"All You Need Is Love"

By Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

(1 John 4:7-21)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. [9] God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. [11] Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

[13] By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. [15] God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. [16] So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. [17] Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. [19] We love because he first loved us. [20] Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. [21] The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

(NRSV)

INTRODUCTION:

A teenage boy had pleaded with his father for the last month to be allowed to drive their BMW for a really big date. The boy was relentless in his begging and Dad was equally relentless in his stubbornness. But finally the teenager was able to wear Dad down. Dad agreed but he had some stipulations: Both the bay and the car had to be home by midnight. And the teenager had to promise to call if anything, anything at all out of the ordinary happened.

Well, about 10 o'clock the boy called home and said, "Dad, remember you told me to call if anything happened?"

Dad said, "Sure, I remember, what's the problem?"

"Well, the car sort of sounds funny. It sounds like there's water in the engine."

Dad was a little confused by the boy's comment and asked, "What makes you think there's water in the engine?"

And the boy replied, "Well, that's easy, I drove the car into the lake."

Except for the laughter right now, if that had been your child and your BMW, what would your reaction have been? I don't know how the father in the story reacted. And I'm not sure how I would react. But the best response of all would be: "Are you all right?" That's love. That's the reaction of love.

I don't know what kind of upbringing the Beatles had. I don't know if they read the Bible or attended Church or not. But in the song "All You Need Is Love" (which I plagiarized as the title for this sermon - my apologies to John, Paul, George and Ringo), they summed up much of the content of John's 1st letter. This letter is a "love" letter. Just like the 13th Chapter of Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians is called the "love" chapter, this is sometimes referred to as the "love" letter; because Love is the predominant theme.

In his Daily Study Bible series, William Barclay says this letter is "a loving and anxious sermon written by a pastor who loved his people." I think it has a definite and very much needed message for our time and our future. It is a clear call back to our first identity as followers of Christ and a people of love. That is the one thing that set us apart. The love of Christ in our lives.

I. LOVE IS FROM GOD:

A. The first thing this passage teaches us is that love is from God. Love always has its origin in God. God created everything and it was God who created love. It was out of God's love that we were created in God's image. Without God, we wouldn't be and we couldn't begin know what love is or what love is all about. In verse 8 John says: "God is love.

So how do we know that love is real? Well, the same way we know that electricity is real. By it's effect. You see, like love, electricity is invisible. You can't see it. But you can see its effects every time you turn on a light or the TV or a computer. You don't even have to have anything electric to see its effect. Just watch a lightning storm. You can feel it in the air and smell it and see its effect. Through all of our senses, we can tell that electricity is real. Electricity is revealed by its effect.

Love is revealed in much the same way. Generally, we can't see love. It doesn't take shape or form that we can readily identify. You can't go in and order 5 pounds or a gallon of love, just like you can't go in and order a gallon of electricity. But we know love when we see it. We know love by its effect on our lives and the lives of those around us. That's when love becomes tangible.

B. John tells of the time in our history that love became tangible. It became more than just tangible, God's love became flesh and blood and walked among us. Our immortal and eternal God wrapped himself in the flesh and bone of our existence and became one of us. John reminds us that God and God's love is revealed in God's Son, Jesus. And it is most fully revealed in Christ death on the cross for our sakes.

The king of Armenia stood before the conquering Roman general who had just subdued his kingdom. The king fell to his knees and pled with the Roman general: “Do whatever you wish with me, but I beg you to spare the lives of my family.” The general spared the life of the king and his family.

Later, the king asked his wife what had been her impression of the Roman conqueror, but she responded, “I never saw him.”

The king couldn't believe it and asked “How could you not see him? He was only a few feet away. What were you looking at?”

With tears welling up in her eyes, the queen replied, “I saw only you, the one who was willing to die that I might live.”

It is that same kind of remarkable love which is revealed in Christ and is at the very center of the heart of God. It is this kind of love which should be at the center of our walk with Christ.

II. WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER:

A. The second thing this passage tells us is that "since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another." (vs 11) John presents a pretty simple formula here. God loves us. God loves us enough to send Jesus. Because of Jesus we should love one another. John goes on to say that "God lives in us when we DO love one another."

Eugene Peterson, the author of "The Message" wrote: "No life of faith can be lived privately. There must be overflow into the lives of others." In other words, Love can't just sit there doing nothing. It doesn't have a neutral, it never sits and idles. Love is always active.

B. We saw the effects of God's love and the love we have for one another last week in the youth service. The youth of this Church are a powerful and glorious testimony to the love of God in Christ. And the effect that love has on others when we live that love and love one another as Christ loves us. You could hear in their voices. You could see it on their faces. You could feel in the tangible presence of God's Holy Spirit in our service.

