LOVING ONE ANOTHER (1 John 3:11-24)
INTRODUCTION:
This morning I am going to start a three-part series, this morning’s message will set the tone for the next two messages that will look at God’s plan for giving. We will look at God’s plan for giving as it is laid out in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. The third message will also introduce a new opportunity to give. It is out of love for you that the board has asked me to do this series, actually they asked me to do one message on it, but I really felt that it merited three so that I could really teach you what God’s Word says and not just skim over it. This morning we will be primarily in one passage of Scripture, the next two weeks we will be in various passages of Scripture.
This morning’s message is about loving one another, something that we do well, but that I believe we can even do better. In the passage that we will be looking at this morning, the apostle John is showing us how we might know that we are God’s children and that we have been forgiven and justified before God the Father by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. John tells us that love for one another is an outward sign that we have received salvation. Let’s pray and then get into our passage.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to 1 John 3:11-24. The Apostle John wrote this epistle when he was an old man living in Ephesus and was the last of the apostles to still be alive. Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word and follow along while I read.
1 John 3:11-24,
“For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:11–24, NASB95)[1]
THE MESSAGE FROM THE BEGINNING (1 John 3:11-15)
John begins by reminding us that the message he is about to impart to us is the same message that has been proclaimed from the beginning, the same message that has been proclaimed since the first proclamation of the Gospel. Love is the theme of the Gospel message; it is the central theme of the Christian faith. John reminds his readers that this is what they had heard from the beginning because the false teachers that were infiltrating the church were distorting the truth that had been given to them by the apostles of Jesus Christ from the beginning. What is that message? That we should love one another.
This message, this phrase emphasizes the characteristic of love displayed by those who have put their faith in Christ for salvation and who now have a new nature. As I said, “Love is the theme of the Gospel message and a central theme of the Christian faith.” Think about it, it was God’s love for us that He sent His Son, John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NASB95)[2] It was the Son’s love of the Father and of us that He came as we read in John 10:14-17, “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.” (John 10:14–17, NASB95)[3] And it is our love for God and for His children that shows that we belong to Him. His loving nature has become our new nature. Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35, NASB95)[4] Jesus in these verses gave this as a new commandment, the same message that John’s readers in first John had heard from the beginning. Jesus said that having love for one another would be the distinguishing mark that we are His disciples.
John in 1 John 3:12 goes on to give us an example of what love is not, the opposite of love is hate. John says we are not to be like Cain, the first son of Adam and Eve. Cain is at first presented in God’s Word as one who worshipped God and even offered a sacrifice, but when his sacrifice was not accepted by God and his brother’s sacrifice was accepted by God, Cain became jealous and hateful and rose us and murdered his brother, Abel. His murderous actions revealed that inwardly he was a child of the evil one. John tells us that he murdered his brother because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. John is showing us a behavior of Satan’s children in which they manifest their lack of love, and in this instance, John shows us the ultimate expression of hate, which is murder. God did not accept Cain’s offering because Cain was sinful, whether that sin was pride in his offering because he had grown it himself, instead of bringing it humbly recognizing that all things are from God. It was jealousy that was behind Cain’s hate and murder. John displays the nature of those belonging to Satan, and it is completely opposite of the new nature that we have in Christ.
John goes on to tell his readers to not be surprised if the world hates them. We have heard the stories throughout history, from the early church of the first century to our present day how the world hates Christians and shows it by persecuting them. We pray each week for persecuted Christians. We in North America have not suffered much hate, we have not had to endure much persecution, but I believe it is coming very soon. John then reminds us of the hope that we have, the truth that makes it possible to endure the hatred and persecution of the world, he says we know that we have passed out of death into life, and this is seen because we no longer hate, but instead we love our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can even love those who hate us and persecute us. Becoming a Christian is a resurrection from death to life and a turning from hate to love. When this love is lacking it is an indication that the person who does not love is spiritually dead. John is trying to show us that love for one another is a sure test of whether someone has experienced new birth in Christ or if they are still in the darkness of spiritual death or are as John writes, abiding in death, dwelling there, because no resurrection has taken place.
John then explains that the one who hates his brother is a murderer. In other words, hatred is the same as murder in God’s eyes, in that the attitude is equal to the act. If hatred is allowed to go far enough it leads to murder as was the case with Cain when he killed his brother, Abel. To have this hatred in your heart, to be filled with these murderous thoughts shows that God’s nature has not come into that person’s life, instead he is completely controlled by the flesh, and has no eternal life abiding in him. This describes a person still separated from God by his sin.
