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LESSON IX.—SABBATH, DECEMBER 2, 1893

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 20, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 3.

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LESSON IX.—SABBATH, DECEMBER 2, 1893.

THE SOURCE OF LOVE.

Lesson Scripture, 1 John 4 : 7-14.
  1. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.
  2. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
  3. Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
  4. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
  5. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
  6. No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:
  7. Hereby know we that we abide in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
  8. And we have beheld and bare witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. What are the "beloved" urged to do?
  2. Who is the source of love?
  3. Of what is the manifestation of love in an individual the proof?
  4. Of what is the lack of it evidence?
  5. What proves this to be true?
  6. How has the love of God been manifested toward us?
  7. On whose part was this love shown?
  8. In what way?
  9. On what basis is brotherly love urged?
  10. Has God been seen of mortal eyes?
  11. What shows his indwelling presence and the perfecting of his love?
  12. How may we know that we are in union with him?
  13. To what is testimony borne?

NOTES.

1. VERSES 7-11.—"Whenever the life of God is in the heart of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing." "Of God he hath been begotten and doth know God," is Dr. Young's rendering of the last clause of verse 7. The new birth is a past experience, but knowing God is always a present experience. It is not only true that God loves and is the source of love, but "God is love," and this is the essence of the whole gospel. There can be no discord in the home, the church, or the community when the love of God abides in all hearts. God's love for us is not simply an abstract thing, but it was shown in a most practical way. John 3 : 16. Man lost his life by sin (Gen. 2 : 17), and Christ came to restore life (John 10 : 10), which is wholly the gift of God (Rom. 6 : 23). "Had not God specially interfered, Satan and men would have entered into an alliance against heaven, and, instead of cherishing enmity against Satan, the whole human family would have been united in opposition to God." "The reconciliation of mercy and justice did not involve any compromise with sin, or ignore any claim of justice; but, by giving to each divine attribute the ordained place, mercy could be exercised in the punishment of sinful, impenitent man without destroying its clemency or forfeiting its compassionate character, and justice could be exercised in forgiving the repenting transgressor without violating its integrity." "Said the angel, Think ye that the Father yielded up his beloved Son without a struggle? No, no. It was even a struggle with the God of heaven whether to let guilty man perish, or to give his beloved Son to die for him."
2. VERSES 12-14.—Men cannot see God with the natural eye, but they ought to see his character wrought out in Christians. "Perhaps they do not read the Bible, or do not hear the voice that speaks to them in its pages; they do not see the love of God through his works. But if you are a true representative of Jesus, it may be that through you they will be led to understand something of his goodness, and be won to love and serve him." The Spirit is given to those who ask for it (Luke 11 : 13), but the asking must be in the name of Jesus (John 16 : 23, 24). "But to pray in the name of Jesus is something more than a mere mention of that name at the beginning and ending of a prayer. It is to pray in the mind and spirit of Jesus, while we believe his promises, rely upon his grace, and work his works." The purpose of Christ in coming to this world was to save (Luke 19 : 10), not to judge (John 12 : 47), but rejection of his work results in condemnation (John 3 : 18). The price paid was sufficient to redeem the world, but no man is saved contrary to his own will and choice. We can do nothing without him (John 15 : 5), and he will do nothing without us. Christ sends his followers on the same errand which brought him to earth (John 20 : 21), and has promised his presence to them (Matt. 28 : 20). "As Jesus has revealed to us the true character of the Father, so we are to reveal Christ to a world that does not know his tender, pitying love."
3. LOVE includes in its composition every element, every attribute of God's character. It does not ignore justice or righteousness, but it comprehends them as constituent elements. We cannot, therefore, set love against righteousness, or judgment, or justice; for all are essentials of love. An illustration of this is given in the light of the sun. When it comes direct to us from that great luminary, it is pure white. When shining through a prism, or some similar object, it is separated into all the colors of the rainbow,—red, orange, yellow, indigo, violet, blue, and green. We may at times see only red or blue, but these are part of the pure white light; so at times we may see a display of God's justice or mercy alone, but these are essential elements of his love.