Love one another. A series on 1 John, part 6. (1 John 3:11-24)



Read 1 John 3:11-24
The Bible tells us we are to love one another, and our text today is like a road map to doing so. In fact, it tells us that right from the beginning, we have been told to love one another. In the beginning, when God gave the law, He said, "Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself."(Levitcus 19:17-18). From these passages, we learn that acting out of hatred, or revenge, or bearing a grudge are not showing love. They are, in fact, the opposite of love! 1 John 3 even gives us an example when it tells us not to murder, like Cain, who was evil and jealous of his brother (1 John 3:12). What comes next is a reminder that the world will hate us for this (1 John 3:13). Jesus, Himself, said, "If you belong 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 15:19).
Our text tells us we have gone from death to life and so must love. If we do not, then we remain in death (1 John 3:14). We were sinners, doomed for death, but through Jesus Christ, we are saved and, therefore, must love as He loves us. Anyone who still hates is a murderer and will not have eternal life (1 John 3:15). But how do we, as sinners, know how to love? Our text tells us that we know how to love because Jesus showed us. We are to lay down our lives for our brothers and help those in need (1 John 3:16-17). Similarly, in Romans 5:8, we are told, "But God demonstrates his love for us, in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We can take this one step further by going back to verse 18 and saying that our love must be shown in word and deed, "with actions and in truth." When we obey His commands and do what He asks, we can have confidence in our standing before God (1 John 3: 21-22). God commands us to believe in Jesus Christ and to love one another (1 John 3:23). Believing leads to loving. Romans 13:9 tells us, "The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandments there may be, are all summed up in this one rule, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbors. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law."" Those of us who obey will be obvious because of the Holy Spirit's presence in us (1 John 3:24). We know that we have the Holy Spirit because we are told this in Romans 5:5, where it says, "and hope does not disappoint us, because God poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given to us." How can we be confident before God about all of this? When our conscience accuses us, we can have peace knowing God sees our actions, but also the truth in our hearts. Hearts that are filled with the Holy Spirit will show love in all they say and do. So let all you say and do be a reflection of Christ's love and proof of the Holy Spirit in you. Do not be surprised or afraid when the world hates you for it, for in Matthew 10:22, Jesus said, "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." So stand firm and love one another as He loves us!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Desiring Children Part 1

Image
Read Genesis 16, and Genesis 18:1-15 The desire for children is something many struggle with. Some struggle to get pregnant, some struggle with the loss of pregnancies, and some struggle with the lack of control over having children. These are not new difficulties but have been the struggles of many women dating all the way back to Biblical times. While I personally never struggled with getting pregnant, I wrestled with the desire for and the loss of children. I know the constant anxiety of wondering if each month was the one I'd get pregnant in; many times, I cried out to God to let me have a child to hold and keep. Nine times I prayed that God would let each child live. Nine times I was denied, and my child was called to our heavenly home. The desire for children is something most people eventually feel at some point but most take for granted that it will all go as they expect. We simply don't think of all that can go wrong, until it does. You're not alone in your strugg
Read more

Cleanse me, oh God!

Image
As a child, I often liked to play outside. Like many kids, I liked making mud pies and playing with dirt. There's several ways children will play; some get right down on their hands and knees or even sit right in the mud. They're not afraid to get dirty. Some, like me, liked to play with the mud but didn't really want to get filthy. I would crouch down and use sticks and occasionally use my hands. I wanted to have fun but didn't really want to get messy. Then, there are still other children who don't want to play with mud or have anything to do with getting dirty. But you can never truly avoid all puddles, especially when it's raining. In a way, you can compare the mud to sin. Some people wallow in their sin, loving every minute and not caring how dirty they get. Others want to have the fun and pleasure sin can bring but don't want to get too dirty. It's just a little fun. And then there are those who, by God's grace, strive to live a life apart from
Read more

Slaves and masters. A series on Ephesians Part 12 (Ephesians 6:5-9)

Image
Read Ephesians 6: 5-9 Today's text is a difficult subject. Slavery was not part of God's intended design, so why do we see it in the Bible? Paul does not condone slavery; however, because of the socioeconomic situation of the Roman occupation, it was an embedded institution. The Christians Paul wrote to were subject to Roman laws, and therefore, many Jews were either slaves or masters.  Paul wrote a lot about our attitudes and how we should live our lives in the various roles we are placed in. This is why he wrote to slaves and masters. As with so many of his instructions, Paul addresses both perspectives and points them to God. No matter your station or status in this life, we are equal, in Christ, before God. Although we do not have slavery in our society here now, we can compare this relationship to that of an employer and employee. We can look at what Paul instructs and use it in whatever our job is here and now. What, then, should we ascertain from today's passage? Thr
Read more