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How's your love life?
How's your love life?
Introduction
A commercial some years ago asked this important question: How's your love life? Apparently enough people are concerned about their love life to make advertizers on Madison Avenue think it's a good way to promote their product. I can't help but think that John is asking the same question in this text. He uses it to monitor the legitimacy of those who claim to be Christians because true Christians love one another. One of the key tests of Christianity is love.
According to 1 John 2 the believer will love God and others, but will not love the world. In 1 John 3 Christians are referred to as the children of God. Two things mark the child of God: righteousness and love. Righteousness is the theme of the first ten verses (see pp. xx- xx); love is the theme of verses 11-24. Verse 10 acts as the transition.
A. The Mark of a Christian
Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ is an indispensable mark of a Christian. Romans 5:5 says, "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts." And the love God puts in our hearts will transmit itself to others. Paul told the Thessalonians, "Ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another" (1 Thess. 4:9). There will be occasions when we will not love one another, but the habit of our lives will be to love one another.
B. The Message of Love
First John 3:11 says, "This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." That is not merely a duty; it is proof of true Christianity. The heretics boasted of their union with God and their knowledge of the truth, but they had no love for the believers. They separated themselves and lorded their will over them. They had no community spirit.
"The message that ye heard from the beginning," refers to the teaching of the apostles. It has always been the same: believers should love one another. The heretics, particularly the gnostic heretics, boasted about new teaching. That's why John repeatedly referred back to apostolic authority, which is foundational and unchanging (1 John 1:1, 5; 2:24). Many new doctrines have come and gone. Christians are to reject new doctrines and hold fast to the truth of Scripture.
Truth does not change. And truth regarding Christian conduct is just as unalterable as truth of Christ. A person who claims to be a Christian but does not habitually practice righteousness and love is no Christian at all. When you become a Christian you are no longer totally dominated by sin; you tend to do righteous things (although there will be occasional sin). You also begin to love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Circular Epistle
Some commentators have likened 1 John to a spiral that gets larger and larger. John repeats the same arguments, only each time it encompasses more territory. John discusses righteousness and love in 1 John 5, but in different ways than he does in chapter three.
A teacher needs to remember two things about his students: forgetfulness and familiarity. Whatever they are taught, they will forget. A teacher should repeat himself. But if he says the same thing in the same way, the students won't listen. So a good teacher should teach the same thing in a different way so his pupils don't know it's the same thing. Peter told his readers he would not cease to help them remember (2 Pet. 1:15). Whenever we hear a familiar truth presented in a different way, we get excited about it. John repeats himself, but never in the same way.
In 1 John 3:11-24 John discusses love. First he characterizes the children of the devil, then he characterizes the children of God.
Lesson
I. THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL (vv. 11-17)
Jesus told the Pharisees, "Ye are of your father the devil" (John 8:44). The devil's children are all who don't know Jesus Christ. Let's examine three characteristics of the children of the devil as they relate to love.
A. Murder (vv. 11-12)
"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 killed his brother. And why killed he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."
The lowest level of human relationships is murder.
1. The example of Cain
Cain is the classic example of a murderer. Genesis 4 tells us about Cain and his brother Abel. Verses 1-2 say, "Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bore his brother, Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground."
a) Abel and the religion of grace
Verse 3 says, "In process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord." That was an act of worship. Verses 4-5 say, "Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering; but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect." It's obvious from the context God had already revealed to them that a blood sacrifice was the only acceptable sacrifice (cf. Gen. 3:21). Hebrews 9:22 says, "Without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sins]." God instituted blood sacrifices as the only proper form of worship, and Abel obeyed.
b) Cain and the religion of human achievement
Cain brought God the fruit of the ground--that which he himself had planted and harvested. He offered what he wanted to offer, not what God wanted him to offer. He invented his own religion, and the Lord would have none of it. Genesis 4:5-7 says, "Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou angry? And why is thy countenance falling? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door."
Verse 8 says, "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 slew him." He murdered him. First John 3:12 says Cain murdered Abel "because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." Cain was jealous of Abel.
