1 John 3:11-18

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

Verse 1 is a “this” and “that” statement

Because of “this” (the message of God’s love toward us (3:1))...We will portray “that” (the love of God toward others)

Christian love is fundamental to being a Child of God.

Righteousness, abstinence to sin and love will become normal, consistent habits in the life of a believer.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. (4:7)

12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

John uses Cain as his only direct Old Testament reference in 1st John to exemplify the absence of love.

The word murdered literally means to “cut the throat” which John uses to portray the violence of the event.

Cain’s inner nature brought forth his outward action. He was on Satan’s side and acted in accordance with that reality.

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Matt. 12:30)

13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

John’s use of the word “world” indicates an “evil,” that is, an organized system in opposition to God and under the control of the devil.

So often we use the word “world” lightly to suggest someone who is not a believer, but we must acknowledge the damning nature of the word.

Have you ever learned something about someone and realized “that explains a lot and/or that’s just the way it is?”

When John says “don’t be surprised...” He is telling the church to stop getting caught up in the hatred of the world - Quit focusing on it. Move on.

Why does the world hate the church? If we live for Christ, the world will hate us, because we make them painfully aware of their immoral way of living.

People who have died to sin will always expose and shame those who have not.

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

“Pass” in the text captures the idea that the believer has passed out of death and into life.

Christians are not waiting to abide with Christ in the future, they have already entered life with Christ.

The promise of John 5:24 begins at spiritual regeneration, not physical death.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24)

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

Jesus equates inner attitude with physical action.

Hatred for a person is equivalent to the act of murder itself.

If a person is governed by a spirit of hate, they do not possess eternal life.

What does this look like in the world. Give me an example?

Hatred - an abiding anger and disdain; not only are you angry but you’ve given into your anger, you feed it and help it grow. The apostle John tells us that hatred of another makes us a murderer. It is a sign that you are unrepentant and caught up in sin that violates the 6th commandment.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Real love is not a feeling, it is an action. It produces selfless, sacrificial giving.

Now that John has stated that love is an evidence of life in the child of God, he focuses on the supreme example of love: the sacrifice of Christ

Sometimes it is easier to say that we are willing to die for others rather than truly live for them.

Question: Does the way you live you life for Christ, support the idea that you would be willing to die for Him?

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Not many will be required to lay their physical life down for others, however, the opportunity to help someone in need is constant in the world.

John switches from the heroic deed of death to an application in everyday life.

Notice how the author abandons the plurality of the word “brothers” in verse 16 for the singular use of the word in verse 17...

John instructs us to not let our enthusiasm for loving everybody in general, keep use from loving anyone in particular.

18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

John makes one last appeal to help us understand that love is more than a good speech or encouraging words.

To speak without action is worthless.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Cor. 13:1)