1 John 3:11-24
Notes
Transcript
Love Each Other
Love Each Other
Good morning my friends, it is so good to see you today!
What a blessing we have that we are able to come and worship our Lord with our friends and family members. What a joy to lift our voices in praise, rejoicing because we have a Savior who loved us, and gave himself for us, to redeem us.
And He continues to love us, to walk with us leading us to be more like Him every day, if we will follow Him!
Today is the first day and the best day of the week! And I believe today, what we do, our worship and praise.... our response to the Father when He speaks to us and leads us… that will set the tone for the rest of the week.
Today we come back to the book of 1 John, and we are still in chapter 3… and today we are continuing to talk about love.
Love, God’s love is a theme we see carried all through the Scriptures. And the theme of God’s love isn’t one sided…We are called to return that love, too love God and also to love those around us.
So lets return to John’s words here in chapter 3 as see what he is teaching us here....
1. The Command is Clear...
John reminds us, the command of God is to love Him and then those around us. This is the message that we have heard from the beginning from the Lord himself...
Lets open our text and look at verses 11 and 12..... 1 John 3:11-12
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 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.
Now if you remember we started talking about God’s love last week, and here we see John is continuing this thought…
Why? Why do we have so much teaching about God’s love? Very simply my friends, Love is at the very core of God’s teachings about Himself and His work in this world.
So John reminds us, this is the message you, every believer has heard since the beginning… that we should love one another....
The beginning here is the very beginning of their walk with Christ. Consider that; When did you first hear the message of God’s love?
We heard it when we came to faith in Christ, we learned that God loved us and has shown or revealed that love to us in Christ.
So from the very beginning of our Christian lives, we have heard that God is love! It is a message that is grounded in the very nature of God. And this is what Christ taught to those who followed him.
So the message is “... we should love one another....” and that has a dual avenue of approach, we are called to love the world in general, but this command is primarily directed toward the household of faith. Believers should love other believers...
The Phrase “...we should love...” is present tense here, meaning the command calls for a continual display pf love in the family of God. Just as love is within the very nature of God so is if fundamental to us being a child of God.
So think about, remember what John as taught us so far… John as said we (our lives) are to be characterized by righteousness, and there is be an abstinence from a life of continual sin, so the church is marked by people who love one another, this is to be a normal consistent habit of our lives.
Does it get any plainer than that my friends? No...
And so to illustrate this even further, John tells us we should not be like Cain.... Look at verse 12 again...
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.
Cain my friends is a great example of the absence of love…He was to love his brother naturally, but in jealously, his evil intentions revealed his heart and who had possession of that heart, the devil.
Cain couldn’t love Abel because his heart was not righteous, and therefore there was no room for love in that heart. Instead only evil intentions....
So the call from God is to love, that is the command.
My friends, is your life marked by love? Do you love God?
People will automatically say, well yes, I love God…
How is it revealed? Don’t just love God only, but do you love for those around you?
Now John will go and and expand His thought a little here, look at verses 13-15 1 John 3:13-15
13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Now this goes right along with John’s thoughts of Cain and Abel, Just as Cain hated his brother, His life is a representation of evil. Abel in turn is a life that is marked by righteousness and love.
So Just as Cain hated his brother, John tells them (pay attention to this friends) so the world will hate you. Don’t be surprised by it.... this is he attitude of the evil one. They will stand judged and face damnation.
And if you, you and me, if our life is not marked by love, then we belong to the evil on just the same way...
My friends, is your life marked by love? Do you love God?
People will automatically say, well yes, I love God…
How is it revealed? Don’t just love God only, but do you love for those around you? it has to be both....
Now as we move on in the text, we find the second thought today…
We have a pure example of love that we should emulate.
2. The Pure Example....
We have been given an example to follow, and we do not have to wonder who John is talking about my friends, we know it is Jesus.
The way He lived and how He ministered to the world around Him provides us with an example that is consistent with the Scriptures.
Now lets go back to our text this morning and examine it.
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. 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? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
So John tells us, “By this we know love...” Literally, we know what love is .... He is certain just as we are certain. It is evident in the fact that Jesus laid down his life for us.
That verb “we know” speaks to a knowledge that has been gained through diligent contemplation. We have come to know.... we were lost and without any knowledge and then we are presented with the truth and we consider it and come to the understanding that Jesus is love, and gave his life as a ransom for sin.
Also the phrase we know is a present tense verb, now I know you might be thinking, what does that matter. He is why we pay attention to these things… Present tense emphasizes a historical encounter with Jesus with ongoing result that affect ones present life.
Think of it like this, We came to Christ at a point in the past. For me is was August 21, 1983. I came to faith in Christ that day. But his death, burial and resurrection of Jesus not only impacted my life that day by saving me… but each day after that it has blessed me, helped me and is conforming me daily into the image of Christ..
Wow...
Jesus came and did what man could not do with their lives. He reconciled us to God through His sacrificial death upon the cross.
Christ’s sacrifice is the supreme example of what genuine love entails.... His love is one whereby it continually grows and develops as a child of God.
So John says we know that Jesus laid down His life for us. The words “laid down” says that Jesus made a deliberate, willful act that demonstrated “His love for us.” He atoned for our sins…
Now that one word “for” there “ He atoned for our sins...”tells us that it was substituionary in nature… 2 Cor 5:21
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
So John his stressing the example of Christ, His sacrifice changed everything, and gloriously tells the world of God’s great love.
So in relation to Christ’s example, there is a call for us to likewise do the same… Now please know, John is not saying that we can in any way atone for the sins of others. No not at all..
What He is saying is this: We have the obligation to follow the example of our Lord, and lay down our lives…
And in a practical application here is what John tells us. Look at verse 17.... 1 John 3:17
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?
