***It should be noted that the outline is one that was adapted from another preacher...however, the points have been changed and so the content is (to my knowledge), original.
TEXT: 1st John 3:11-24
TITLE: REAL love
SERIES: Letters from John
TOPIC: Love
OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, Feb 20, 2011
PROP.: John gives us some insight into what it looks like to LOVE ONE ANOTHER
INTRODUCTION: Good morning! Our text is John 3:11-24.
Today we continue in our sermon series called Letters from John. Remember where we left off last week? John was describing what it looks like to be considered a CHILD OF GOD. Verse 1 of chapter three says:
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
And last week we ended with verse 10. A Child of God is busy doing the works of their God. What are the works of our God? Verse 10 - do what’s right. Love your brother.
And so today, John is going to tell us what it looks like to love your brother.
ILLUSTRATION: A girl gave a photo to a boy she was dating with this inscription on the back: “Dear Johnny, the last two weeks have been the best of my whole life. I will love you as long as the stars shine and until the oceans run dry. Love Susan. Ps (If we break up, I want this picture back)
We know what love ISN’T. If I was to ask you to tell me what REAL LOVE is, could you do it?
T.S.: In our text this morning, the disciple whom Jesus loved, understood what real love is all about. And he is going to give us some insight into what REAL LOVE looks like.
Let’s read our text today:
11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1st of all, John tells us that
I. Real love is counter intuitive (vs. 11-13)
Listen again to verses 11-13
11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.
You see, John is reminding us of the command…of the message that Jesus Christ taught first taught John: Love one another.
A. to love is a choice!
Real love is counter-intuitive. A person with real love is someone who loves when there is nothing received in return. A person with real love is someone who loves another person who isn’t easy to love or deserving of love. To love someone when you don’t FEEL like it is counter intuitive! I mean, that’s why it’s commanded! Love runs contrary to our emotions a lot of times, doesn’t it?
You see, people believe that love is an emotion. But it’s more than that. You must CHOOSE to love. Listen to Jesus’ words in Luke 6. Starting with verse 24. Jesus is going to command us to love…and it’s going to be difficult!
27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Love for your enemies is not a natural love. It goes against what you feel! It’s a conscious choice! But THAT is what REAL LOVE is all about.
But John makes it very clear. When you CHOOSE TO LOVE those who are not easy to love…their response may surprise you!
B. WARNING - You will be hated
In our text this morning, John gives us the example of Cain & Abel. These two were brothers. They were the sons of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 4:1-8) You remember the story that John is referring to? These two brothers wanted to offer a sacrifice to God. Cain was a farmer and offered some of his grains and vegetables in sacrifice to God. But those grains and vegetables weren’t the best. They may have been rotten or had some bad spots in them and weren’t suitable to eat and so his thought was “I’ll give these to God…since I can’t eat them anyway.” And then there was Abel. Abel looked after livestock. And Abel offered up to God fat portions from some of the FIRSTBORN of his flock. Those were the ones that Abel had fed and fattened and were the best of the best! That is what Abel gave to God.
Which one did what was right? Which one showed REAL LOVE to God? Sure! It was Abel! And of course, Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God but Cain’s was rejected. And because Abel did what was right…Cain hated him for it! And ended up murdering his own brother.
And John ties it together in our text by saying: “Do not be surprised, my brother, if the world hates you.” When you CHOOSE to live a life of love - a life like Jesus, you’ll be a stench to those who aren’t living that life. In their minds, “You’re a goody-two-shoes…” You’re just trying to make them look bad.
APPLICATION QUESTION: Who is it in your life that you need to CHOOSE to love? Co-worker? Spouse? Neighbor? REAL LOVE IS COUNTER INTUITIVE.
Secondly, John says…
II. Real love is SACRIFICIAL (vs. 16-17)
The apostle John is upfront. He makes it clear so you and I will understand. REAL LOVE WILL COST YOU SOMETHING.
Let’s read verses 16 & 17.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
I want to stop right there.
John says:
A. Lay down your life as Christ laid down his
Question: How did Christ lay down his life? He died for us! That’s how! But that’s only one part of it! Jesus made the decision to serve others long before he died on the cross.
When Christ came to earth, he dealt for 33 years with people who weren’t easy to love; who weren’t deserving of love. And day after day, Jesus gave. He gave his time. Talents. Position. He sacrificed a lot to demonstrate for us what love should look like.
And so, when you love someone with REAL love, it’s going to cost you something.
And it’s best you know that up front. When you choose to love someone who doesn’t deserve it and you know it’s not going to be easy to love them, it WILL cost you something. For that boss…neighbor…Christian who isn’t easy to love, it may cost you your pride. In order to show love to them you are going to have to humble yourself.
