1 John 4:15-19 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us.” NASB

In these few verses, there are several life-changing truths that I want to highlight and discuss briefly:

• The Way to God – – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”
• God Is Love – – “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
• As He “is,” So Are We IN THIS WORLD – – “By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.”
• Love Defeats Fear – – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”
• God’s Love Draws Us to Him – –“We love because He loved us.”  The New King James says it better – “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Today, I want us to consider number two: “God Is Love.”

I know that former President Bill Clinton called into question the definition of the word “is” in his scandal with “that woman,” as he called her.  But as we look at this subject today, I want to briefly focus on the word “is.” 

• Notice it does not say – “God Has Love.”  He does, but that is not what it says.  It does not say – “God Demonstrates Love.” 
• He does, but that is not what it says.  It says,” God IS Love.” 

That is critically important!  It is a contrast to what we have as humans with regard to Love and what God IS!  We have love for various things or people.  We demonstrate or exhibit love depending on the situation, person, or circumstances.  But notice this is a description of WHAT God is, not what God HAS. 

God Is Love!  He is the fullness of love.  He is the completeness of love.  He is the ocean of love.  God does not have love; He IS Love!  That is something that flows to us from Who He Is, not what He has!  When we receive God’s love, we receive a part of God Himself.  If we “abide” in His love, we “abide” in Him.  He lives “in” us and flows “out” of us, touching everyone and everything around us.

It would behoove us always to consider that we are not just “representatives” of the Lord, and we are also “manifestations” of Him to the world.  When they see us, they should see Him, not our flawed humanness.  Of course, there will be times when we fall short of that objective, but that should always be our objective.  When we fall short, we should ask His and possibly their forgiveness and seek the Lord to live His life in us and through us so that when the world sees us, they see Jesus!

May the Lord be with you as you go through this day, and tomorrow, we will consider something that I consider vital but often missed by the Body of Christ – “As He IS, so are we IN THIS WORLD.”