July 2, 2023
Morning Service

In the first part of Chapter 3, John, in his grandfatherly tone, revealed to us that it is important that we are able to identify sin in our lives and deal with it quickly and decisively.  His warning was to those who ignore the sin and allow it to become a part of their lives despite knowing that is wrong.  They somehow justify their actions and choose to live a lifestyle of “practicing sin.”  He says clearly in verse 10 that “whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.”  It is our actions that prove who owns our heart.  John now turns the table and explains to us that if God owns our heart, we will love our brothers.

1Jn 3:11-12 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, (12) 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

            Love defines us as Jesus followers.  This is a command that John says “you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”  We are not to allow the attitudes of our enemy to dwell within us, but are commanded to love.  Cain allowed jealousy that his brother’s sacrifice was accepted and his was not to push him to murder his brother.  That is why John just finished instructing us to deal with our sin and seek forgiveness of it before it drives us to an even greater sin.  Stop the evil, unrighteous attitudes quickly before the fester up and then our enemy takes control of us rather than the Spirit.  Jealousy, envy, and greed all are attitudes that cause us to hate our brothers and we must first recognize them in our lives and quickly deal with them.  They are tools of our enemy, not of God.  Love is never jealous or envious at someone else’s success, but rejoices with them.  John continues:

 

1Jn 3:13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.  

            John does not sugar coat the life we have been called to.  Because of your faith in Jesus Christ there will be people within this world that HATE you.  Jesus said this:

Joh 15:18-21   "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.  (20)  Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  (21)  But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

            This persecution and hate is not directed at us, but at our Lord and Savior.  We are to be different than this world and the things that we preach and the lifestyle we choose can make people at times feel uncomfortable.  The truth can really hurt sometimes.  They choose, rather than to accept and submit to the truth, to fight against it and lash out at us as God convicts their heart of wrong doing; blaming the messenger instead of listening to the message.  Be aware that Michigan is debating a new law that makes it a criminal offence to “hurt someone’s feelings.”  I certainly could see this leading to dictating that the church will be held accountable for any teachings that “hurt someone’s feelings” (which is exactly what conviction is).  We must continue to be undaunted to speak the gospel message, which is a message of love and speak it in love.  We can know we are on the right path when we can love those who hate us.

1Jn 3:14-16 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.  (15)  Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.  (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.

            We can gauge our walk with Jesus by examining our hearts and if we see that we do “love the brethren” then we have “passed from death to life.”  Love again is what defines us as Jesus followers.  If we have hate in our heart it proves that we are not abiding in Christ and are not where we should be with Him.  Confess your sin and ask for forgiveness for it (I Jn. 1:9).  If you still struggle, then confess it to a friend and let them walk with you to reach the point of turning that hate into love.  Don’t just accept it or say “this is different,” own up to it as what it is; sin.  We are to look to Jesus for the definition of love; “He laid down His life for us” and we need to willing to do the same.  I love how Paul states this in Gal. 2:20 

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and 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.

            Paul approached his walk with Jesus as being dead to himself, but alive to Christ; living our lives as He lived His.  John gives us some practical ways to do just that:

 

1Jn 3:17-18 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?  (18)  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Don’t just say “I love you” to someone, show them your love by your actions. Our words become powerful as we show our words are true by our actions. The Book of Romans says it crystal clear and emphatically like this in the great chapter 12.

 

Rom 12:9-16 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.  (10)  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; (11) not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; (12) rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; (13) distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  (14)  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  (15)  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  (16)  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

            We are being called into action to “really love our brothers” not in word only but through our selfless attitudes and willingness to invest in them.  Invest by honoring them, being diligent to serving them, with a fervent spirit, rejoicing with them, suffering with them, praying for them, and also giving them the things that are needed that we can supply.  We are not to curse those who persecute us, but bless them.  We are not to be jealous with others’ success, but rejoice with them.  We don’t ignore them in times of trouble, but we cry with them sharing the burden. We are better together!  We do this in humility because we know we are imitating the actions and attitudes of the One we are following.  The One who prayed to His Father to forgive the very ones who were nailing Him to a cross and mocking Him in His distress.  John now tells us that living in this manner gives us a confidence with our Heavenly Father.

 

1Jn 3:19-24 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.  (20)  For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.  (21)  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  (22)  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.  (23)  And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.  (24)  Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit Whom He has given us.

            Following Jesus faithfully gives us an assurance and confidence toward God.  When we know we are doing our best, we also know He will bless us for our faithfulness.  When we pray, we know He hears us and will do what is best for us.  We know we are His and He is ours (this is the fellowship John wanted us to attain in writing this letter).  This is a wonderful place to be in the Lord.  It is there that we find true peace, contentment, and joy as we have fully committed to Him and trust He is all in for us and we are abiding in Him.

            John summarizes this all in verse 23 as he spells out what is required of us very simply.  “We should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ.”  This is the first step that we must do.  We must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).  We must believe that Jesus is God’s only Son and that He was sent for our salvation.  Secondly we are to love one another.  Step one makes step two possible.  On our own, we will fail to strip unrighteousness from our lives, but with the Holy Spirit and our yielding to His guidance it will be done.  In our obedience to His commands, it shows that we abide in Him and He in us (perfect fellowship).  Our words, actions, and work all put on display that we belong to Him.  We are most like Jesus when we are loving our brothers.  This can be very challenging at times, but with the empowering of the Holy Spirit and our yielding to it, we can truly love those who hate and persecute us just as Jesus did.

 

Heavenly Father fill our heart with Your love and make us to be faithful stewards of it as we share that love to the world around us.  Forgive us for our shortcomings and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.