2. The character of Cain
a) He was a child of Satan
Cain "was of that wicked one" (v. 12). The Greek word translated "wicked one" is poneros. It is stronger than kakos, the usual Greek word for evil. Poneros speaks of evil in active opposition to good--organized evil. A man who is kakos is willing to be evil and perish in his own corruption, but the person who is poneros seeks to drag everyone else down with him. Who is the evil one? Satan. Cain was a child of Satan. That is made evident because he was a murderer. God's children are not murderers; they love one another. John 8:44 says Satan has been a murderer from the beginning.
b) He perverted God's worship
The Greek word translated "killed" in 1 John 3:12 is sphazo, which means, "to butcher by cutting the throat." It is used in the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament) to refer to the slaying of animals for Levitical sacrifices. It is quite probable that Cain cut Abel's throat. When Cain and Abel were born, the seeds of death were already implanted in the sins of Adam and Eve. But as far as we know, no one had yet died. That Cain knew how to kill implies he knew God required an animal sacrifice. God instituted a pattern of sacrifice to bring men to himself, but Cain became the first to pervert it and turn it into murder. The human race learned to murder when it was taught to worship.
c) He was jealous of Abel
Why did Cain kill his brother? Verse 12 says, "Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." He was jealous--his brother was accepted by God but he wasn't. Jealousy lay at the base of Cain's murder. That's what life is like for the children of the devil.
Not all people are murderers like Cain, and that leads to the next characteristic of a child of the devil.
B. Hate (vv. 13-15)
1. The attitude of the world (v. 13)
"Marvel not [stop marveling], my brethren, if the world hate you."
Don't be surprised if the world hates you. Most people have never murdered anyone, but the only difference between hate and murder is the act--the attitude is the same. There are a lot of haters in this world who don't murder for one reason--fear of the consequences. If they could get away with it without punishment, guilt, and negative social reaction, they would. In God's eyes, hatred is the moral equivalent of murder.
We could translate verse 13 this way: "Since the world hates you, don't be shocked." Cain was the prototype of the world; he manifests the ugly qualities Satan generates in every one of his children. The hatred the world has for righteousness began with Cain, and has perpetuated itself since then. Believers shouldn't be surprised by that. We expect the devil to hate God; likewise we can expect the children of the devil to hate the children of the Lord. You may think they don't hate you, but they do. I'm not saying everyone in the world is horrible and can't love, but the general pattern of godless people is murder and hatred. The wicked system will continue to hate believers.
2. The assurance of believers (v. 14)
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."
If you have ever doubted your salvation, you can take comfort in this verse. You can know you have passed from death to life if you have a continuous and habitual love for Christians. The world doesn't love Christians. Dead people don't love: only living people do. Love is the surest test of divine life. Where there is no love, there is spiritual death. Examine your heart. Do you love other Christians? Do you seek the fellowship of Christians? If you do, you have passed from death to life. If you do not, you're still dead.
3. The analysis of hate (v. 15)
"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."
Hatred is the same as murder in the eyes of God. And murderers do not have eternal life. As a general pattern, a believer loves and an unbeliever hates.
a) Proverbs 6:17--The Lord hates "a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood." The Lord hates murderous hands. God's children do not commit murder. According to 1 John 3:15 one who hates is guilty of murder. In God's eyes, the ethic is the same.
b) Matthew 5:21-22--In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old, Thou shalt not kill and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of judgment; but I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." The attitude you have toward your brother is as significant to Jesus as what you do to him.
There are few people who murder as a way of life, but there are many who hate people.
C. Indifference (vv. 16-17)
"By this 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 whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassions from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
A person who sees a Christian in need and has the ability to help, yet refuses to do so, is not a Christian according to John. The world is characterized by indifference and apathy. The world murders its own, but Christians care for each other with sacrificial love.
1. The definition of love
Love is not defined as an attitude or an emotion, but as an act of self-sacrifice. We know God loves us because He laid down His life for us. What should we do? Lay down our lives for the brethren. Cain hated and murdered his brother--that's how Satan's children behave. Christ gave up His life for those He loved. First Peter 2:21 says, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example."
