Seeing God

Week 9

1 John 4:12 (KJV)   -           No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

·         “Seeing God”  

      The Old Testament records many instances of men visiting with God in person.  Adam, Moses, Abraham, Joshua, all had face to face conversations with him.  So to understand this passage you have to understand the verb in “seen”.  Do you see what I mean?  None of you thought about your eyes just now you wondered if you understood what I meant.  No man has understood God at anytime.  Jesus came to reveal The Father to us.  If we don’t understand love we don’t understand God. 

·         "one another" 

     The test of discipleship is love for one another. If we want "all men" to know that we are disciples of Christ then we must let them see our unselfish love for one another. Pride, jealousy, and self exultation are the enemies of loving others. In 1 Corinthians 13:3 Paul tells us "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." Actions may speak louder than words but motives trump actions every time.

·         “God dwells in us”   

      Did you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?  Paul asked that question in 1 Corinthians 6:20.  If there is any hope of glory it is Christ in us.  This hope that dwells in us produces love for one another.  Selfless, sacrificing love that overcomes the world and draws all men to Jesus.  John links these two truths together and they become interdependent.  If you have one you have the other.  If you don’t have one you don’t have the other. 

·          “His love”  

      Do you want more of God?  God considers Jesus as the only example of perfection.  The Trinity is drawn to one another and it is “His love” that defines all other love.  When we love one another in the power of His love we find perfection.  There is no other place to find completeness but in Christ.