WHAT IS LOVE? (1 John 3:16-18)
Having gone through those verses we understand what love is not, so now John introduces the standard of love, what love is for the one who has placed their faith in the Lord Jesus. John writes, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us…” (1 John 3:16a, NASB95)[5] John has given us the measuring stick for every expression of love. Satan’s children filled with hatred and murder and their lack of love is seen as indifference toward the needs of others. Contrasted with this is the selflessness of Christ, who was considering only the needs of others as He laid down His life for us. This phrase, “He laid down His life…” is a phrase that is unique to John. We already saw how he used it in John 10 where Jesus spoke of being the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. In John 15:13 Jesus again uses this expression when He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, NASB95)[6] This expression speaks of stripping oneself of something, often for others. In other words, this standard of love is about self-sacrifice and giving of yourself, it truly is the opposite of hate as you are sacrificing yourself for someone else. Jesus Christ giving up his life so that sinners might be reconciled to God, have their sins forgiven, and become His people, having a new nature characterized by His love. John says that we have seen what true love is and we, as God’s children, ought to be willing to lay down our lives for the brethren. God has called us to the same standard of love that He has for us. There are not many who will be called to make this supreme sacrifice, to lay down his life for his brother, but this same kind of love can be shown in lesser ways. John goes on to give us an example and this is where the rubber meets the road. This is where we are confronted with Scripture, and we must do something about what we read.
John writes that this true love can be shown by meeting the needs of others. He writes, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees a brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17, NASB95)[7] Notice that John does not single out the wealthy, but whoever has the world’s goods. John is not talking about having an abundance of the world’s goods, only that you have some and your brother has none, he has a need and with a little sacrifice for some, and out of their abundance for others that need can be met. John is teaching us that true Christian love does not necessarily mean laying your life down for your brother, but a little self-sacrifice to meet the need of a fellow Christian shows this same kind of love. It is watching out for the needs of others as well as your own needs. It is the practical side of Christian love that finds it motivation in helping others. John says that if we close our heart against a brother in need, it is questionable if the love of God abides in us, and if God’s love does not abide in us, does God’s Spirit? Remember love for one another is the test that John has given us to prove who is part of God’s family and who is not.
John addresses his readers as his little children, and he writes, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:18, NASB95)[8] Claiming to love is not enough, true love is not expressed in words, but in actions. James said it this way, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2:15–16, NASB95)[9] James was talking about faith and works, but what are the works in this case? To provide what is necessary for the brother or sister in need would be an act of love. It would be an outward demonstration of the love that you have for your brothers and sisters in Christ. John like James wants us to understand that our faith in Christ is proven by how we live our lives, and for John the proof is there when we are loving one another.
ASSURANCE (1 John 3:19-24)
John wraps up this passage by giving three benefits for the Christian that loves in deed and truth. He begins by telling us that a lifestyle of love in action is the undeniable proof of salvation. John writes that the first benefit of this type of lifestyle is the assurance of salvation since love in action is the test of the Christian’s profession of faith. Remember what Jesus said to his disciples in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35, NASB95)[10] Then back in 1 John just a few verses down into the next chapter John writes in 1 John 4:7, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7, NASB95)[11] The first benefit is assurance of salvation.
Next John writes that whenever our hearts condemn us, God is greater. God knows those who are truly His as Paul stated in 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.’” (2 Timothy 2:19, NASB95)[12] Because He knows those who are His, He wants to assure them of their salvation. Some Christians may have insecurities and doubts about their salvation, they may feel condemned, this is false condemnation. By faith in Christ, they are no longer condemned as Paul states in Romans 8:1, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NASB95)[13] The Christian who is displaying love as a pattern of life proves that he or she stands uncondemned before God.
Love banishes self-condemnation. John writes “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:21–22, NASB95)[14] When a Christian sees in His own life the demonstration of love in deeds and actions, this should and does result in confidence about his relationship with God. The second benefit of a lifestyle of love is answered prayer. Since love in action is the heart of obedience to the law, its presence in a life is the evidence that the person is in submission to God, which God blesses with answered prayer.
In the final two verses John repeats the three features of his letter: believing, loving, and obeying—which are the major evidences of true salvation. John in the end of verse 24 gives us the third benefit of a lifestyle of loving others, the benefit is the theme of this book, and it is the benefit of the abiding presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
CONCLUSION:
In this passage, John gives us a test to prove that we are truly children of God and to pass the test we must love one another with the same love in which God loved us, a self-sacrificing love, which He demonstrated for us when He laid down His life for us, so that we could have our sins forgiven, so that we could be reconciled to God, and be justified before Him. John says that when we display this love in our life in deeds and truth it is undisputable proof that we are God’s children by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection on our behalf.
The board asked me to bring this message to you out of love for each and every one of you. You are important to me and to each member on the board, and we feel a responsibility to love you and care for you and we want to give you an opportunity with us to love and care for our local body of believers here, but also to care for those who are not a part of our body, but are a part of our community. I know I said I was going to wait until next week to make this opportunity available to you, but I do want to unveil what this opportunity is. The board has set up a new fund called love offerings. It even has a separate receptacle for receiving it. We will begin using it in two weeks after I finish this series because I believe it is important that we understand God’s plan for giving before we begin to fill up this new fund. This love offerings fund will be used to meet needs within our body and within our community. Think about how you might love someone this week in deeds and truth.
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.