Testing Our Love for God, Part 3

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We come to the third test as to whether or not we really love God. The way that we love each other reveals how much or little we love God. Let’s take a look at our passage for tonight.

1 John 3:10–17 NKJV

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

1 John 3:10-

Love and righteousness reveal a person’s true nature: Shows that one is either a child of God or of the devil (v.10)

We can look at our nature and tell whose child we are. If we live righteous, pure, and holy lives and love one another, we have the nature of God. If we live unrighteous, impure, and unholy lives and mistreat one another, then we have the nature of the devil. It is that clear. There is no middle ground.

As we see from this passage, righteousness is love in action, and unrighteousness is failing to love.

How do w really know if we love God? We can look at our love and tell. Do we love others? Do we think evil thoughts about them? Do we criticize, murmur, gossip, grumble, or backbite? The nature of the Devil is to tear down and destroy. How do you treat others who are created in the image of God? It reveals whether or not you love God.

Love is the message heard from the beginning (v.11)

The greatest commands: Love God and love people.

Love does not persecute the righteous (v. 12-13)

Cain did not love his brother, otherwise he would not have murdered him. The way we respond to our Christian brothers and sisters indicates whether or not we have love for them.

A person who truly loves his brother or sister in Christ will not persecute them. They will not

backbite

criticize

censor

spread rumors

downgrade

attack

abuse

gossip

be envious

stand against

hurt

destroy

murder

dislike

oppose

talk about

hate

Love means that we will not even dislike another person.

Love is the proof that a person has passed from death to life (v. 14)

The person who does not love has not been saved. We know that we have been saved by our love for one another.

Love does not hate (v. 15)

Matthew 5:21–22 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

Our negative attitudes toward other people do not come from and attitude of love. The feelings of

dislike

disfavor

anger

sourness

bitterness

resentment

envy

irritability

jealousy

come from a feeling of superiority and even hate. We need to be wary of our negative feeling towards others.

Love is the proof that a person understands the love of Christ (v. 16)

Romans 5:6 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

When we were rebellious sinners, Jesus loved us enough to die for us.

Love has compassion and gives to meet the needs of others (v. 17)

Love motivates us to help others.

Love leads us to give service to the church and fellow Christians.