What Love and Hate Tell Us Lesson 15 One gives life, the other takes it
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:11-18
“You cannot love a thing without becoming something like it, in proportion to the force of love; and just in proportion as you love Jesus you must get like him.”
“Christians, you are to love one another, not because of the gain which you get from one another, but rather because of the good you can do to one another.”
C.H. Spurgeon
Introduction: John’s teaching thus far: Three Tests of True Christianity (or genuine belief)
Moral - Social - Doctrine Righteousness - Love - Truth (Obedience)
1 John 2:3-6 Moral Test 2:7-11 Social Test (2:12-17 a parenthesis dealing with the church and the world) 2:18-27 Doctrinal Test
Next Section - Same three tests reaffirmed and clarified with contrasts Why? - to take exception with those who might agree with his statements yet also affirm contradictory behavior
1 John 2:28-3:3 Exhortation to righteousness in anticipation of Jesus’ return
1 John 3:4-10 Righteousness and Sin 3:11-18 Love and Hate (3:19-24 a parenthesis dealing with doubt) 4:1-6 Truth and Error I. Admonition to Apply (and pass) the Social Test 1 John 3:11
1 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
A. A message important to John
Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 1 John 2:7-8
Because it defines the gospel:
Man’s sin separates him from God No worth, no value, no acceptance, no forgiveness No Love You cannot give what you do not have
The cross of Christ reconciles man to God Supreme worth, infinite value, total forgiveness Filled with the fullness of God We are commanded to give what we have been given
B. A message important to us
If you are not in union with “love” itself, you cannot obey the command, you have nothing to give, only needs that must be met.
II. Illustration of One Who Failed (miserably) 1 John 3:12-15 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
A. A picture of hate in individuals Gen 4:1-8 Gen 4:3-5, 8 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain , through which he obtained witness that he was righteous,
1. It’s origin John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
2. Its sequence
Jealousy → Hatred → Murder
2 John 3:19-21 19 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. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
3. Its reservoir
Mark 7:20-23 20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
B. A Picture of Hate in the World
1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.
1. The warnings of Jesus
John 15:18-19, 25 18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
John 16:2-4 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.
John 17:14 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
2. The warnings of history Heb 11:36-38 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. NIV
WHY?!
1. Believer’s holy lives make sinners uncomfortable with their unholy lives in the present
2. Believer’s hope for eternity make sinners uncomfortable with their prospects for the future
III. Illustration of One Who Passed 1 John 3:14-18
3 A. The Social Test in Stark Contrast 3:14-15 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1. Assurance for believers. Warning for unbelievers. Gal 5:19-21 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 2. To Jesus , then to John, hatred = murder
Matt 5:21-22 21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother,'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
B. The Social Test Lived Out
1. The most we can do
1 John 3:16 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.
a. No greater love
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
“A person’s life is his most precious possession. Consequently, to rob him of it is the greatest sin we can commit against him, while to give one’s own life on his behalf is the greatest possible expression of love for him.” John Stott
b. No greater example
Gal 1:3-4 ...our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Gal 2:20 the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
2. The least we can do
4 1 John 3:17 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?
Rom 13:8-10 8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Gal 6:9-10 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
3. The test of what we do
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
James 2:15-17 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
“It is easier to be enthusiastic about Humanity with a capital ‘H’ than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular.” C. S. Lewis
The summary of it all .....
“Hatred characterizes the world, whose prototype is Cain. It originates in the devil, issues in murder and is evidence of spiritual death. Love characterizes the church, whose prototype is Christ. It originates in God, issues in self-sacrifice, and is evidence of eternal life.” John Stott
5 TNBS Questions Preparation for lesson 16
Read: 1 John 3, with special attention to verses 19-24
1. What common phrase is in verse 19 and in 24? What does this tell us about John’s purpose for the paragraph? ______
2. What is the antecedent of “By this” in verse 19. Please explain ‘by what?’ ______
3. Both the ESV and NIV translate the opening of verse 20 “Whenever our hearts condemn us”. What does this imply about both new and mature Christians? Does this surprise you? ______
4. Read Hebrews 4:13. In light of John’s paragraph, is this good news or bad news? Why? ______
5. What kind of heart is described in verse 21? How did it get that way? What is the result? ______
6. In verses 21 and 22, what are two great blessings of an uncondemning heart? Why are these important? ______
7. What are the necessary prerequisites to barging into the throne room of Almighty God? Can you do that? ______
8. According to John, why does God answer our prayers? (see Mat 17:5; John 8:29) How do we do this? ______
9. 1 John 3:23 contains three essential elements of that are true of every believer. What are they? How has John described them in other parts of his letter? ______
10. What is the point Jesus is making in John 3:8? ______
6 Though we don’t physically see him, what ministry of the Holy Spirit is evident in the following verses? Acts 16:14 ______1 Peter 1:2 ______1 Cor 12:13 ______1 Cor 12:7 ______1 Cor 2:10-14 ______Rom 8:26-27 ______Rom 8:15-16 ______
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