PRACTICING LOVE - I John 3:10-24
Introduction:
The Gospel of John was written to persuade the readers that Jesus was the Messiah and to persuade them to believe upon Him and be saved - John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
However, the First Epistle of John was also written to give those believers in Christ the assurance of their salvation - 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Shortly after John’s readers had been born again, two heretical movements brought confusion to these new converts:
1. The Antinomians tried to convince believers that since one is saved by grace they are no longer obligated to keep God’s law. This brought confusion and conviction because the Holy Spirit within was contradicting what the Antinomians were saying from without.
2. The Gnostics (Perfectionists) were discouraging and deceiving these new believers by teaching that one became sinless or could achieve sinless perfection after conversion. These Christians knew their experiences did not match this teaching.
Therefore, the Holy Spirit is correcting both of these heresies in the First Epistle of John. This section declares that the real proof of salvation is not your denominational background nor doctrinal persuasion, but love.
I. LOVE FOR THE BRETHREN IS THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF SALVATION (3:10-12).
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
1. An absence of love demonstrates an absence of salvation (3:10).
2. Even righteousness does not prove ones salvation unless it is combined with love for the brethren (3:10). This passage shows again how relevant and ageless is the Word of God. There are those today who stress righteousness to the exclusion of love, and there are those who emphasize love to the exclusion of righteousness. The born again child of God will possess and profess both love and righteousness. Why? Because God is both holy (I Peter 1:16) and God is love (I John 4:8).
3. This fact has always existed in God’s creation (3:11). Why? Because God has always existed (Gen. 1:1 and John 1:1) and God never changes (Mal. 3:6 and Heb. 13:8).
4. Cain is used as a Biblical example of this fact (3:12). Cain’s deed proved whose child he really was. Cain’s life was also filled with other evil and unrighteous deeds.
NOTE 1: The word that is translated "slew" is a very interesting word in the Greek language. It is a word which means "to slay, to slaughter, to butcher by the cutting of the throat". It is used in classical Greek to refer to the slaughtering of victims for sacrifice by the cutting of the throat, to drain the blood. This Greek blood "sphazo" is different that the usual word "to kill" which is "apothnesko". Why did God choose this word "sphazo" to describe how Cain killed his brother? This word and this verse proves that the method Cain used to kill his brother by the cutting of the throat and the jugular vein had been taught to Cain as the means that God used to slay the sacrificial animal. (Genesis 3:21). This also answers why God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s (Genesis 4:4-5). God had clearly communicated both the method and the message of the sacrificial slaughtering of animals. Cain used both this sacrificial instrument and method to slay his brother and condemn his own soul.
NOTE 2: Cain also clearly proves that salvation is not inherited. Cain had godly parents and a godly brother, but chose to follow Satan instead of God. Cain also proves that salvation is not due to environment. Cain was in the most godly environment (before the full consequences of the fall had evolved) but chose to follow Satan instead of God. Cain also proves that from the very beginning of the human race, each and every individual has made the free moral Choice to follow God or Satan.
II. HATRED BY THE WORLD IS A PROOF OF ONE’S SALVATION (3:13)
1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1. This world system hated Jesus (John 15:18). This is hard to imagine. However, this world is under Satanic control and influence. Satan’s plan is to overthrow God (Rev. 12:10).
2. This world will hate those who are born of God (John 15:19 & 17:14). A born again believer should not be surprised that the world hates you, for it hates your Savior.
3. This world will persecute all those who are born of God, just as it persecuted Jesus (John 15:20-21 and II Timothy 3:12).
III. THE LOVE OF GOD WITHIN A BELIEVER WILL EXPRESS ITSELF IN ACTIONS TOWARD THE CHILDREN OF GOD (3:14-19).
1 John 3:14-15 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1. This love of God is first expressed in genuine love and concern for other children of God (3:14-15). The best definition of love is "concern or caring". One sure and certain test of salvation and the presence of God in a life is love (4:7-8). Hatred comes from the devil. NOTE: The Word of God continually emphasizes "love for the brethren" as the test of salvation (John 13:34-35). This should be clearly distinguished from a universal love for all human beings.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
2. This love of God will express itself in positive, living actions (3:16-17). James 2:14-18 also declares that Biblical faith will demonstrate itself in deeds and actions.
1 John 3:18-19 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
3. These positive actions toward the brethren prove that we are the children of God (3:18-19 and Matthew 7:16-21). These actions do not produce salvation, but confirm the reality of our salvation.
IV. COMPLIANCE TO THIS "ROYAL LAW OF LOVE" (JAMES 2:8) GIVES A BELIEVER CONFIDENCE BEFORE GOD (3:20-24).
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1. Obedience to God’s commandments gives confidence in approaching His throne of grace in prayer (3:20-21). Whenever we are not right with our brethren, it hinders our prayers (Matt. 6:14-15 and I Peter 3:7).
1 John 3:22-23b And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 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.
2. Obedience to God’s commandments gives assurance that God will answer our prayers (3:22-23b). (See also: Psalms 34:15 & 17 and 84:11 and Matt. 6:33)
1 John 3:23-24 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. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
3. Obedience to God’s commandments includes the commandment "to love our brothers" (3:23b-24). Someone has well said "There are no longer ten commandments, but eleven commandments (John 13:34 and I John 3:23). Conclusion: A believer’s love and overt action toward the brethren, should not be forced, faked, nor legalistic. A person could fake and force this love hypocritically in the same way that they might legalistically keep the commandments of God for a time. However, if a person is born again, this love within the heart and the manifestation of this love in outward actions is spontaneous action and the living proof of salvation.
