Loving Our Family

Introduction:

What happens when you pass the moral & doctrinal test…but lack love?

WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW LOVE IS A MARK OF LIFE IN CHRIST, WE’LL LOOK AT HOW WE PRACTICE LOVE, AND THEN ASSURANCE FOR US.

I) Love is a Mark of New Life in Christ (vs. 11-15)

A. Our Sinful Nature Follows the Hateful Pattern of Cain (See Gen. 4)

i. A mark of our sinful nature: We despise righteousness (vs. 12-13)

1. Cain’s worldly pattern: he despised what was righteous (vs. 12b-13)

2. EXAMPLE: A whistle blower calls out dishonesty (vs. 13)

ii. Our Sinful Nature leads to hatred, which can lead to death (vs. 12)

1. Cain’s deadly pattern: we disagree, we resent, we attack, and even kill

2. EXAMPLE: Recent events: We resent the “other” à killing

B. Jesus Brings us into New Life of Loving Others

i. In Jesus we are Brought from death to life (vs. 14)

1. Jesus’ pattern: a righteous one loves unrighteous, and brings them into life

2. To become a Christian is to be brought from death into life

ii. Therefore, Hatred is not compatible with genuine believers

1. The “love your neighbor” test: Genuine believers love others

2. EXAMPLE: Political disagreements; lifestyle choices;

NOW, THE BIG QUESTION IS – WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE?

II) Love is Demonstrated In Service to Others (vv. 16-18)

A. What do we Do when We See those in need? (vv. 17-18)

i. Many do not have “what they need for life”

1. “Bios” = biology = what we need to sustain life

2. EXAMPLE: Market street underpass? Downtown?

ii. Yet, do we close our hearts?

1. John’s concern: We “shut our guts” to them (vs. 17)

2. EXAMPLE: We blame, we are indifferent,

B. Love “lays down our life” (vs. 16, 18)

i. Jesus “lays down his life”

1. John’s language – to set aside life is unique to John, and about Jesus

2. Loving others: serving them by giving of ourselves – even when costly

ii. Therefore, we too must do the same

1. How do we start? Open our hearts…

2. Where to next? Action – (of all sorts, and many approaches) (vs. 18)

JOHN CHANGES SUBJECT QUICKLY IN VS. 19.

III) The Assurance for Unsteady Hearts (vv. 19-24)

A. Yet, our Hearts Will Condemn us!

i. Failure to love well leads to self-condemnation

1. Satan does his best work by planting seeds of condemnation

2. This can be especially true when it comes to “loving in action”

ii. Therefore, our love can be:

1. Motivated by guilt

2. Motivated by self-promotion

B. However, God’s Word Can Give us the Assurance We Need!

i. We are assured knowing that God “knows our hearts” (vs. 20, 1 Jn. 1:9)

1. God knows our hearts: NOT “good intentions” but purified hearts

2. Therefore if God judges us righteous in Christ, we should not condemn

ii. We are assured by seeing the evidence of our relationship with God (vs. 22)

1. Our works of service & love are not the root but the fruit of faith

2. EXAMPLE: Those who doubt

iii. We are assured by claiming the promises of God in faith

1. The greatest assurance is the “works”…

2. Namely faith in Jesus!

Transition:

Conclusion

One of the things that makes John a challenge: no middle ground! (So, where does your life fall?)