Living as a Community in Christ

The beginning of the Second Half of 1 John

1 John 3:11–24 NASB95

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 NASB95

For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

Many scholars believe this this was a natural “seam”. The beginning of the second part

Linked to 3:10 and 3:23

1 John 3:10 NASB95

By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

1 John 3:23 NASB95

This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

Close to 1 John 1:5

1 John 1:5 NASB95

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Second time “message” was used which is related to “gospel”

Leviticus 19:18 NASB95

‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

1 John 3:12 NASB95

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.

Righteousness is related to right standings with God as well as charity

John 8:44 KJV 1900

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1 John 3:13 NASB95

Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.

Cain is associated with the both the world in political structure as well as hatred

1 John 3:14 NASB95

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

a return to the abide language

Death and Life/Love and Hate

Brethren is specific to believers

1 John 3:15 NASB95

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Matthew 5:21–22 NASB95

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

1 John 3:16 (NASB95)

1 John 3:16 NASB95

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Christian martyrdom

1 John 3:17–18 NASB95

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.

It’s fine for believers to own things

Righteousness =Charity

Torah holds the powerful responsible to the weak

love is an action

Heart is translated from the word for bowels. It metaphoric like “gut feeling” and “butterflies in your stomach”

1 John 3:19–21 (NASB95)

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;

This is the governing verse of the section

God is a Better Judge then we are of ourselves

1 John 3:22–24 NASB95

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.

this is a return to the 1st chapter; a rewording

1 John 1:3–6 NASB95

what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;