Series: Be Genuine [#8]
LIKE CAIN OR JESUS?
1 John 3:11-24
Introduction:
In this Series, we have been studying about being a genuine Christian- Being real in our faith. When your faith is genuine, love is evident. Throughout the Bible, love is the characteristic that is necessary to live in a way that pleases God.
1 John 3:11
Our text gives us 2 examples of people we can be like.
1 John 3:12
Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
You can be like…
1. Cain.
The Scripture is clear about this- Don’t be like Cain. In Genesis, we find 2 of Adam and Eve’s sons giving an offering to God. Cain’s offering was from the fruit of the ground, while Abel’s offering was an offering of fat from his firstborn of his flock. God was pleased with Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Because of that, Cain was angry with his brother. Now God knew that Cain was thinking of doing the wrong thing and gave him a warning. God told him to be careful because sin was crouching at his door and that he needed to have control over what he was considering. Unfortunately, Cain chose to kill his brother.
Obviously, we don’t want our children to kill one another and I’m sure there have been times, that you thought that your children may kill one another; but the Scripture is saying more than just that. We are to love one another and think of others over ourselves. We are also supposed to heed to God’s warnings.
1 John 3:13-15
You can be like…
2. Jesus.
I have to tell you, it’s not easy to be like Jesus and this verse reinforces that. It tells us not to be surprised if the world hates us because we belong to God; and to top that off, we are to love those people anyway. Moms, you know that this is a tough verse to swallow- God forbid if someone messes with your children. Even if they do, you’re supposed to love them anyhow. If you hate, then you are a murderer.
1 John 3:16-20
Jesus shows us what real love is. Real love is laying your life down for others. Here’s the challenge: Jesus didn’t just lay down His life for His friends and family- He laid His life down for the world. I guarantee that the majority of parents in here would lay their life down for the children in a “heart beat”. You would probably lay your life down for one another in this room; but the world? Think of your greatest enemy and then ask yourself honestly, “Would I lay down my life for that person”?
We are to show our love by helping others. This is talking about helping one another physically- Not just in word. In fact, we are cautioned to not talk about how we’re going to help; but to do it.
1 John 3:21-24
In order to be like Jesus, you have to be obedient. What does it mean when it says, “If our hearts do not condemn us”? For a non-Christian, evilness and darkness will be found within their heart and there is no room in Heaven for these people. This passage is written for Christians. A Christian that is being obedient to God will have a clean heart; therefore causing them to receive anything they ask of God. Does this mean if you have a clean heart and you ask God for a million dollars that you will receive it? No, because if you have a pure heart, you will not be concerned about yourself, but for others.
Conclusion:
Verse 22 tells us that Christians with a pure heart will obey God’s command and then in verse 23 we are told what God’s command is. What is God’s command? 1st, you must believe in the name of Jesus Christ. This is a quick summary of salvation. The 2nd thing you must do is love one another.
These verses also give us confidence in our salvation by giving us 2 proofs of salvation. A saved person strives to obey God’s commands and a saved person can accomplish that through the Holy Spirit which dwells within them.
Are you like Cain or Jesus?
