1 John 4:9 – Life Through Him

1 John 4:9-10
⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. ¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The Gospel is basically the goods news of life. In fact, if the gospel you know isn’t all good news then you haven’t learned the Gospel correctly. It’s the good news that God sent His Son into the world so that we have the opportunity to choose life.

This was a hidden mystery. God’s plan of the Cross was hidden. In fact, it seemed God’s love was hidden although He did miraculous things for His people. They only saw God as someone who had to be obeyed or else. They only saw God as a Holy God who demanded their holiness through keeping the laws and ordinances He gave them. This of course, was to show them that they needed a savior.

Finally, in the course of time or as the scriptures say, “the fullness of time,” God revealed His love for man. He has always loved man. But through Jesus God manifested or made public His love.

This was a major act of love. God came to earth through the Son to demonstrate His love towards us. Through His great love, we can have eternal life. Through the Cross we now have the choice, that “In Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). All we have to do is believe in Him.

And for us who love the Lord, we didn’t generate that love. It was His love for us that allowed us to love Him. If we could just get a glimpse of that love into our hearts, we would be the most loving people around. Others would know Him by our love.

The love of God was the Son of God who was the propitiation or the atonement for the sins of the world. It was God removing all wrath and judgment towards us. God is not mad at us and never condemns us as that He completed fully through the Cross by Jesus.