1 John 3 Part 3

Story

There was a man in a church who had this dream years ago, and told his pastor. This is how it went

He was is heaven and he was one of a great multitude of people one that no one could number.

They were from all times and ages.

The saint next to him he had found out had been there for 1,860 years, and when they started talking he found out that he was one of the Christian’s from Rome under Nero’s persecutions. He was covered with pitch and fastened to a stake and set alight to make light for his gardens.

The man couldn’t believe it and said that was awful. He replied no, I was glad to do something for Jesus. He died on the Cross for my sins.

Another man who overhead said that he had only been there a few hundred years. I am from an Island in the South Seas. A missionary told me about Jesus, and I was saved. My countrymen killed the missionary, and then caught and bound me, beat me, killed me and ate me.

The man was aghast, and said that was terrible. The man said that he was in fact happy to have died as a Christian, Jesus was crowned with thorns, whipped, and crucified for my sins.

They both turned to the man and asked, What did you suffer for Him? Were you killed for telling people about Jesus? Did you sell all you had to send missionaries to tell people about Jesus?

The man was speechless, but at that point woke up in his own soft bed thinking about his life, all that he had, and realized he had never really understood Mark 8:34 “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”

1 John 3:13-17

My sermon this morning doesn’t actually surround this verse, but on 1 John 3:13-17,

1 John 3:13–17 NIV84

13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

Surprise!

It is interesting that John instructs us not to be shocked if the world hates us, thinks we are weird, doesn’t want anything to do with us, or try to rob us of our lives and/or our freedoms. Why do we act so shocked, myself included, that justice doesn’t prevail? That God’s Word is flaunted and mocked? But how can we expect any different?

What God wants us to know is that the heart of man is wicked, and its natural propensity is towards sin, and therefore unregenerate heart will hate righteousness and all who stand for it, those hearts have been made new in Christ. The cost of discipleship, real discipleship is the hostility of the world. But it is a cheap price given the blessings that are eternal and richly given by Christ. John records Jesus’s words back in Johns’s Gospel (John 15:18-19;25)

John 15:18–19 NIV84

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

John 15:25 NIV84

25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

Cain and Abel - Again

We as Christians, are to the world, what Abel was to Cain. Abel’s righteousness apparently engendered profound resentment, so profound that its prompted murder. The world will resent our righteousness we have in Christ.

In fact, we find that the blameless Son of God was crucified on a cross for our transgressions, yet he did no wrong. Jesus Christ healed the sick, made the blind see, opened the ears of the deaf, and ministered hope to. He gave us a righteousness that wasn’t ours, so that we might be adopted into the family of God. It has to be one of the biggest injustices of all time that man, God’s creation, should plot, scheme, betray and pass judgement on God, and put him to death.

The Heart of Man

We can see the what was in Cain’s heart reflected back at us as a revelation of our own. The envy of Abels righteousness causes Cain to kill him. Christ’s righteousness overshadowing their own, and motivated them to deliver Him up to be killed.

Look at what John’s Gospel reveals about man’s heart John 11:45-48:

John 11:45–48 NIV84

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

I don’t believe we here in the future are guiltless of this act. Many of us would have been on the Pharisees side. This was all of humanity – all of humanity passed this judgement on the Holy One of God, we put Him there - our sins put Him there. From that day forward the Pharisees sought to kill him, and that same passage goes on to say that they put out a notice out to the nation to report where ever he is, that they might sieze Him.

Another account in Luke actually shows how King Herod and Pontious Pilate became friends in their condemnation of Christ. Lets read it Luke 23:8-12

Luke 23:8–12 NIV84

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

Doesn’t that shock you? They united, two people who had previously been enemies united in their common cause to destroy the creator. As it was with Christ, the people of the world will unite in their hatred of Christ and His people in the last day.

I find this mind boggling that people rallied and conspired to being about the death of a righteous man, a good man - the sinless Son of God. I found this description of Jesus from a Roman Senator who lived during that time, a Publius Lentulus. No one can authenticate this particular letter, but I still find it instructive in this case, to gain an insight as it were from a “man on the street” point of view.

