Lesson Seven, 1st John 3:13-24, Lane 1

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by Lane Rogers

Love and the Children of God or

Fellowship is Rooted in the Practice of Sacrificial Love.

13Do not wonder, my brethren, if the world doth hate you; 14we -- we have known that we have passed out of the death to the life, because we love the brethren; he who is not loving the brother does remain in the death. 15Every one who is hating his brother -- a man-killer he is, and you have known that no man-killer hath life age-during in him remaining, 16in this we have known the love, because he for us his life did lay down, and we ought for the brethren the lives to lay down; 17and whoever may have the goods of the world, and may view his brother having need, and may shut up his bowels from him -- how does the love of God remain in him? 18My little children, may we not love in word nor in tongue, but in word and in truth! 19and in this we know that of the truth we are, and before Him we shall assure our hearts, 20because if our heart may condemn -- because greater is God than our heart, and He doth know all things.21Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward God, 22and whatever we may ask, we receive from Him, because His commands we keep, and the things pleasing before Him we do, 23and this is His command, that we may believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and may love one another, even as He did give command to us, 24and he who is keeping His commands, in Him he does remain, and He in him; and in this we know that He does remain in us, from the Spirit that He gave us.


Introduction

John has been describing two different kinds of people. One who continuously practices sin, and is therefore, “of the evil one” (1st John 3:8a), and the one “born of God, “ who does not continuously practice sin (1st John 3:9).

John continues to illustrate the contrast between “the children of God” and “the children of the devil” in 1st John 3:10 presenting two criteria which distinguish them: Practicing righteousness and brotherly love. Both of these “criteria” have already been introduced earlier in this epistle. John enjoined “brotherly love” as necessary to “abiding in the light” (1st John 2:9-11) and he connected “practicing righteousness” to being “born of Him.” (1st John 2:29; 3:7).

Lesson Text 1st John 3:13-24

LOVE DISTINGUISHES THE CHILDREN OF GOD (vs.10-13)

A. Two Things “Manifest” the Difference Between God's Children and the Devil's Children (v.10).

  1. The Word “manifest” means: To show or demonstrate plainly, reveal; to be evidence of; prove.

  2. That which clearly demonstrates the children of God are:

    a. The practice of righteousness.

    b. The love of the brethren.

  3. Whereas those who are the children of the devil are clearly seen when they:

    a. Do not practice love

    b. Do not practice righteousness.

B. The Command to Love Is “From the Beginning” (v.11)

  1. From the beginning of the gospel, spoken by Jesus Himself (John 13:34-35).

  2. Note that Jesus also stressed how loving one another would make the children of God (His disciples) “manifest” to the world: “by this all will know” (John 13:35).

C. Expect Some Conflict Between These Two “Children” (vs. 12-13).

  1. Just as Cain killed his brother Abel.

    a. He who was of the wicked killed his brother.

    b. The murder was sparked by the contrast between the works of the two but issued from a predisposed heart.

  2. So don't be surprised if the world hates you as well. Cf. also John 15:18-20-”If the World hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: “No servant is greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecuted you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”

  3. God Himself imposed hostility between these ingredients of right and wrong, light and darkness, truth and error way back in the Garden of Eden experience with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15).

Note: When we follow the teachings of Jesus, especially His command to love one another, it soon becomes evident (“manifest”) that we are from a different world. But that difference sometimes leads to jealusy and its unpleasant consequences.


LOVE SIGNIFIES A PASSING FROM DEATH TO LIFE (vs. 14-15)

A. It is a Mark of True Conversion (v.14a)...we have passed from death to life.

  1. Certainly brotherly love is not the ONLY indicator.

  2. Remember that we must practice righteousness. Cf. Galatians 5:22-23.

  3. But love for the brethren is a positive sign that true conversion has occurred.

B. Whereas Lack of Love Is an Ominous Sign (vs. 14b-15)

  1. That one “abides in death.”

  2. As we saw earlier, one who hates his brother “is in darkness until now” (1st John 2:9,11).

  3. Hating one's brother makes one a murder! Just like Cain.

  4. And it should be self-evident that a murderer does not possess eternal life.

C. When Christians Do Not Love Their Brethren

It MAY be an indication that true conversion never occurred, and that they are Christians in name only.

  1. It MAY be there was a true conversion.

    a. But the Christian is still a “Babe in Christ” (1st Cor.3:1-3).

    b. Or that what the writer of Hebrews feared has occurred (Hebrews 3:12-13).

  2. In ANY circumstance,it is not what God desires for us.

Conclusion:

  1. Two compelling reasons are given by John for why we should love one another.

    a. It distinguishes the children of God.

    b. It signifies a passing from death to life.

  2. There is a world of difference between a man that hates and would destroy life, and the man that loves and will lay down his life voluntarily.

THE DEFINITION OF BROTHERLY LOVE (vs.16-18).

A. Jesus Exemplifies What it means to Love the Brethren (16)

  1. The word love (GK. agape) has often been described as “active goodwill.”

  2. In giving His life for our sins, Jesus demonstrated goodwill in an active manner.

  3. By meditating on His example, we are “taught of God to love one another.” Cf. 1st Thessalonians 4:9.

  4. With Jesus' example, then we come to understand what brotherly love is all about: sacrificially serving others.

    a. Therefore we should be willing to lay down our lives for one another.

    b. In some cases, it may indeed involve “dying” for our brethren but it can also be “living” for them through serving.

B. An Example of Failing to Show Brotherly Love (v.17).

  1. John uses the example of not helping a brother when it is within your power to do so.

  2. In view of Christ's love, how can we claim to have love if we are not willing to sacrifice for the brothers needs.

  3. This illustrates that brotherly love is not only being willing to “die” for someone, but willing to “live” for them as well, through active service on their behalf.

C. Therefore, an Admonition to “True Love” (18).

  1. An admonition prefaced by John's favorite term of endearment: “My little children.”

  2. To love, not just in words, but truly in deeds.

Note: We see, then, that “brotherly love” (1) distinguishes the children of God (2) signifies having passed from death to life.


THE VALUE OF BROTHERLY LOVE (19-24)

A. It Gives One Assurance Before God (vs.19-21)

  1. Love of the brethren is an indication that one is “of the truth:, just as it was an indication that one has passed from death to life (1st John 3:1).

  2. It is certainly not the only indicator (cf.1st John 3:10), but does help to provide one with assurance of salvation.

  3. The importance of such assurance:

    a. If our own hearts condemn us.

    1) because we know that we do not love the brethren as we ought.

    2) Certainly God, who is greater and knows all things, will know of our short comings in this area.

    b. But if our hearts do not condemn us.

    1) Because we are loving as we should and we know it

    2) This will enable us to approach God with joyful confidence.

B. It Leads to Positive Answers to Prayers (vs. 22-23).

  1. Our prayers are more likely to be answered according to our request.

  2. Because we are keeping the commandments of God (of which loving the brethren is one), and thereby pleasing Him.

  3. “Commandment keeping” is a condition on which God hears prayer, just as it is a condition on which Christ promises His abiding love (John 15:10).

C. It Assures that One Abides in Christ (v.24)

  1. Abiding in Christ is contingent on keeping His commandments (and loving the brethren)cf. John 14:23.

  2. And how do we know that Christ truly abides in those who keep His commandments?

    a. By the Spirit that Christ has Given them.

    b. He (the spirit) is the One who reminded the apostles of the key to abiding in Christ – cf. John 14:19-26.


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by Lane Rogers