2. The deeds of love
Chances are you won't have the opportunity to die for someone, and that's why John added verse 17: "Whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassions from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" True love isn't confined to dying for someone. A Christian is willing to surrender possessions, comfort, and anything of value if a fellow brother has need.
a) Implemented
Verse 17 says, "Whosoever hath this world's good, and seeth his brother" (emphasis added). Christians are especially to meet the needs of their brothers in Christ. John is not teaching us to give out money and resources to all people indiscriminantly. You can pacify yourself by doing so, but you'll never become close to anyone. You should be meeting needs within the community of believers. Certainly you can meet needs outside that community as God brings people across your path.
b) Illustrated
Luke 10:30-31 says, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side." The priest proved he was a child of the devil because he ignored the man lying in the road half dead. He didn't want to defile himself. Jesus continues the narrative: "Likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which, now, of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?" (vv. 32-36).
Two acted as children of the devil; one acted as a child of God by showing love to the victim. All three were responsible to help--they all recognized the man's need and they had what he needed. If we're not willing to give, then John questions our salvation.
Verse 17 uses the phrase "shutteth up his compassions [KJV, bowels]." The Greek word used here refers to the heart. The Jews spoke of the seat of a man's emotions as the bowels--we say it's the heart. Actually, it's in neither place. They serve merely as a physical identification. A man who shuts his bowels has turned off his compassion.
If you are habitually uncaring and indifferent, John questions your salvation. If you murder, hate, and are indifferent, you have no eternal life abiding in you.
The High Risk of Christian Service
1. Sacrifice means risk
Children of God make supreme sacrifices for one another. In Philippians 2:26-27 Paul says the following about Epaphroditus: "He longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because ye had heard that he had been sick. For, indeed, he was sick near unto death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow." Verse 30 tells us how he got so sick: "For the work of Christ, he was near unto death, not regarding his life."
Do you risk anything in your Christian life, or do you measure it out carefully? If so, you haven't learned to make a sacrifice like Epaphroditus. He was willing to pay the price of death. Paul told the Philippians, "If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy" (Phil. 2:17). He was ready to die if it was necessary for their salvation. We don't fully understand that kind of sacrifice. But we do know something about it if we are true Christians. We are to love the way Jesus loved.
2. Sacrifice means sharing
Christians share. That's part of what the Christian life is all about.
a) 1 Timothy 6:17--"Charge them that are rich in this age, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to share."
b) Hebrews 13:16--"Do good and to share forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
In 1 John 3:11-17 John describes the children of the devil. They murder, hate, and are indifferent.
II. THE CHILDREN OF GOD (vv. 18-24)
The children of God are characterized by love, which originates in God, issues in self-sacrifice, and is evidence of eternal life.
A. Their Character (v. 18)
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth."
Our love is to be in action, not in word. Profession is not enough; action is essential. What does John mean when he says, "Let us not love in word"? He is referring to all talk and no action. What does he mean when he says, "Let us not love ... in tongue"? That implies hypocrisy. Don't let your love be all talk and no action, and don't let it be hypocritical. You need to love in deed and in truth--in action and in honesty.
B. Their Blessings (vv. 19-24)
1. Assurance (vv. 19-20)
a) Pacifying the conscience (v. 19)
"By this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him."
How can we assure our hearts? By loving in deed and in truth. When you can pinpoint deeds of self-sacrifice in your life, you can eliminate doubts and insecurity. The children of the devil don't love Christians. Our hearts will experience uncertainty, insecurity, and self-condemnation. But the remedy for that is loving in deed and in truth. And the fruit of love is assurance.
The Greek word translated "assure" is peitho, which means "to persuade" or "to tranquilize." If your heart is upset, tranquilize it by reminding it of your deeds of love. No unsaved sinner can have that kind of assurance.
b) Purging the conscience (v. 20)
"If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."
