Welcome back to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Monday at 12:00 PM Eastern.
In this lesson we are going to study 1 John 2:5. You are going to learn that the goal of the love of God is to help you mature spiritually, to help you keep His word, and to love Him.
Let’s read our verse.
1 John 2:5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him.
Let's start by focusing on the first part of the verse: "But if anyone keeps His word."
"But" (1161. de) means what is next is going to be in contrast with the previous thought. In the previous verse we learned about the person that claimed to know God, but didn’t keep His commandments. (See Lesson 27).
"If anyone" (3739. hos, hé, ho) means all people.
"keeps" (5083. téreó) means to watch over, obey, spiritually guard, or keep intact. This verb is in the present tense, indicating that the action is ongoing and happening at the present time.
"His word" (3056. logos) means a statement, speech, or an expression of a thought from God.
This part of the verse is speaking about the person who is obeying and living in accordance with the teachings, instructions, principles, and commandments of God.
They are habitually aligning their thoughts, attitudes, and actions with the instructions and principles found in His word.
God wants you to obey His voice and keep His word.
In John 14:23, we read that there is a connection between loving Jesus and obeying His teaching.
John 14:23 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
Now, let's focus on the next part of the verse, "the love of God has been truly perfected in him."
"love" (26. agapé, HELPS Word-studies) means benevolence, good will, esteem, or divine love.
"of God" (2316. theos, GEKOS Word-studies) is referring to the supreme divinity, the creator and owner of all things.
"has been truly perfected" (5048. teleioó, HELPS Word-Studies, Thayers) means to bring to an end, to complete, to perfect, to accomplish, or to reach the intended goal.
"In him" means the person that keeps His word.
In John 3:16 we read about the love of God toward the world.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
When you believe in God, His love will transform you and mature you.
As you spiritually mature you will want to spend more and more time in His presence, seek His guidance, and develop a closer intimacy with Him.
Your love for God will be evident by habitually keeping His word.
At this point, the love of God has been truly perfected in you.
However, this doesn't mean that you are perfect and don’t ever sin. You will still have a sin nature and continue to face temptations and challenges in this fallen world.
God’s goal is that you would habitually keep His word and confess your sins and repent, when you do struggle. (See Lesson 18).
In 1 John 4:19 we read that we love God because He first loved us. We did not initiate the love of God.
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
In 1 John 4:7-10, we read that God revealed His love by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for us on the cross in order to pay the penalty for our sins. God's intended goal is that you would love Him and love others. When you do this, you are keeping His word.
1 John 4:7-10 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
In conclusion, the only way that you can "keep His word" habitually is by putting your faith in God, surrendering to His will, and allowing Him to transform your life.
The more you realize how gracious God is, the more your love for God will grow and mature. As you mature in Christ, the more you will obey and love Him.
When you habitually keep God’s word by loving Him and loving others, the love of God has achieved its intended goal and has been truly perfected in you.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him.
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Thank you and God bless you,
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Nenad Radojčić on Unsplash. Seychelles. Berean Study Bible.)
Lesson 28 - 1 John 2:5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him...