1 John 4:9, In this the love of God is made manifest among us: that God sent His begotten Son into the world, in order that we might live through Him [own Greek translation].
In writing these words to the receivers of his letter, perhaps John was recalling the words of Jesus he recorded in his gospel: “Therefore/for thus, God loved the world with the result that He gave His begotten Son, in order that all who believe in Him might not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, own Greek translation). In other words, the love of God for all mankind is made evident in the incarnation, work, and person of Jesus Christ the Son of God for the purpose that whomever believes in Him will not perish into eternal death but receive eternal life. Therefore, on the Day Christ returns and exacts God’s vengeance, we who believe will be without fear and terror in the midst of God’s terrifying judgement, for we who believe and rely on Christ have already been judged in Christ on the cross. We live through Christ because the wrath of God we deserve fell on Christ. Therefore, by faith and in Baptism, His death becomes our death and His life becomes our life (Romans 6:3-11).
