What Love (Jesus) Does

Secular -

Today we are talking about love and apart of that is laying down your life for the brethren. To that affect I have a story about selflessness:

An American, a Frenchman, and a Canadian go on vacation to Saudi Arabia and once there, they are caught eating smuggled in pork chops. They are arrested, and each sentenced to 100 lashes by the whip as punishment.

Now the officer assigned to do the whipping says "It is my favorite wife's birthday, and she asked that I show a little compassion as I work today. I will give each of you one wish to make this less horrible."

The Frenchman is first and, quite pleased with himself, says "I wish to have a pillow strapped to my back." After about 25 lashes, the pillow is in tatters and he's still quite injured.

The Canadian, a little smarter, says "I wish to have two pillows strapped to my back!" And after 50 or so lashes, the pillows are in tatters and he's still punished.

Next comes the American, quite put off by this whole ordeal, who is surprised to hear that despite the animosity, this Saudi quite respects the American people. As such, he will be offered 2 wishes. He says immediately "I wish for a thousand lashes!"

The Saudi is taken aback. He knew all the American movies espoused selflessness and accepting justice, but he would never expect such a display. In awe, he asks "what is your second wish?"

"I want the Canadian and the Frenchman strapped to my back."

Historical/Cultural Context -

The book of 1 John is one of the five books in the New Testament that was written by John the Apostle, brother of James. They were known as the sons of thunder. This letter was written between A.D. 85 to A.D. 100. First John was written to a church or group of churches in crisis—churches who were being attacked by false teaching. Some individuals who had once been associated with the church had accepted heresy and had left the church. After they left they continued to spread their false teaching to the church. They went so far as to organize and send out itinerant preachers to various churches with the goal of converting those in the churches to their beliefs. This created confusion and plunged the churches into crisis. In response to this situation, John wrote 1 John, following that up with 2 and 3 John. His goal was to stop this false teaching and to bring comfort to the Christians in these churches.

Biblical Text -

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?

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle– Love Makes Itself Known, Lays Down Its’ Life, And Banishes Hate.

Life Point- Love Makes Itself Known

Exegetical -

1 John 3:10–12 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.

Homiletical -

The children of God and the children of the devil are manifest.

In other words you can tell, most of the time, who is a true Christian and who isn’t because of their actions.

Then he talks about those who love their brother. If they don’t love their brother then you know whom they serve and it isn’t God.

In greek the term brother here denotes one who is apart of the group. Who is apart of a close culture. One who is apart of the Christian community. i.e the local body of believers.

Now John reminds them that the message they preached from the beginning is love.

love here means “to have love for someone or something, based on sincere appreciation and high regard”

sincere appreciation. Let me ask you a question?

Can someone who is unsaved really know what sincere appreciation and high regard are in a perfect way?

No, they can’t

Only the born-again-believer can.

Before we are saved we are totally depraved before a Holy God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

John 3:27 NKJV

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

Only the person who is saved can truly understand True love to their uttermost being, and I don’t believe that anyone on earth who is still alive understands it to the uttermost because we are still dealing with sin. When is done away with we see clearly but not until that time.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

John draws on the example of Cain and Abel. He quite simply says he killed his brother because his works were evil and his brother’s wasn’t.

He says that is not how someone should love another.

Well, duh!

So what is John getting at here?

True Christian, Bible believing love doesn’t do intentional harm to a brother or sister in Christ. You may do harm, but it is not intentional nor premeditated.

When thinking about the best way to describe, explain and quantify true Christian love there is no other way better than what is already written in God’s Word.

1 Corinthians 13:1–13 NKJV

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love goes beyond just the actions of a person, but how they do those actions.

I can give all my goods to the poor, but if I am doing it to be looked at or to make a good name for myself; if I do it in a haughty way or am not quite honest about how I do it. It means nothing. It is marred by sin.

There is a story in the Bible about a couple who sold some land and gave a portion to the church. Sounds like a good thing right?

Not quite, they said it was all of the money they got for it, but it wasn’t. What happened? Let’s find out together.

Acts 5:1–11 NKJV

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Illustration -

Thinking about love got me thinking about an old saying.

They say if you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was, and always will be yours. If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with.

If it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place, you either married it or gave birth to it!

Life Point - Hate Has No Place In Love

Exegetical -

1 John 3:13–15 NKJV

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.

Homiletical -

Do not marvel, my brethren if the world hates you.

