qualify some life decision, a reason to leave the church, an excuse to sin, or some other direction the person wants to take and has already set their mind on taking. It is hard to argue with someone when they believe that God has clearly spoken to them with a new revelation. There are two dangers that present themselves when responding to someone who believes they have been moved by God in a certain direction. The first danger is to accept what the person has said without testing what they have said against the Scriptures. The second danger is to reject what the person has said without testing what they have said against the Scriptures.

We define ourselves in all kinds of different ways. Christians tend to focus on what makes them distinct - distinct from the world and even distinct from one another. But Jesus says that the church will be defined by their love for one another. That is why John says that true Christians will have a love for one another like no other - it will be so revolutionary that those outside the church will literally define Christians by their love for one another.

The Christian is sure to sin. We are sure to fail because God is not done working with us until the day that we meet Jesus. Even though we fail, we have been promised that Jesus is up to something - he is making all things new - and it is precisely because of this that though the Christian might falter they can always be sure that nothing can separate them from the love of God. The return of Jesus will be the event that brings the brokenness and sinfulness of the world to an end. John promises that on the day that we meet Jesus, we will be with Jesus and made like Jesus. The promised return of Jesus builds up our assurance in three ways: it demonstrates that God loves us with a revolutionary love; that God's will is for us to be part of his forever family; and that God has a bigger vision for us than we could ever have for ourselves.

John describes the spirit of antichrist as being present whenever we deny that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God. These titles not only tell us about who Jesus is, but they also point to his Lordship over all things. That means we also deny him when we struggle to lay claim on the things which chiefly belong to him. God calls us to abide in him through the work of his Son and the indwelling of his Holy Spirit, and it is only when the church worships him in spirit and in truth that we find our fullest satisfaction.

The world offers much but can never deliver. We are promised happiness, peace, and joy if we buy into the pursuits of our culture. But since sin came into the world it has only been able to offer brokenness and discontentment. Jesus was set against the ways of the world in order to bring us something new - a Kingdom that would last forever. John exhorts the church to turn their affection away from the promises of the world and instead turn their affection toward Jesus who is making all things new.

Every generation in the church is called to carry the Gospel to all generations. Each person has a purpose and mission in which they are called to participate. Children are called to a simple faith as an encouragement to the aged and experienced. Young men and women are called to lead and exert influence for the Gospel. Older and wiser generations are called to share, teach, and preach of the goodness of God. This is how a functioning family works well together for the cause of Christ. We never pass the mantle until we take our last breath.

What is love? Today it can mean so many things. Bono of U2 sings "in the name of love", Haddaway pleads that his baby won't hurt him with it, romantic novelist Jojo Moyes says that "love drives all great stories, and sister Catherine Wybourne says, "Love is free yet binds us." So many opinions and so many songs. John, an Apostle of Jesus tells us that love is absolutely without question a fruit of the Spirit exhibited by true followers of Jesus. In fact, he says, without love for one another, we are walking in darkness and an obstacle to the Gospel. Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment when he said that they were to love one another in the way that he had loved them. This changed everything. To love like Jesus loved will mean a new depth, scope, and purpose in love. A church that loves like Jesus loved will have a contagious culture, clarity of purpose and will thrive on mission.

Humans are heartfelt hypocrites - plain and simple. We claim to know truth but do not practice the truth. But Jesus changes all of that. Jesus transforms heartfelt hypocrites into righteous sons of God. But what is the proof that we have sonship? How do we know that we have been called into the family of God? John provides several tests throughout his letter to the church - and these tests are designed to call the unbeliever to faith while assuring the true believer that they are indeed an adopted son of God. The first test John asks is whether or not we are liars or sons. We can know that we are a son if we desire to live the way that Jesus lived. Many claim to know God - but what is their proof?

Has God spoiled the ending? Does God's promise to forgive us for all our sins give us a reason to sin? Won't a person who know's they can get away with something take advantage of the one who allows them to get away with it? Not for the person who's heart has been won over by grace! God has not allowed us to get away with our sin, but instead poured out all of his wrath upon Jesus who became our sin, so that we might have the forgiveness of sins. This forgiveness, this immeasurable grace doesn't spoil us and encourage us to sin, but rather compels us to do war with sin out of our love for the God who has been gracious to forgive us of our sins.