As such, God invites us to share this love with our brothers and sisters. In this short but profound epistle, John reminds us that love is the way of God. And to live in God’s world is to live by God’s rules…which is love.
Why does this matter? Well, as the famous refrain from an old gospel song goes, "They'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love." This song, which was written by Peter Scholtes, hit the Christian campfire circle in 1966 at the height of one of the most chaotic periods of U.S. history. It perfectly encapsulates the Civil Rights Movement of which it got its inspiration. And it seems to have a great grasp on the words and worldview of John's letter. All three invite anyone who chooses to follow Christ to set themselves apart from the ways of the world by embracing the way of love. Which is God. Now, as he begins to conclude his letter, John narrows our focus on the relationship between this love and our faith. And what that means to us to live out our faith, as children of God, in a world hungry for meaning and purpose. This is what we find in 1 John 5:1-5. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Once again, John comes out swinging; boldly declaring, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God."
I think it’s safe to say, the Christian church was built upon this foundational truth. It is the bedrock of our faith, upon which our relationship with God exists. By this faithful proclamation we become children of God, brothers and sisters to each other, and with Jesus himself. The author of the book of Hebrews defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). But as someone once pointed out to me, this could also apply to gravity. You don’t see it, but you can put your faith and hope in it because so far, it has consistently proven to be reliable and trustworthy. I’m not in total agreement with this scriptural definition because I believe we can hope and rely on God’s assurance because we can see faith in action every day. Or at least we should be able to see it, in anyone who chooses to follow Jesus for “They will know we are Christians by our love.” We all have faith in something. A rock climber has faith in his ropes and carabiners. A patient has faith in her surgeon’s skill set. Hopefully my wife has faith in her spouse. Christian faith is different than that. It’s an action that sets God’s love into motion, expressing God’s love in everyday life. Faith works with and through love to produce tangible evidence of its existence in a person’s life (c.f. Gal 5:6). And that evidence is intimately tied, according to John, to the relationship between God’s love and God’s Son. Faith is a deep abiding love that is inseparable to believing Jesus is the Messiah, the perfect embodiment of God’s love and salvation for humanity. Love is the ultimate expression of our faith. They are one and the same. The two cannot be separated. Just as God’s faith in us is revealed by God’s love for us, so too must we bear witness to our faith in the way we love each other. Love gives faith power and meaning. John saw this with Jesus. He witnessed the transformative power of love in the healings where our Lord declared, “your faith has made you well.” John believed without a doubt that Jesus was and is the begotten Son of God because he saw what sharing God’s love can do for humanity. Yet, he knew it’s not enough to speak about our faith, we must also show it with truth and action. As the Apostle James put it, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Faith is love in action. Love that reveals who Jesus is - the Christ, the begotten Son, God’s love incarnate. So, to say we have faith is unless we do something with it. There’s an old illustration that kind of puts this into perspective. Imagine watching a tightrope walker push a wheelbarrow on the rope over Niagara Falls. After watching him skillfully move back and forth a few times, he asks for a volunteer to sit in the wheelbarrow to be pushed across the falls. Now, you may believe that he could do that successfully. But you aren’t exercising faith until you get in the wheelbarrow. Faith is love in action that not only puts trust in God but also sets God’s love into motion in the way we relate to God and one another. It only comes alive when we get in the wheelbarrow and actually do what Jesus asks of us - to love God, love others and serve both. The world will know we are Christians by our love. But like John reminds us, “we will know we are children of God, when we love God and obey what God commands” (1 John 5:3). This was one of the most fundamental points of Jesus’ teachings. As Richard Rohr recently noted, “Jesus was entirely single-hearted. His life was all about doing the will of the One who sent him, the One he loved above all.” God wants our obedience, a visible sign our faith. As daunting as that sounds, this need not be burdensome to us. According to Jesus, if we love God and each other then all the commandments will fall into place. As we prepare ourselves to go out into the world let us remember that declaring faith in Christ is more than merely believing he’s God’s begotten child. It means we must also emulate the Son faithfully - embodying his love, grace, and truth; reflecting his light and his character; embracing all people regardless of their race, gender or status. We must give of ourselves so freely and completely, even if it means laying down our lives to do so. John reassures us that when our faith is grounded and centered on God’s Son, then God’s love becomes our source of strength and resilience to overcome the world that world encourages us to pursue our own desires and to seek personal gain and gratification at any cost. But Jesus teaches us to love God and others selflessly, placing their needs above our own no matter the cost. While the world values material wealth, status, and power, Jesus prioritizes spiritual riches, humility, and sacrificial love. The world thrives on division and alienation, promoting individualism and competition. But Jesus draws us together in a holy communion of unity and acceptance, as supporting members of God's family. While the world can only offer us temporary satisfaction and fleeting pleasures, Jesus gives eternal hope and purpose. Although John’s letter was written to comfort a hurting church, it is also a letter of encouragement for us all. By following the way of Jesus faithfully and embracing the way of love freely we will know we abide in him. And God abides in us. We are God’s beloved children. Love is a birthright of faith. And faith is how we will testify to the truth of Jesus Christ throughout Anamesa. As we go out into the world, navigating the space between faith and faithlessness, may the world “know we are Christians by our love, by our love.” For our love is His love. Begotten of God. As John so boldly declared, God is love. And thanks be to Christ Jesus, so are we. Work Cited Bartlett, David L. And Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word Year B, vol. 2. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008). Rohr, Richard. Daily Meditation April 28, 2024 (accessed on May 4, 2024)
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