Brotherly Love
Journey through 1 John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
In our previous study, we saw where John described two different kinds of people. One who continuously practices sin, and is therefore “of the devil” -
The one who practices sin is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. Ben-Elohim appeared for this purpose—to destroy the works of the devil.
One “born of God,” who does not continuously practice sin.
No one born of God practices sin, because God’s seed remains in him. He cannot sin, because he is born of God.
John continues to illustrate the contrast between “the children of God” and “the children of the devil”, presenting two criteria which distinguishes them. Let’s read that together first:
It is clear who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil by this—anyone who does not act righteously or love his brother is not of God.
The two criteria are:
Practicing righteousness
Brotherly love
Both of these “criteria” have already been introduced earlier in this epistle.
John enjoined “brotherly love” as necessary to “abiding in the light”
The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in the darkness. The one who loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has made his eyes blind.
He connected “practicing righteousness” to being “born of Him”.
Children, let no one mislead you! The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Yeshua is righteous.
and
Children, let no one mislead you! The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Yeshua is righteous.
It is primarily the subject of “brotherly love” that John expounds upon throughout the rest of this epistle, including that which serves as our text for this study. Let’s read that together:
It is clear who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil by this—anyone who does not act righteously or love his brother is not of God. For this is the message you have heard from the beginning—we should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, while his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer—and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
In these verses, John describes “The Necessity Of Brotherly Love”, giving us two main reasons why we MUST love one another. The first of which is...
It Distinguishes the Children of God
It Distinguishes the Children of God
It is clear who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil by this—anyone who does not act righteously or love his brother is not of God. For this is the message you have heard from the beginning—we should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, while his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
The Two Things are Clear
The Two Things are Clear
This passage is translated different ways in different versions, but the bottom line is that the Greek is pointing out that it is clear that that which clearly demonstrates the children of God are:
The practice of righteousness
The love of the brethren
Whereas those who are the children of the devil are clearly revealed when they:
Do not practice righteousness
Do not have brotherly love
The Command to Love is From the Beginning
The Command to Love is From the Beginning
By the beginning, I mean the beginning of the Gospel. Jesus Himself spoke about it.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Notice how Yeshua also points out that loving one another reveals of makes it clear “By this all men will know...” that we are His disciples.
Expect Conflict Between the Children
Expect Conflict Between the Children
It’s not all hugs and kumba-ya though, and I think this is where this message really starts to matter to us as believers because I really think that for the most part, we have this fairly well figured out. We are good at loving each other, but for as much as God’s children are to love each other, the Devil’s children hate us.
Do not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, while his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
When Cain killed his brother Abel - the wicked one killing the just, the murder was sparked by the contrast between the works of the two. So, don't be surprised if the world hates you as well.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But you are not of the world, since I have chosen you out of the world; therefore the world hates you.
“Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
For some that like to live under the radar, this puts us in a bit of a pickle. We are noticed because of our love for one and other and yet at the same time we are targeted because our love for God and His love for us can sometimes lead to jealousy and all of the unpleasantness that goes with it. How then, is it even conceivable that we’d have any inclination to obey that admonition?
It Signifies Passing from Death to Life
It Signifies Passing from Death to Life
It is a Mark of Conversion
It is a Mark of Conversion
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.
But of course, brotherly love is not the only mark of conversion. Remember, we still have to practice righteousness, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.
The point is that brotherly love is a positive sign that our conversion is genuine.
Conversely then, the opposite is true.
Lack of Love is an Ominous Sign
Lack of Love is an Ominous Sign
The lack of love is a sign that one abides in death.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer—and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Recall from our study a few weeks back, whoever hates his brother is in darkness.
The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in the darkness.
Indeed, hating one's brother makes one a murderer! (just like Cain). And as we used to say back in the day it’s a big “duh” that a murderer does not possess eternal life!
What does it mean if a Believer is not Demonstrating Love for His Brother?
What does it mean if a Believer is not Demonstrating Love for His Brother?
It may mean that they are Christian in name only, but we must be very careful about judging someone’s walk with Christ. If we are the ones who are not demonstrating love, we need to be sure to check our motivations.
The other option is that there may have been a true conversion experience, but they are still babes in Christ and while they have heard and accepted the Gospel, they’ve not yet started to live a life transformed by discipleship and that close communion with Messiah that is required for that real life change to occur.
And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as Spirit-filled but as worldly—as infants in Messiah. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. Indeed, even now you are not yet ready, for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, aren’t you worldly and walking in a human way?
Or in fact, our lack of love may be an indication that the thing the writer of Hebrews feared has, in fact, occured.
Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil heart of unbelief that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day by day—as long as it is called “Today”—so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Messiah, if we hold our original conviction firm until the end.
Whatever the reason for lacking love, it is not the condition that God has desired for us to be in.
Putting it All Together
Putting it All Together
Two compelling reasons are given by John for why we should love one another:
It distinguishes the children of God
It signifies a passing from death to life
I believe that this particular body of believers has the maturity in Messiah because the love that you display toward one another shows it, nevertheless, we are all human and subject to fits of anger when people begin to get under our skin.
John will have more to say about love and its value, but I would hope that as mature Christians these two reasons would be more than enough incentive to compel us to examine our hearts and our attitudes toward our brethren!
Let brotherly love continue.
Let’s Pray