Publius Lentulus’ Letter

“There appeared in these days a man of great virtue, named Jesus Christ, who is yet among us; of the Gentiles accepted for a prophet of truth; but his disciples call him the Son of God. He raiseth the dead, and cureth all manner of disease.

A man of stature somewhat tall and comely, with a very reverend countenance, such as the beholder must both love and fear. “His hair the color of a chestnut full ripe, plain to the ears, whence, downward, it is more orient, curling and waving about his shoulders.

In the midst of his forehead is a stream or partition of his hair, after the manner of the Nazarites; forehead plain and very delicate; his face without spot or wrinkle, beautiful, with a lovely red; his nose and mouth so forked as nothing can be represented; his beard thick, in color like his hair, not over long; his look innocent and mature; his eyes gray, quick, and clear.

“In reproving, he is terrible; in admonishing, courteous and fair-spoken; pleasant in conversation, mixed with gravity. It cannot be remembered that any have seen him laugh, but many have seen him weep; in proportion of body most excellent; his hands and arms delectable to behold; in speaking, very temperate, modest and wise; a man of singular beauty, surpassing the children of men.”

The Cynic

I am somewhat of a cynic in this regard – a part of me cannot help wondering that this feels doctored, almost like the Pantene hair perfection of many Roman Catholic renderings. But what rings true to me are the aspects of maturity, eyes that have seen much – reflecting His eternal nature. They way He must have carried himself in righteousness and wisdom, that as the write says, the beholder must love and fear. In reproving (or discipline) He is terrible, in admonishing, He is polite ad well spoke, intense in conversation, moderate and wise.

Who would kills such a man? We did, and out of jealousy. They thought they would lose their power, their influence in the nation.

If they did this to Jesus Christ, why are we surprised that it happens to us? As you well know I have come to appreciate this in a small way, but I dare say there are many stories far more terrible than my own, like my story in the beginning suggested, where lives were lost, families killed and tortured for the name of Christ.

Right now, the hostility of the world is not a present danger as it was to many Christians that have lived in the past, but is getting increasingly so, such as it was in the past as the story I told at the beginning. This is why John is saying this this. Apparently, some of who he was writing to were in a state of disbelief – perhaps much like it is now.

Refocus Your Priorities

Despite all this,John then turns us around and focuses on love once again, Jesus in fact knowing he would be put to death emphasizes the love we ought to have for one another. He’s saying, stop wallowing in self pity, don’t concern yourself with these things. The world hated Christ, so they will hate you. But guess what, Jesus loved you, died for you, so love each other as he loved you. John says this is the fruit of your salvation that we know we have been saved because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ in 1 John 3:14, reminds me of the Lord’s words in Matthew 6:33-34,

Matthew 6:33–34 NIV84

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

A few verse back Jesus says (Matthew 5:43-45),

Matthew 5:43–45 NIV84

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Reflection

Wow, when I read that now it floors me. Here’s proof you are saved, you love the brethren, but you also love your enemies. Not only that you pray blessing on those who wrong you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. John is not just reminding us of the worlds hate, but giving us motivation to love. Love your enemies, but love each other too, sacrificially and devotedly.

Love one another, in word and in deed. The love being described here and 1 John is a deep sacrificial love - continual love. The same way Jesus loved us. Why should we love each other? This is the only love we are likely to know - the love between believers, because the world will hate us for what we stand for. We are going to need each other, and we need to stand united - not on compromised truth, but on truth only found in the Bible - that is how we stay strong. Sacrificial and total devotion.

1 John 3:16-18

1 John 3:16–18 NIV84

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Message Summary

we are of Christ and He will supply us all our needs, spiritual and physical.

Remember foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head. We may or may not be rich or well off physically, but because we are His, we are overflowing in riches.

This is my message to you today:

Be of good cheer

Take everything one day at a time

Stop being constantly surprised when hard times come our way or when the world hates us

Love one another, in word and in deed.

Love sacrificially

Know and accept that God is greater than us, submit to him in all ways and learn to trust him.

Rest in His strength.Through God all is possible. Even if there was the extreme of us dying, To live is Christ and to Die is Gain Phil 1:21

Read the word, always confess and repent of your sin and be obedient to God in all that you do.