GOD IS LOVE Devotion 1 of 34 Faith cannot be initiated or maintained by law, speculation, or philosophy. All of those are impotent to produce or nourish faith. We are categorically told "the Law is not of faith" (Gal 3:12). It has nothing whatsoever to do with faith. It does not require faith. It is based wholly upon but doing, not believing. – Tomorrow:
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love . . . God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:8,16)
Because both speculation and philosophy are of human origin, it ought to be apparent they are of no value in the area of faith. Speculation includes the idea of casualness and inconclusiveness (Merriam-Webster). It has no real bearing upon life, and is driven by theory, not fact. Philosophy has more to do with the pursuit of knowledge than the acquisition of it. It sits upon the very border of vanity, and of itself cannot be a foundation.
The book of First John possesses neither speculation nor vain philosophy. You will find no evidence of groping for truth, or flaying the air in an attempt to get at something. There is Divine solidity to all of its affirmations, with not the slightest twinge of doubt found in them. Critical matters are said to be "manifested" (1:2; 2:19; 3:5,8,10; 4:9), "revealed" (3:2), and "known" (2:13,14; 3:6; 4:16). Evidences are provided with the marvelous introduction, "By this we know" (2:3,5; 3:16,19,24; 4:6,13; 5:2), and "hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him" (3:19), and "Hereby we know" (3:24). "Assurance" (3:19), "confidence" (2:28; 3:21; 5:14), and "boldness" (4:17) are also declared to be realities in the saints.
The presence of these marvelous realities, however, can be undetected by the novice, and therefore they are announced, or proclaimed, with gladness. The objective of the proclamation is not to substantiate a creed or a doctrinal emphasis, but to establish the hearts of the saints. The reality of these New Covenant provisions can also be washed away in with the tide of false religion, misplaced emphases, and distraction to lesser things. Therefore there is a firmness in these proclamations that makes no provision for doubt or skepticism.
There is a profound absence of all of these qualities in contemporary religion. Nearly all present-day representations of Christianity are driven by human philosophy and lifeless systems. In fact, that is what has created the many sharp divisions between believers. Human wisdom has been so elevated in the minds of religious people that it has become the touchstone for proof in Scriptural matters. Language, history, theological position, or some other form of human wisdom, are too often the very basis for supposed Christian persuasion. This approach to life in Christ has all but eliminated the requirements of faith in Christ and love for the brethren. But both of these are powerfully declared in this book to be indispensable. There is no salvation apart from them. God will NOT recognize the person lacking these things.
This message is so clear in this short Epistle, that it can only be missed by failing to expose our hearts and minds to its truth. If our hearts are to be made confident, we must hear words of this sort. We cannot come into the presence of the Almighty upon the basis of our own achievements. Our hearts know this to be the case. A condemned heart will drive us from the presence of the Lord just as surely as it did in Adam and Eve.
Faith, however, takes hold of Divine provision and boldly comes into the presence of God to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need (Heb 4:16). Thus the Spirit speaks to our faith, anchoring us in Divine utterance and heavenly realities. If we are to survive, we must know the truth, for it alone will free us.
This series of devotions is an exposition of the statement, "God is love." Twice John affirms this in His First Epistle. It is a pivotal declaration upon which diamonds of truth are hung. Three sides of this coin of truth will be declared. First, that "God is love" is confirmed by what He has done. Second, salvation through Christ is the appointed means of experiencing this aspect of the Divine nature. Third, certain conduct verifies, or confirms, that we have, in fact, participated in that love.
If the evidence of Divine love is not found in it, all of our speculations about God being love are only chaff, having no value whatsoever. That "God is love" is perceived in what He has done. That we have participated in it is perceived by what we do.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, deliver me from all shallow and unproductive views of Your person and work.