1 John 4:9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9
This verse centers on the “manifestation” of God’s love in the sending of his Son. The incarnation—the Father sending the Son—becomes the evidence of love toward humanity. The aim of the sending is that “we might live through him,” indicating that real life—the fullness of life God intends for creatures—resides in union with Christ. This verse ties love to mission and to eternal life, presenting salvation as participation in Christ’s life rather than mere forgiveness apart from him.
Core themes: divine initiative in love, the incarnation, and life in Christ. The verse frames salvation as God’s love expressed in sending Jesus so that believers might have life through him. It ties soteriology to relational communion with Christ and to an ethical response to God’s love.
Reflect on how God’s love moved toward you in sending Jesus. Let that shape your relational life: forgive freely, invest in reconciliation, and extend grace beyond what’s merited. Share the good news through acts of service and words that point to Jesus. Let mission and daily life intertwine—loving others as a response to God’s love in Jesus.
Cross-References: John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; Ephesians 2:4–5; Titus 3:4–7