Sacrificially loving other Christians provides positive proof that we have experienced God's saving love.
God is the source of true love. (verses 7-8)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Here are a few indicators that you may be disregarding this command.
Head and heart: Hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness.
Mouth: Gossip, slander, mean-spirited comments.
Attitudes: Selfishly avoiding true love or being apathetic about practicing true love. Being worldly by being distracted by and focusing on the things of this world. Procrastinating while pursuing worldly things. See 1 John 2.15-17.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1.9 ESV
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins… 1 John 2.1-2a
I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Revelation 2.2-5a ESV
God's love is true love. (verses 9-10)
9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3.16 ESV
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17.3 ESV
God manifests His true love in and through us. (verses 11-12)
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
God wants to remind you of His true love again... today.
O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17.25-26 ESV
He is not expressing a hope that they would be the recipients of some different and inferior kind of affection. The love with which the disciples are loved is the same deep, unwavering love as that with which the Father loved the Son. – Leon Morris
The purpose of this continuing manifestation of God himself is, first, that the love the Father has for the Son (c.f. v. 24) may be "in them" - which may mean 'amongst them' (and displayed in their love for one another) or 'within them' (so that as individuals they may become loving people). It is impossible to think of one without the other. The crucial point is that this text does not simply make these followers the objects of God's love (as in v. 23), but promises that they will be so transformed, as God is continually made known to them, that God's own love for His Son will become their love. The love with which they learn to love is nothing less that the love amongst the Persons of the Godhead. – D. A. Carson
...and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5.5 ESV
Paul stresses that God's love for us is active – it is a love that gives to us and takes possession of us (c.f., e.g., 2 Cor. 5:14: "the love of Christ controls us"), and which can stand for all that God has done and will do for us (c.f. 8:35: "who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"). And it is this internal, subjective – yes, even emotional – sensation within the believer that God does indeed love us – love expressed and made vital in real, concrete actions on our behalf – that gives to us the assurance that "hope will not disappoint us". – Douglas Moo
The expression "shed abroad" indicates the abundant diffusion of this love. The hearts of believers are regarded as being suffused with the love of God; it controls and captivates their hearts. - John Murray
While the reference is surely to the love God has for us, we should not overlook the truth that the Spirit's pouring of God's love into our hearts is a creative act. It kindles love in us... poured out points to abundance... - Leon Morris
Described here is a sustained experience of a love that was other than merely human love - an awareness of being loved and presumably also of being filled with heartfelt love for others whom in the normal course of events one might have disregarded or even despised. - James Dunn
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2.20 ESV
Some questions for further reflection and application:
How does knowing that true love is a supernatural gift inform your definition and practice of the command to love one another?
How does the gospel inform your definition and practice of the command to love one another?
Why did Jim suggest to those lacking desire, to those who are afraid, and to those "without the goods" to renew their obedience by remembering God's love for them?
How can you grow in obeying "love one another" in your caregroup? What would that look like?
