The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 124

Vers. 9-11.-TM supr- manifestation of love. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us," etc. Our text does not ~peak of the only manifestation of the Divine love. In many things is the love of God manifested to us-in the beauty, the utility, and the fertility of our world; in the exquisite structure of our souls and bodies; in the apt relations of the outer world to our nature. Nor does our text mention the manifestation to angelic beings of the love of God. But St. John sets forth the richest and most glorious exhibition in regard to us of the love of God. We see here several aspects of the Divine love. I. IN ITS GREAT ORIGIN. " Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us." 1. God's love to man originated entirely with himself. This love in its beginning was all on God's part, and none on ours. We did not love him. 'fhere was nothing iu us to awaken his love to us. We were not beautiful, or amiable, or meritorious, or good. "But God commendeth his own love toward us, iu that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." It was our sin and suffering and deep need that called forlh his compassion toward us; and ere he could love us with the love of complacency, he loved us with the love of tender and Divine pity. 2. God is the Fountain of all love. Love flows from the essential nature of the Divine Being. "Love is of God . . . God is Love" (vcrs. 7, 8). .AB light and heat from the sun, so all true love everywhere flows from him, or took its rise from him. And seeing that he is love, that love is of his e8sence, the flowing forth of his love to us is the giving of himself to us. But the love of God was manifested in onr case- II. IN THE GREAT MESSENGER WHICH BE SENT UNTO us. " Herein was the love of God manifested in us [or, • in oar case'], that God bath sent bis only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." Notice: 1. The pre-existence of Jesus Christ. This is clearly implied in the expression, "God hath sent his Son into the \vorld" (cf. John xvii. 4, 5; iii. 17, 34). 2. The endearing relation of Jesus Christ to God the Fatl,er. He is "his only begotten Son." 'l'he word" l:,on" alone woulcl suggest that their relation is one of deep affection; but other terms are added, which intensif_v and strengthen this idea. The Father speaks of him as "my beloved Son, iu whom I :im well pleased" (Matt. iii. 17). St. Paul writes of him as" God's own Son" (Rom. viii. 3). And St. John styles him "the Only Begotten of the Father.... the only begotten Sun, which is in the bosom of the Father" (John i. 14, 18); "'l'be Father loveth the Son, and bath given all things into his hand" (John iii. 35). And our Saviour said, "Father, tbou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" (John xvii. 24). It is impossible for us to comprehend this ineffable and infinite love subsisting between the Father and his only Son, or the deep and unutterable joy of their communion. In sending such a Messenger to our world, what a revelation we have of the love of G?d I 3. The subordination of Jesus Christ to God the Father in the work of redemption. "God sent his only begotten Son into the world." "As thou di1lst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world" (John xvii. 18). 'l'he Divine Son cheerfully became a servant that his Father's authority might be vinnicated, and bis Father's glory be promoted in the redemption of the human race (cf. Phil. ii. 6-8). Ill. IN THE BLESSING WHICH HE DESIGNS FOR us. "That we might live through him." Notice : 1. The coodition in which the love Qf Ood find, man. "Dead by cld, l~. 1-21.] THE FinS'l' EPISTLE GKNERAL or ,JOHN. 121