Love One Another
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
“that you have heard from the beginning”
Remember how John started this letter?
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
From the beginning of time, creation has been pointing to Jesus and the salvation that he brings. From the beginning, we have been in dire need of a savior to take away our sins. From the beginning of time, we have been needing someone to display the ultimate love for us.
The Absence of Love
The Absence of Love
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. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever 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 see that John references the first murder to ever take place. Cain was the son of Adam and Eve. And for those of y’all that aren’t familiar with the story, Cain and his brother Abel were bringing their offering to the Lord, and God was pleased with Abel’s offering but not Cain’s.
This caused Cain to fill with anger and envy toward his brother. And Cain killed Abel.
Obviously, Cain was filled with hate and that caused him to murder his brother. So John is referencing that as a caution to us. Cain was in the presence of God. There was not much separating Cain from a relationship with the Lord outside of being born into his sin nature and guilt. So he didn’t even have as many temptations into sin that we have now and he still did. So we need to be hyper vigilant toward sin so that we don’t fall into the trap of sin.
John goes on to explain how the world reacts to us as Christians. What does he say? That when we follow Jesus, everything is great and people cheer for us? Or maybe that when you follow Jesus you’ll get rich and be able to buy the biggest house on the hill? NO!
The Bible says to not be surprised that the world hates us!
How many of y’all like going to the dentist?
Think about it like a sick kid. When you try to give medicine to a sick kid, what happens? They fight and cry and squirm trying to avoid that medicine, but if they’d just take it, they’d feel better!
The world is the exact same way with the Gospel. It desperately needs the Gospel. But it will fight and cry and squirm away from getting the “medicine” that it needs.
If there’s one thing I have learned about this world, it’s that it is full of sin and hate and needs the Gospel more and more every single day.
The Action of Love
The Action of Love
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
I love the parallel between these two verses. The most famous verse in scripture echoed by the same reference in John’s second writing.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The definition of hate is the absence of love. Just about every definition either explicitly or implicitly says this. So a world filled with hate is absent of love. So then, how is hate removed from the world? Love must be added in greater amounts.
So from the beginning, the hate has been growing and growing. From the beginning, the world has needed love. Love that is greater than the hate that is rampant.
This is why the Bible emphasizes the love that God showed for us.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
There is no love greater than a man laying down his life for another. What about God coming as a man to earth for the sole purpose of laying down his life and bearing the weight of all sins in order to provide a way out for all of mankind.
This is available to each and every one of us. For FREE! We don’t have to earn it! We can’t earn it! Jesus paid the price in full and all we have to do is say “yes Lord.”
If you haven’t said “yes Lord” then you must do so today!
The Answer in Love
The Answer in Love
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? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Once we have Jesus and his love within us, we have an obligation to share that love with others. We are not called to “get saved” and then stop. We are called and commanded to share that love with the world! We are required by God to give as much as we can!
What John wrote here was to give as anyone had need. Unfortunately, there are many in the world who have abused the generosity of others, so you may have gotten “burned” by someone like that. Don’t lose heart. My recommendation is to always give to an organization who helps those in need rather than giving to the individual.
For example, you can give to the food pantry here, or to the church general fund so that we can keep the doors open. If you have the ability to give, then give! Give not only your money, but your time! if you have the ability, give!
Our answer to receiving the love of Jesus in our life is to pass it on to another and love them just as Jesus loves us!
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
We must first receive his love then give his love.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In closing, I want to do something that I don’t normally do.
Bow heads and close eyes.
With no one looking around, if you hear me talking about being a Christian, being saved, being born again, and are unsure if that’s you, will you raise your hand?
This will likely be the same hands, but if you have never received Jesus as your personal Lord and savior, would you raise your hand?
For those of you that did raise your hand, the Bible tells us that all we need to do is believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and that God raised him from the dead. There isn’t a specific prayer to pray. I would be happy to lead you in a prayer that would vocalize that, but the words won’t save you. It’s the heart position to the Lord.
Lead Prayer
If you did pray that prayer with me and want to discuss it further, come down front and see me. Or catch up with me after the service.