John said, "if we love one another, God lives in us." If that's the case then we know God's address. God lives in us and in our youth, not because we are so good. Not because we are any better than anyone else. Not because we are building a building. Not because God likes Methodists better than anybody else. Not because we're all good looking and above average. God lives in us because we love one another.

III. GOD'S LOVE IS PERFECTED IN US:

A. But that's not all of the promise. Because John goes on to say, "if we love one another, God lives in us, and God's love is perfected in us." When we open ourselves and our lives to God's love by loving one another, by teaching one another how to love, and by loving those who come through the doors of our Church, God's love takes root and grows. It begins small but grows and grows until it is perfected in us as Christ like love.

In a way, that kind of love is already taking place on a regular basis here. We saw it in our youth. But it takes place in other peoples lives as well. Let me give you an example.

One of our members woke up in middle of night a couple of weeks ago with what they thought was a very, very clear call from God to give $50 to the Pastor's Fund. Some people would have just blown it off as a dream or a coincidence. But not this person. The first thing this person did the next day was to make sure the Pastor's Fund received that $50.

You might not think $50 dollars is very much but it is, if that's what you need. And it really is if God ask you to give it. This person's obedience to God helped two people and blessed four. You see someone came into the office who needed a little cash just to make sure a check didn't bounce. I gladly gave this person $40. That person brought back a check the very next day. And it probably wasn't an hour later that someone else came needing some funds to help pay part of an electric bill. Coupled with what I had in the Pastor's Fund, it was just enough.

I was blessed by being able to help. The person who gave the $50 was blessed by giving it and the two people it helped were blessed. God's love IS being perfected in us. Love is the driving force behind what we do. We share God's love because we are loved. We do good because we are loved. We act out of love because God loves us.

B. That love is at the root of Methodism. We have always reached out in love to the marginalized and dispossessed. We've always reached out to the poor. We've always been involved in social issues. Kairos or the prison ministry that some folks are involved in isn't something new, it's just a new way of doing something we have always done, visiting and taking the Word of God to the prisons.

We'll also be involved in getting back to our heritage in another tangible way. Through Church Growth & the United Methodist Churches of Arlington, are joining together to take the Gospel to the people instead of expecting the people to come to the Church. In June a preacher will be appointed, not to a Church but to an urban ministry or inner city ministry. It is yet to be named. But we know the preacher who will be appointed and who will be reaching out to marginalized and needy in Arlington.

How can we do this? Well, we're all going to be doing it in similar ways, through love offerings. The Board has approved our support through Communion Offerings. As you come forward for communion, we will ask that you help by leaving a special offering on the communion rail. I hope our part can be in the neighborhood of $1,000 to $2,000. We already have $400 of that, so it shouldn't be very hard to get the rest.

And as we get involved, as we reach out to others and enable ministry that reaches out to others God is glorified and God's love is being perfected in us.

C. Let me give one final example. Sue Barber shared a letter with me the other day that I've been saving to use today. I want to read a portion of it to you. It is a powerful witness from someone outside, looking in at the ministry of St. John the Apostle. (Read letter)

Dear Sue and Larry, Becky has kept me posted about events as they occur out there, and I am aware that you two have continued to be very helpful and supportive. there is no way I can communicate to you the comfort that it gives me to know that she is not "alone" out there, and the deep appreciation I feel for your dedication to ministry in the lives of Becky and others who find themselves in need of loving and compassionate Christians to come alongside them.

This has been a wonderful example to me of a true New Testament church, where deeds are more important than mere words. Truthfully, yours is the only church I know of personally where this time of ministry is on-going. I'm sure there are others, but not in our area, or anywhere near us.....Thanks so much for your ministry to Becky, and we pray God's blessing on you and your Church. Sincerely, June and Calvin.

As a Methodist I never thought I would be getting a letter from anyone named Calvin. But this letter points to what God is doing in the life of this Church. God is perfected God's great love in Christ in us.

CONCLUSION:

John's love letter teaches us is first that love is from God. "We love because God first loved us."

Then it reminds us and challenges us by saying that, "since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another."

And finally it tells us that "if we love one another, God lives in us, and God's love is perfected in us."

This Church has heard God's call. And like the one member who gave $50, we listened and we answered. This Church is growing in faith and in action and is being perfected in God's love.

Our challenge is to not become complacent. Our challenge is to continue to listen and continue to love. Because love really is the only answer. And Love, God's love, IS all you need.

1. Parables, Etc. May 1997

2. THE ABINGDON PREACHING ANNUAL 1997 [Electronic Version, (1996, Abingdon Press) April 27, 1997, (Michael Duduit)