Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 4 · Verse 11
1 JOHN 4.11.
Beloved, if God ſo loved us, we ought alſo to love one another.
This is the concluſion of the argument, ſtirring up to the love of one another; here heaven and earth meet as it were in one exhortation.
Doct. Such love of God to us, is a preſident and pattern of like love in us to our Brethren.
How did God ſo love us?
So as is deſcribed in the two former verſes, ſet forth to be 1. a manifeſt love, verſ. 9. Gal. 4.4
2 A bountifull and large love, he ſpared not his Son, he ſent him out of his boſome into the world: a man will not ſend his Son into an ill air.
3 When we loved not God, when we were enemies and ſtrangers, he caſt about how he might by ſending his Son reconcile us to himſelfe: this is free gracious love; ſo we ſhould love one another, in manifeſt, bountifull, gracious love: ſee ſome Scripture preſſing this preſident, Epheſ. 5.1, 2. if he hath ſo loved us, as he hath given himſelfe an offering of a ſweet ſavour, the more good offices ſhould we doe to Gods people, expoſe our ſelves to in jury for them, Epheſ. 4.32.
Reaſ. 1. This argument is of great force, as the Apoſtle applies it, both to the ſubject and object of this love.
1 In regard of us that are beloved of God; children ſhould be like the parents, therefore the Apoſtle preſſeth the argument from our near conjunction with God, Epheſ. 5, 1. and the reſemblance that ought to be between God and us, Mat. 5.44, 45. as we look to approve our ſelves as children of ſuch a kind, gracious tender hearted Father, ſo to be to our Brethren.
2 In regard of us, as loved of God; there is an equity required in our giving and receiving, Mat. 10.8. as we have received love, ſo give, Mat. 18.33, 34. Oughteſt not thou to have forgiven, &c. ought we to be ſo rigorous to our brother, when God is ſo gracious to us?
3. From the juſt recompence of love we owe to God that hath loved us: where we ſow more ſeed, we look for a more plentifull harveſt, Matth. 25.28. not to give God his own with advantage, is a part of unjuſtice in us; our love cannot much reach to God, but as David, Pſal. 16.2, 3. 1 Cor. 12.7. the members of the body ſerve for the help of the body, pour all Gods love upon his Saints: David inquires if there be any left of Jonathans houſe, that he might ſhew kindneſſe to, 2 Sam. 9.2. the kindneſſe of the Lord; as if David had been bound to it by the Lord.
2 Look at them that are to be loved, ſince they have received ſuch love, we are to love them from the firmneſſe of Gods love to them, which we cannot reverſe: therefore to be beloved of men and Angels. Numb. 23.20. he hath bleſſed, and I cannot reverſe it, my curſes cannot pierce through Gods bleſſing towards them; it's a vain thing to hate there where God hath bleſſed, we may ſay, How can I hate, where God hath not hated? He hath loved, and I cannot reverſe it: it is not for the creature to be ſo ſawcy, malepert to dare to beſtow his hatred, where God his love and bleſſing; when Iſaac had bleſſed Jacob the younger brother, Gen. 27.33, 34. though Eſau did intreat him, and fought it with tears, though his own affection we…t that way, yet he would not reverſe it.
3 From the danger that may befall our ſelves, if we love not where God hath loved, 2 Chron. 19.2, 3. The wrath of God hath gone out againſt his children, when they have loved where God hath hated; So when we hate where God hath loved, the wrath of God is gone out againſt us. What diſpleaſure did befall Jehoſaphat? was he not a proſperous Prince? there were only ſome few ſhips broken in going to Tarſhiſh, he met with no great matter of wrath: but yet becauſe he joyned in league and affection with Ahab, Gods enemy, wrath was gone out, and did not return in vain, but fell foul upon his children; his eldeſt ſon proved a perſecutor: As Jehoſaphat put forth love to Gods enemies, ſo his own bowels hated Gods children: So if we ſhall be ſtraight hearted where God hath loved, Gods wrath is gone out againſt us, and will finde either us out, or our children.
Ʋſe 1. Reproves all ſuch ſtrangeneſſe or enmity that is found in Gods people towards the brethren, one would think they ſhould love one another, that have Gods love ſhed abroad in them; yet this exhortation ſhews they are backward in this duty: When Gods people are young beginners, and new come on, then they think they can never love Chriſt nor his ſervants enough; ſo Mary, Luke 7.47. when her ſins were now forgiven her, many debts forgiven her, ſhe loved the creditor much: but St. John implies, that his old age had need of this exhortation, what through love of the world, themſelves, and their luſts the people of God grow cold in their love to God and his ſervants: This argument of love St. John doth preſſe in all this Epiſtle, and the danger of the contrary is great, you renounce the reſemblance of your heavenly Father; you are not like him, you cannot love them ſo manifeſtly, freely and largely as God hath loved us, we expoſe our ſelves to the loſſe of the ſenſe of our comfort: This is one reaſon why we call in queſtion our hopes of eternal life, becauſe we love not our brethren.
2 To exhort us to put this will of our heavenly Father in execution, Chriſt did ſhew us an example in his life, death, urged it upon his Diſciples; God hath bequeathed a teſtimony of love from our hearts to our brethren, Rom. 13.8. this is a due debt, we muſt pay it out of our hearts; and if we do not ſo, no wonder if our wills be not executed. As God loves us manifeſtly, graciouſly, bountifully, ſo ſhould we our brethren, Prov. 27.5. 1 Cor. 16.14. be bounteous in your love, ſo ſhall you enjoy peace and comfort to your ſoules, we ſhall keep the wrath of God from us, procure good to others and our ſelves for many generations. Since God hath loved and bleſſed his people, let us love and bleſſe them, and make it our happineſſe to be doing his will.