Love One Another

1 John 3:11-24

INTRODUCTION: Our world is a harsh place to live. For the most part, people live a “dog eat dog” existence. The way the world is to put self first, love self and provide for self.

One of the great tragedies of our present generation is that there is so much talk about love and so little demonstration of it. Is it any wonder we have difficulty expressing love. We have the problem identifying it.

The Bible is clear that the way the Christian is to be vastly different from the way of the world. We are taught in the Bible that genuine love for the brethren is our calling card.

Love is something that we do as well as feel. It is God in action through us.

I. LOVE IS EXTENSIVE (11-15)

A. The Importance Of Love (11)

1. It is a basic Christian quality

John 3:16

16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:8

8- He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 4:10

10- Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

2. It is a witness of our faith (Jn.13:34-35)

John 13:34-35

34- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35- By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 15:12

12- This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Galatians 6:2

2- Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Ephesians 5:2

2- And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

9- But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

1 Peter 1:22

22- Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Peter 3:8

8- Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 Peter 4:8

8- And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

B. The Absence Of Love (12-13)

1. Cain set the biblical example of what self love is all about. (Gen. 4:8)

a) It is seen in his heartlessness toward his brother.

b) It is seen in his concern only for himself.

2. The Bible is trying to tell us that genuine God-like love knows no boundaries and sets no limits. It draws no lines. It is freely given and asks nothing in return.

C. The Testimony Of Love (14-15)

1. Love creates a perfect confidence- - “We know”

2. Loves refers to a divine deliverance - - “passed from death unto life”

3. Love is personal- - “We love the brethren”

4. Love is evident- - “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

“What we are shows forth through what we say and do.”

II. LOVE IS EXPENSIVE (16-21)

A. It Demonstrates The Love Of God (16)

Note- real love costs the giver something, but it is always given with joy!!!

1. Lays aside comfort, pleasure, time for others.

Matthew 20:28

28- Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Romans 16:4

4- Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

2. Does not count any cost too much when another is in need.

Note- I think of this every time I read in the gospels about Jesus getting into a boat or a ship. Somebody supplied that boat, probably at great sacrifice so Jesus could be transported just to reach a demonic wild man in Gadara or to sit and teach the people from it.

Note- Turn and read about Epaphroditus in Philippians 3:25-30

B. It Is Expressed In Practical Service (17-18)

1. Stewardship of our resources- note it deals with “brother” those that are saved….we give to our fellow Christians resources…we give to a lost man the gospel.

2. Our compassion for fellow Christians in need will demonstrate our love to the Heavenly Father.

Galatians 6:1-2

1- Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2- Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

James 2:15-16

15- If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16- And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

3. This could include a Christian that is need of resources, a missionary that is in need of funds to assist in their ministry..

C. It Is The Foundation Of Assurance (19-21)

1. Assurance of Salvation (19)

a) A Christian is a giver…of all of the resources that God has entrusted him with.

b) When I have compassion (not pity) for fellow brothers and am willing to do something about it then I can be assured of my salvation.

Note- the devil and the flesh will not prompt me to be one that sacrifices for the needs of others.

2. Assurance of God’s wisdom (20)

a) As we walk with God and grow in His knowledge then He gives discernment for the believer

b) Our assurance of salvation is not based on a “feeling” but on the Word of God.

c) Trust what the Bible says and how the Holy Spirit is leading

3. Assurance of our confidence in God (21)

Note- God will deal with us through our hearts.

Remember God will bring conviction and when we accept the blame for our sinful actions then He will remove the conviction, guilt and shame!!

After a sin has been properly dealt with then there is no need to revisit it!!! If it is brought back up to your mind then realize that it is not God but the flesh or the devil doing it-in the case of the devil we do not need to confess it all over again, we simply need to “resist the devil and he will flee from us!!

III. LOVE IS EXPRESSIVE (18, 22-24)

A. Genuine Love Doesn’t Just Talk, It Acts-vs. 18

1. Christian love will be demonstrated by our actions:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4- Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5- Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6- Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7- Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 Thessalonians 1:3

3- Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1 Peter 1:22

22- Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

2. Christian love will move one to speak truth to an erring brother

Ephesians 4:15

15- But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Colossians 4:6

6- Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

B. Real Love Is Manifested By Meeting The Needs Of Others.

1. Material need

2. Financial need

3. Emotional need

4. Listening ear

5. Encouraging word

6. Exhorting word

7. Warning word

8. Rebuking work

C. Real Love Is Cultivated By A Personal Relationship With Christ (22-24)

1. Vs. 22-A personal walk with God will assure us that we are praying for the things that He wants us to have and not the things that we want us to have.

a) Obeying God is a requirement for getting prayers answered- note-“because we keep his commandments”

b) When I abide (walk) with Christ then I am able to obey Him. As I allow Him to control my life then my prayers are His prayers.

c) I cannot have a personal relationship with God unless it begins with a time of Bible reading and prayer!!

d) When I keep His commandments then I am allowing Him to live through me…

John 15:7

7- If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:10

10- If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

e) Apart from the surrender of my life to the indwelling of the Spirit of God I cannot keep His commands nor can I please Him….

Isaiah 64:6

6- But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

f) Remember this- that “good works” done in the power of the flesh are just as disrespectful, just as unholy, just as disobedient toward God as “bad works” done in the power of the flesh!!!! There is no such thing as “righteous” flesh or “righteous” works apart from a Holy God!!!

g) You may not commit “sin” all that much because of your good habits or your separated lifestyle, but don’t think for a moment that your “SACRIFICES” please God for he desires OBEDIENCE more than sacrifice!!!

(1) Example- David was a man after God’s own heart, it sure wasn’t because his conduct was perfect, but because his heart was surrendered to God!!!

(2) I fear for those that have been Christians for a length of time and they “don’t smoke of chew or run with those that do”, but in reality they come to God not as the publican but as the Pharisee

Luke 18:9-14

9- And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10- Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11- The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12- I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13- And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14- I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

2. Vs. 23- a personal walk with God will enable us to carry out the commands of Jesus Christ.

Note- these verses are similar to Matthew

Matthew 22:36-40

36- Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37- Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38- This is the first and great commandment.

39- And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40- On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

a) Believe on the name of Jesus Christ: he does all the saving and all the keeping; salvation is entirely a gift of God that is given to all that believe on the name of the Son of God!!!

b) Love one another-rub elbows with other believers. Cannot claim to be a Spirit filled Christian if there is no investment of time in others lives!!! A Spirit filled Christian will be a OTHERS SERVING CHRISTIAN!!!

John 13:34

34- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 15:12

12- This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Ephesians 5:2

2- And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

9- But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

1 Peter 1:22

22- Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 Peter 4:8

8- And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

3. Vs. 24- The Holy Spirit of God dwells within each believer and will lead us to Christ likeness if we would simply yield to Him.

Note- what are the commandments referenced here?

Believe on the name of the Son of God

Love the Brethren

4. The ever present Holy Spirit in the believer’s life is another evidence of the eternal security of the believer.

Conclusion:

Based on the Word of God…How is your love life?

How is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

How are your personal relationships with those in your life?

Based on observation of your life this week would an unsaved man be able to identify you as a Christian?