Verse of the Day
Sunday, February 15, 2026
1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Introduction
Love is perhaps the most overused and undervalued word in the human lexicon. We use it to describe our feelings toward family, our romantic partners, and even our favorite foods. In our modern context, love is often reactive—we love things because they are lovely, or we love people because they treat us well.
However, the First Letter of John offers a definition of love that completely reverses human intuition. In 1 John 4:10, the author does not define love by looking at human emotion or human striving. Instead, he points to a specific historical event and a specific divine action. This verse anchors the abstract concept of "love" into the concrete reality of the Cross, revealing that true love is not about our reach toward heaven, but heaven’s reach toward us.
Commentary
To fully grasp the depth of this verse, it is helpful to break it down into its distinct theological movements.
"In this is love..."
The author is establishing a definition. He is essentially saying, "If you want to know what love actually looks like in its purest form, look at this." He steers us away from subjective feelings and points us toward objective evidence.
"...not that we loved God..."
This is a crucial negation. The text emphasizes that the origin of salvation is not human piety or spiritual hunger. Before we had any inclination toward the Divine, we were often indifferent or even hostile to His ways. This underscores the theological concept of prevenient grace—the grace that comes before we even know we need it.
"...but that he loved us..."
Here lies the "First Mover" principle of the Gospel. God’s love is uncaused by us; it is generated entirely from within His own character. He does not love us because we are valuable; we become valuable because He loves us.
"...and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins."
Love is not merely a sentiment; it is action. The Greek word used here for "atoning sacrifice" (or propitiation in some translations) is hilasmos. This is a weighty term. It implies that sin created a real barrier—a rupture in the relationship between humanity and God—that we could not fix. The "atoning sacrifice" is the means by which that relationship is restored, the debt is paid, and the barrier is removed. It cost God everything to restore us.
Understanding the Context
1 John was likely written to a community facing a crisis of belief and behavior. Early forms of false teaching (often associated with Gnosticism) were beginning to circulate, suggesting that Jesus did not truly come in the flesh or that sin wasn't a significant problem.
The Nature of God: This verse sits in the middle of a passage (1 John 4:7-21) that famously declares "God is love" (Agapē). The author argues that you cannot claim to know the God of Love if you do not practice love yourself.
The Integration of Truth and Action: John refuses to separate theology from ethics. He insists that correct belief about Jesus (that He is the Son sent by God) must result in correct living (loving one another). Verse 10 provides the theological fuel for the ethical command in verse 11: "Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another."
Application for Today
How does this ancient text speak to the modern heart?
Relief from Performance: Many believers live with a subconscious anxiety that they must "earn" God's affection through good behavior or intense spiritual feelings. This verse liberates us from that burden. It reminds us that our relationship with God rests on His character, not our performance. We are loved not because we are good, but because He is love.
Redefining Love in Relationships: If God’s love is the standard, then true love is sacrificial, not transactional. In a consumer culture that asks, "What can this relationship do for me?", 1 John 4:10 asks, "What can I give to the other?" It challenges us to love others even when they do not "deserve" it, just as God loved us.
Assurance in Guilt: When we struggle with the weight of our past mistakes, we can look to the "atoning sacrifice." The problem of our sin has already been dealt with. We do not need to hide from God; the bridge has already been built.
Reflection
The profound mystery of 1 John 4:10 is that it locates the definition of love outside of us. This is incredibly good news. If love depended on the consistency of our devotion, we would be in a constant state of insecurity. Our love is often fickle, fragile, and conditional.
But the love described here is a solid rock. It is a historical fact—God sent His Son. It is a completed action. When we feel unlovable, or when we look at the brokenness of the world and wonder if God cares, we are not told to look inside our hearts for a warm feeling. We are told to look at the Cross. There, in the atoning sacrifice, the argument is settled forever: we are loved with a love that initiates, pursues, and pays the ultimate price to bring us home.
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Verse of the Day is a daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse, extracted from BibleGateway.com. Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
No comments:
Post a Comment