(1) Condemnation from the conscience
Sometimes your heart will condemn you. Mine does. Sometimes it's right; sometimes it's wrong. I can condemn myself for wrong things. I expect things out of myself that the Lord doesn't expect. I can have certain legalistic quirks. Sometimes I get lazy. Sometime after I've been working on a message for six or seven hours, I'm ready to quit and do nothing. For a couple of hours my conscience tells me that I'm a sluggard. In some cases, my conscience is wrong--there are times I am tired and I need the rest--but in other cases my conscience is right. When your conscience is wrong, reject it; when it's right, confess it.
(2) Commendation from God
If your conscience condemns you, remember that God is greater than your heart and knows all things (v. 20). God doesn't condemn you. Romans 8:1 says, "There is ... no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." The next time your conscience condemns you, remember it isn't God whose condemning you. You may think God doesn't know you like you know yourself, but He is greater than your heart and knows all things. When your conscience starts to condemn you, remember the pattern of love for the brethren you have exhibited. God will confirm that you stand uncondemned.
A condemning conscience robs a believer of assurance. When you concentrate on the failures of your life, your conscience will tear down your assurance. You must remember that it has been characteristic of you to make sacrifices for other Christians. God, who knows you, is greater than your heart and doesn't want to condemn you; He wants to assure you.
(a) Appealing to God's knowledge
In John 21:17 Jesus says to Peter, "Lovest thou me?" Peter replied, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." He appealed to the Lord's omniscience. As a Christian, I assure my heart by my deeds of love. I can appeal to God because He is greater than my conscience. Don't let your conscience rob you of joy. Don't let it rob you of your security and confidence. God doesn't condemn your heart; why should you condemn yourself.
(b) Amplifying God's knowledge
God knows the worst that is in the Christian is superficial. He looks down on the deep things and sees the truth. In Romans 7:22 Paul says, "I delight in the law of God after the inward man." God sees the deep reality. Black deeds may rise to the surface to condemn us, but God sees true love deep in our hearts, which is revealed by our deeds of self-sacrifice. I may commit a sin, but God isn't going to condemn me for that sin. He knows I'm his child because the pattern of my life has been characterized by godliness and sacrificial love. When I sin, that is not the real me. Romans 7:17 says, "It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." I'm not telling you to take sin lightly--God doesn't. He will discipline you for it (Heb. 12:6). But know He will forgive your sin and won't condemn you for it.
2. Answered prayer (vv. 21-22)
"Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
a) Confidence toward God
Love banishes self-condemnation. When I recognize the deeds of love I have done, my insecurity is gone. If you're still condemning yourself with artificial guilt, then you're playing God. You are saying that you are a higher authority than He is. If you will accept the fact He doesn't condemn you, if you will confess your sin and turn from it, and if you will recognize the deeds of love in your life, your heart won't condemn you. Instead, you'll have confidence in God. And you will receive what you ask Him for.
b) Conditions of answered prayer
There are three conditions for answered prayer.
(1) No unconfessed sin
Psalm 66:18 says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." According to 1 John 3:21, when you confess your sin, your heart will no longer condemn you.
(2) Obedience to the Word
Verse 22 says, "Whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep [obey] his commandments." First Peter 3:7 says a husband and wife won't have their prayers answered unless they are obedient.
(3) Doing what pleases God
Verse 22 says, "Because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
James says most people pray for things to satisfy their lusts (James 4:3). The habitual behavior of a Christian is love, obedience, and doing what pleases God. As a result, his prayers are answered. Love characterizes God's children, and results in assurance and answered prayer.
3. Abiding (vv. 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 by this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit whom he hath given us."
According to verse 22 the believer believes, obeys, and loves. The result is we dwell "in him, and he in [us]. And by this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit whom he hath given us" (v. 24). The third great blessing of the children of God is the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.
The child of the devil is characterized by an unloving heart full murder, hate, and indifference. The children of God are characterized by love, which results in assurance, answered prayer, and knowledge through the Holy Spirit that we abide in Him and He in us. The proof that you are a Christian is simple: Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you love the brothers? Do you obey His commandments?
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Originally Posted by topekaclark
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.The time of singing has come, my dove in the clefts of the rock 
....for my beloved is mine and I am HIS..
good news......