When you love someone with REAL love, it could cost you your time. Now a lot of us don’t mind giving our time as long as I get to choose WHEN I give my time. As long as it’s convenient.
ILLUSTRATION: You’ve been there. You have a busy day. You’re running late and you haven’t been able to get everything done you need to get done. When all of a sudden, your neighbor, family, friend, or boss needs something from you. What do you do?
I’ll tell you what you do. You think about Jesus Christ. And you remember what He has done for you. You remind yourself that you aren’t easy to love and always deserving of love and then you suck it up and serve! That’s what you do!
And look at verse 17. John takes it one step further. He spells it out.
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
B. GIVE to those who have need.
This verse makes perfect sense coming from John. It was Acts chapter 2 when the church was born. And John was a part of that church where Sacrificial love was experienced.
Acts 2:44,45
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
ILLUSTRATION: compassion international catalyst video. I want to take time to show you a 6 minute video that took place at the Catalyst convention. The Catalyst convention is for leaders. Watch this video.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
And when you Sacrificially give, you never know what the impact will be become.
APPLICATION: Look around your world. Who needs you to give SACRIFICAL LOVE?
Third. John tells us
III. Real love is (where the rubber meets the road) action packed (vs. 18)
Look at verse 18.
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
First, John says…
A. Don’t just talk the talk.
Now let me just say - there’s ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with saying “I love you”. Or to say nice things to those you mean a lot to you. But that’s not where it stops.
ILLUSTRATION: I mean, fellas, for Valentine’s Day this past week, I HOPE you told your wife that you love her. But I’m guessing if that’s all you did for Valentine’s day…you were in the dog house.
She wants you to SHOW her you love you! And that’s what John says. He says:
B. Love with ACTION and TRUTH.
SHOW YOUR LOVE SINCERELY. It’s not about a show.
I like what Guy Caley wrote about REAL LOVE. He writes: “Real love looks less like two beautiful Hollywood stars arm in arm on the beach and looks more like a room on the cancer ward where a loving husband reassures his bride ravaged by disease that she’s still the most beautiful girl in the world to him
Real love looks less like gushing love letters promising unending devotion and more like a spouse who is hurting, betrayed and confused and still deciding to forgive and work things out.
Real love is not some giddy feeling I get when I think about a special person; no, real love is a decision to place someone’s welfare above my own even when I don’t particularly feel warm and fuzzy about them.”
APPLICATION: As you examine the love you show to those around you…are your motives pure? Or is it a self serving love?
And finally, John tells us
IV. Real love is evidence of Transformation (vs. 14,19,20)
I think each Christian at some point in their life will wonder: “Am I really saved?” That question has plagued minds of ministers, elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers and maybe even you.
How DO you know if you’ve been saved? Listen to John’s answer. Verse 14
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
Do you see what John is saying?
A. Love is the mark of a Christian
Love is the fruit produced by the Spirit of God. (Galatians 5:22) Love can be manifested in other ways. People may not recognize it as love, but that’s exactly what it is.
People may describe you as: Generous. Self-less. A servant. Thoughtful. Caring. Kind. Joyful. Bubbly. But what they are really seeing is LOVE demonstrated in your life!
And notice what that love in your life does for you…
B. The confidence that love brings
19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
God wants you to know you are saved. He wants you to have the confidence to know where you stand. If you love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and if you love your neighbor as yourself, then have the confidence that you belong to the truth of Jesus Christ!
APPLICATION: As you examine your Spiritual walk, are you growing in love towards those around you?
CONCLUSION: There it is! REAL Love as defined by the Apostle John
REAL LOVE IS COUNTER INTUITIVE
REAL LOVE IS SACRIFICIAL
REAL LOVE IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD
REAL LOVE IS EVIDENCE OF TRANSFORMATION
So, what makes John such an expert on what REAL love is all about? What authority does he have to tell me what real love should look like in my life? Remember, John was one of the original 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. He was around Jesus for his entire ministry. And don’t forget that John wrote about his experiences with Jesus and the ministry of Jesus in his gospel of John.
And 6 times in that Gospel…the gospel of John…John refers to himself as: The disciple whom Jesus Loved.
And so the reason that John is able to be an authority on what REAL LOVE is…is because John was a recipient of REAL LOVE from Jesus Christ. John will later write:
1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.
Maybe you have never experienced the love that Jesus Christ has to offer. You have never received that love demonstrated by his sacrifice on the cross. Then we offer this time of deicision for you. Won’t you come forward as we stand and sing?
