1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us and his love has been perfected in us.
θεὸν οὐδεὶς πώποτε τεθέαται. ἐὰν ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους, ὁ θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν μένει καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμῖν τετελειωμένη ἐστιν
Evidence of God’s existence comes through experiencing God’s love in relationship with others. This statement has two implications. First, on the negative side, it tells us that we deny God’s existence if we do not show love to our brothers and sisters, and even non-believers. If there is anything wrong in relationships that hinder or block love, then we are denying God’s presence and existence to those around us. Sadly, there are too many stories of people who say they have rejected God because of the behavior of Christians. That is a weak excuse, but it still is a powerful hindrance to others coming to faith.
Second, on the positive side, our testimony through loving relationships speaks powerfully that there is a God, and this God loves us and offers us eternal life through his Son. God’s presence in our life flows out into how we live and interact with others.
The perfecting of God’s love is another way of saying the fulfilling of God’s purpose for us on earth: to know God’s love and experience it in relationships with others. Adam and Eve had this in the Garden of Eden but lost it when they rejected God’s love in exchange for the fruit of self-glorification. The love of self that supersedes love for God and others is a dangerous path that finally leads to self-destruction. The love of God empowers us to follow God’s path for us of loving relationships with others.
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