1 John 4:17 In this love has been completed within us, in order that we may have confidence on the day of judgment, because just as that one is so also we are in this world.
ἐν τούτῳ τετελείωται ἡ ἀγάπη μεθʼ ἡμῶν, ἵνα παρρησίαν ἔχωμεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως, ὅτι καθὼς ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ.
The purpose of love is to bring us into relationship with God and be fit to be in his presence. Since God is love, those in relationship with God must be filled with love. This comes only in abiding with him. The key word in this verse is “have been completed” or “perfected.” Our goal in this life is to experience God’s love within us in fullness, not partially. This love is based on faith revealed in obedience and not based on emotions. The “in this” at the beginning of this verse points back to the previous verse which calls for believers to live in love. Our required response to God’s initial love is to return love no only to God but to the people around us. Saying that we love God yet not showing love to others negates our love for God and shows that it is not genuine.
Many people want assurance of eternal life. Can we really know we are saved? Ultimately, God is the judge, but we can come to a place of confidence about our spiritual status by using the love gauge. Have we indeed confessed our sins and be made pure by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:5-2:2)? Are we indeed walking in the light of obedience to Jesus’ commands (ch. 2)? Are we loving others and rejecting the darkness of sin (ch. 3)? Are our hearts filled with love for God and others (ch. 4)? These things will give us confidence that we can stand before God on judgment day. Can we do this on our own? No. Always there is God’s grace in Christ shown the cross. It is crucial to acknowledge Jesus as the Son who came in the flesh, died on the cross, and rose from the dead.
Jesus lived in the world and showed love to all he met. Each person encountered Jesus in ways that would lead to transformation. Sometimes Jesus confronted people, especially those who lived in rebellion and hardness of heart (such as the Pharisees). Other times, he reached out to those who had no one else (the beggars and demon possessed). Often he encountered adversity and persecution. He serves as our model of what it means to love in this world. His love for the Father and the world was perfect and complete. Our goal is to become like him.
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