So just like Jesus, if you have the ability to help and do not, the love of God doesn not abide in you… That is a serious word that John gives us.
John is telling us we have the obligation, because His love resides in us to help, to love, to care for the needs of others and not just pass them up.
That word “see” is more than just a casual glance, but is a deep observation. It is to see and to know and have the understanding that you can help. … and not pass it by..
And this is summed up in verse 18…1 John 3:18
18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
So there is that loving phrase again, “Little Children...” As a spiritual father, he is calling for them to hear his wisdom and leadership and to act accordingly.
So Little Children, Le us not love in word or talk.... but positively, it it be demonstrated in actions and in truth. Let us love by real deeds.
So lets think about this.... Have we missed the opportunity to share real love....
I think the faith of children does this best… they see the need, uncomplicated by the circumstance, they just see a person needing help.
How can we best demonstrate the Love of God in words and deeds?
Now just one last thought today my friends, are you ready.
3. Live in Confidence...
My friends as we live in this life, walking and following the teaching our our Lord, we can have confidence that our ways are good and right… I am going to tell you why?
Now, lets look at our text today, verses 19-20 1 John 3:19-20
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
So look right here, this first part of verse 19, John says this: “ By this we shall know that we are of the truth...” What John is saying here really governs the entire section. He is telling us we have can confidence living in front of God, but the thought extends itself a little deeper as well… Not only just living confidently today, but what about a time of crisis?
Listen there are times when God’s children have a “crisis” of belief, oh it will come, maybe it has already visited you, but it is during this time we want the assurance that we belong to God.
John is telling us look at the way you live, your life… you know what has happened in the past. You received Him in your heart, You were saved and now your life is marked by you trying to live for God.
This knowledge helps us understand and know we are His...
Godly behavior in your life is not your action, it is His action in you… These events in our life gives us a reassurance that we are of the truth, we are His children.
And what about when our heart condemns us… What about your doubts, when you beat yourself up for a mistake…and you hot the bottom doubting that you are His...
Now let me stop right here, our mistakes are the exception in living for Jesus, it is not a constant way of life.
Remember, we talked about the danger of habitual sin.. You cannot remain in that sin and say you are His child… Being His means there is a progressive change in your life, you are more and more laying aside sin, leaving the world and following Him.
Now back to this thought, And what about when our heart condemns us…
Listen, John says trust God in these times, it is good that we reflect about our life and actions. But it should never lead us to doubt whose we are..
Go back and just hand on the truth that there was a point in time when you knelt down and asked Jesus to come into your heart and to save you.
And we do our best to live in front of Him… and yes sadly there are times when we mess up. We should be sorrowful for sin, but that doesn't make you lost, it doesn't mean you are not saved. No
Trust God at this point John is saying here..God is greater than our heart and grants us the assurance that we are his children, that we are forgiven and saved.
We are His...
Listen to John’s words in John 10:27-30
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Someone told me once that it doesn’t mean that we cannot do it, we can take ourselves out of God’s hand… Are you kidding me. No one will snatch them… means even I, and quite frankly, if we were able, then God is not All Powerful in nature then.
So is God puny in your theology or mighty in your theology. I serve a mighty God who is able to save me and keep me! Amen.
Now lets finish this today..
John is concerned about his brothers and sisters there in verses 21-22.
And John tells us, living confidently and correctly in front of God, we know He hears and answers our prayers.
Now we know that is not saying when we live correctly in front God doesn’t mean we get from God what ever we want..no… not at all.
Listen, a child of God living for God is asking in accordance with the will of God, and God is answering likewise. So what are we asking for...
We ask for strength and wisdom to live in front of Him...
We ask for the opportunity to share our faith, we ask for protection, for help… that He is glorified and we are well.
Listen I am not asking God to give me a new car, but I can ask him to help me manage this resource well for His glory and service.
Does that make sense, we are confident that He hears when we are living correctly.
Now look at these last two verses with me… 1 John 3:23-24
23 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. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Here it is my friends, what does Jesus want from humanity? Two points…
1st. That we believe in the Lord Jesus as the Savior of the world. This is my friends is the greatest thing any one person can do… it lay aside their life and will and trust Him as Savior.
This action changes everything, our walk, our talk, our thoughts, our actions, and our words…
A person, no matter who they are will never reach their greatest potential apart from Jesus Christ.
2nd. That we love one another… How can we say we love God and not love our brothers and sisters.
We get prideful, we get selfish, we get to wanting what we want and not what is good for everyone else… That divides us my brothers and sisters.
This life you and I live in the Lord Jesus, is not our life anymore. It is His life…Right… but are we living that way.
Let me ask you.. If living for Jesus takes all that you have, is it still worth it? There is only one answer… It is Yes!
Consider Job.... all was gone but yet he still declared that God was just in all things..
Jesus laid down is life for ours, can we not lay ours down for Him?
We are to love Him and love others..
Now the Summary....
Now living and walking with Jesus (literally keeping His commandments) allows us to know that He abides in us and us in Him
And look at what John says at the end of verse 24....
“...And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” verse 24b
There in is our proof. By this we know we are His and besides that His Holy Spirit . whom has been given to us ensures that as well.
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
What more do we need my friends?
We Have clear command...
We Have a Pure Example...
We Can Live in Confidence...
The greatest question I can ask you is simple, are you living in front of God correctly...
And if they is sin in your life, ask Him to forgive and ask God for strength to not visit that again
If there is a burden you carry, lay it at his feet and trust HIm with it.
If you are broken, put the pieces in front of HIm and ask Him to heal you.
Ask Him today...
Prayer