Some Key Words

Perfected (teleioo[5048]):

to complete, finish, accomplish; to add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full; to consummate in character

Given (didomi[1325]):

to grant, supply, furnish a necessary thing, deliver, to give one to someone as his own - to care for his interests

Beheld (theaomai[2300]):

to look upon, view attentively - indicating the sense of a wondering regard involving a careful and deliberate vision which interprets its object; to learn by looking

Bear witness (martureo[3140]):

to testify, bear witness, implying praise or commendation, to confirm; to not keep back testimony, to utter honorable testimony, to give a good report

Savior (soter[4990]):

to save, a deliverer, preserver

Confess(homologeo[3670]):

thoughtful word, to accept or consent, to speak the same with or consent to the desire of another, to confess, celebrate with public praises; to say the same thing as another, to declare openly, to speak out freely; acknowledge

Come to Know (ginosko[1097]):

to know experientially; intimate knowledge; to be sure, understand. From Vine's: Ginosko tends to indicate a coming to knowledge, a beginning to understand, whereas eido tends to indicate a fullness of knowledge and understanding

Believed (pisteuo[4100]):

to believe, have a mental persuasion, be of opinion, have faith; place confidence in, trust in Jesus as able to aid, saving faith

 

Paraphrase

11 We ought to love as God loves - as needful, not as desirable. 12 If we can love, it is because God is in us, loving through us, 13 to which the Holy Spirit attests. 14 The Son is the Savior of the world, 15 the confessing of whom shows the presence of God in us. 16 We have learned of God's love, that He is love, and His love is our certificate of rebirth.

Key Verse

4:13 - here is the means of showing God's love - in an action more needful than desired by the one loved: bearing witness to the coming of Christ as Savior, and as the Son of God - a man as we are men, and yet God as God is God.

Some Parallel Verses

4:11

4:12

Jn 1:18 - no man has seen God. Ever. 1Ti 6:16 - No man can see Him - who alone dwells in unapproachable light.

4:13

Ro 8:9- we are in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwells within us.

4:14

Jn 15:27 - the apostles will bear witness, having been with Jesus throughout His ministry. [an extremely predestinarian view might take this as implying we've been with Jesus all the time.] Jn 3:17 - Jesus came to save, not to judge [the judgement comes next time.] Jn 4:42 - belief comes through knowing Christ Jesus to be the Savior.

4:15

Ro 10:9 - vocal confession of Jesus as Lord is a prerequisite to salvation.

4:16

Jn 6:69 - we have come to know Jesus as God's Holy One, Messiah. Jn 9:3 - God displays His works in and through us.

 

New Thoughts

The closing verse of this block: we have begun to understand intimately, and have placed our confidence and faith in the compassionate love God has for us. This is where we need to be. So sure of His love for us that nothing can shake us from our love for Him. That love will reflect itself in our lives both in our treatment of others, and our vocal, public confession of that love. The more of this book I look into, the more clear it becomes that the love we are to show - that love which does what is needful rather than what is desired - has at its basis the delivering of the gospel message: that salvation is needful and available; that Christ died for our sins because no other means would do to bring us back into proper relationship with God. Lord, strengthen me to be willing to this task. I have shirked it in the past, and even now it makes me uncomfortable. But Your Word and Your Spirit are clear. Make me an instrument in Your hands, oh Lord, that others may know of Your love for them.