We Would See Jesus--1 John 4:12

We Would See Jesus
1 John 4:12

Introductory Thoughts

· Remember the Biblical definition of Love—Action—1 Cor 13:4-7

John 12:20-21 "Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus.""

1. God, in His Fullness, has never been seen by man.—1 John 4:12 "No one has seen God at any time….”

a. Greek—“God no one at any time has seen (perfect tense)…”—almost the same words as John 1:18

b. Biblical Issue

(1) God is Spirit—John 4:24
(2) God is invisible—1 Tim 1:17, 6:16
(3) If we could see God, it would kill us—Ex 33:20
(4) God has been seen indirectly

(a) In disguise—The Angel of the LORD, the three men who came to see Abraham, the Man who wrestled with Jacob, as a burning bush, as a disembodied hand, as a dove, as a man walking in the fire with the three Hebrew Children, as the Captain of the LORD’s host

(b) By Reflection—Ex 33-34

Exo 33:21-23 "And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 "So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 "Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.""

Exo 34:4-8 "So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones. Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him; and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone. 5 Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." 8 So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped."

(c) In Christ—Jn 1:18, Jn 14:9
(d) In God’s people

2. God is seen today through His people—“…If we love one another,."

a. Language notes

(1) 3rd class condition—an honest “if, then” statement
(2) IF
(a) Love—present tense, the habit, continual love
(b) One another—the heart of the Christian life
(3) God Abides—also present tense. If we love one another as a way of life, that is evidence that God abides in us—as a church, and as people.
(4) Perfected—in the perfect tense

b. Here is how God is seen—the one another dynamic. “One anothering” –“…speaking to one another… submitting to one another…”

(1) If your family means more to you than the faith and the faithful, you are wrong
(2) If your friends mean more to you than the faith and the faithful, you are wrong
(3) There should be no brotherhood closer than the brotherhood of believers

c. The One Another Dynamic—Time and time again, we are told to minister to one another

(1) It is not the job of the pastor and staff of this church to do all the “one-anothering” for the body—that ministry is YOURS and MINE
John 13:34 ""A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another…”
Rom 12:10 "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;"
Rom 15:14 "…admonish one another."
1 Cor 12:25 "…have the same care for one another."
Eph 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…"
1 Th 5:11 "comfort each other and edify one another…”
Heb 3:13 "…exhort one another daily…”

Heb 10:24 "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,"

James 5:16 "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another…”

(2) And, if we do love one another, fully, habitually, Christ is seen through us!

3. God Indwells us—“…God abides in us, …”

a. We know that the Holy Sprit indwells every believer, but that is going to be address a verse or two later—this is talking about God dwelling in the corporate body of Christ—the local church

b. The Relationship between Christ and the church

(1) Is a marriage—Eph 5:22-33
(2) Is Eternal
(3) We are a building, a spiritual home for God to live in—Eph 2:20-22, 1 Pet 2:5

4. The Current Earthly Expression of God’s Love is Through the Church— “…and His love has been perfected in us…”

a. His Love

(1) Originated in Him—“God is Love…”
(2) Manifested in the Son—‘…1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him….”
(3) Shed abroad by the Spirit— Rom 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

b. “…Has been perfected…” is in the perfect tense, it is an accomplished fact. The problem is that so many believers and so many churches never walk in it.

(1) The word means “made complete.” This is a heavy concept, to think that the Love which originated in the Father, which was manifested in the Son, and which is spread abroad by the Spirit, should now be completed in us—but that is God’s Word to us.
(2) How is it made complete? When God’s people fulfill the great commission and live for Him.

John 13:35 ""By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.""

John 17:20-23 ""I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."