In other words, don’t be surprised if the world hates you.

The world in the sense is the economic, social, political and spiritual things that are in popularity amongst those that are in power around the globe.

Who or what is currently causing all of this hatred and evil that is disguised as goodness?

The Devil and his demons.

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

What an evil time we live in right now. The entire global cultures calls good, evil and evil good. God has some news for the people in this world.

Isaiah 5:20–24 NKJV

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man! Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Do you want to be assured of your salvation? Then the answer is right here. Do you love the brethren? Do you hold them in the highest regard in sincerity?

Do you have some animosity, hatred, anger or bitterness to someone?

If you do, then you have a problem. A big one, because a true born-again, Bible believing Christian can’t stay in a state of hatred or anger so long that you become bitter.

God will deal with the believer and you will repent of being in hatred. Which, by the way is not just a feeling you keep to yourself. True hatred exudes from you, whether you try to keep it in or not, it’s coming out. It is open hostility to someone. Hatred can cause someone to murder another.

i.e. Cain and Abel. True hatred there, because he was evil and hated righteousness.

John 3:19–21 NKJV

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

If you live in this state, then you do not live in God’s power, but you are still living in death, heading toward an eternity of torture and judgement.

John even appeals to their understanding of the moral law of the day. Telling them, which was widely believed, that no murder will make it into heaven. He puts hatred on the same level as murder.

In reality you are murdering someone every day when you live in hatred, yourself. Everyday someone lives in hatred, turning into bitterness, the kill who they are day-in and day-out. They become nothing but hatred and negativity throughout all that they do, it permeates their being and turns their relationships into rotting death. Eventually they are left alone in their bitterness and no one wants anything to do with them.

They become a zombie, in a sense. They lose all joy and seek to devour other people’s lives with their bitterness. But instead of walking around saying “Brains,” they walk around saying, “joy.”

Don’t be this thing of death, but come to Christ and repent.

Illustration -

Speaking of hate, on a less serious note:

Bob and Dan were neighbors. One day, they were talking over the fence and Bob mentioned his dislike for fake, rigged reality TV shows. Well, that Got Dan started and he went on for about 45 minutes on how much he absolutely hated FAKE, RIGGED REALITY TV SHOWS! It was so bad, Bob tuned him out. All he caught was something about survivor this and Big Brother that or something or other....

As the conversation wound down, Dan said he was going to watch the presidential debates. To which, Bob was absolutely mortified and with a flabbergasted voice he replied, “I thought you absolutely hated fake, rigged reality TV shows!”

Life Point - Love Lays Down Its’ Life

Exegetical -

1 John 3:16–18 NKJV

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? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Homiletical -

How does one know love?

Because Jesus laid down His life for us!

I mean, literally laid it down.

Ephesians 5:1–2 NKJV

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Isaiah 53:4–5 NKJV

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Romans 4:25 NKJV

who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

And these are just a few verses.

What should our response be to this?

John tells us that we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

We should be able to give our lives for any Christian in this room

But until or unless that is required of us, John tells us how we are to act. Which, should be easy compared to laying down our lives.

1 John 3:17 NKJV

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?

This is a rhetorical question, the answer of which is that the love of God does not abide in a person who is not moved with compassion on his brother or sister to help others with their physical needs. Notice I said needs, not wants.

There is a lot in our minds we classify as wants, which are not needs. A need is something that if we absolutely do not have, we will literally die without.

Medications, food, shelter and clothing are at the top of that list.

But at the very top, above all of those is salvation by grace through faith. If these need is not taken care of, I don’t care how long you will live, you will spend eternity in Hell. Separate from God and all that He is.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

If you are not moved in your innermost being to help others, then may I get real with you for a minute. You probably aren’t saved.

I didn’t say that if you don’t do something, you’re not saved. I said if the Holy Spirit doesn’t move your inner most being, you’re not saved.

In other words, if you don’t help someone and you know you should and the Holy Spirit has convicted you to do so, but you don’t. It doesn’t necessarily mean your not saved. It does mean you need to repent. You see, you just sinned by not being obedient to God.

James 4:17 NKJV

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

You know the book of James talks about this very same thing. I like how the New Living Translation renders this passage:

James 2:14–20 NLT

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

Life Principle– Love Makes Itself Known, Lays Down Its’ Life, And Banishes Hate.

Life Principle– Jesus Makes Himself Known, Laid Down His Life, And Banishes Hate.

Call to Action – altar call….