Scripture
As a result of poor planning, Dennis, from Katy, Texas, needed some same-day dry cleaning before he left on a trip. He remembered a store on the other side of town with a huge sign: “One-Hour Dry Cleaners.” So he drove out of his way to drop off a suit. After filling out the tag, he told the clerk, “I need this in an hour.”
She said, “I can’t get this back to you until Thursday.”
“I thought you did dry cleaning in an hour?”
“No,” she replied, “That’s just the name of the store.”
Those of us who carry the name Christian, but fail to act like the one whose name we bear, create confusion and disillusionment for those who have yet to believe.
Jesus once said, “ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The Apostle John picked up on Jesus’ statement and noted that love is the characteristic mark of the children of God.
Let’s read 1 John 3:11-18:
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:11-18)
Introduction
The Apostle John wrote his first letter to correct false teaching that was being taught by false teachers. He set down three tests to evaluate whether one has a relationship with God: the test of obedience (in 1 John 2:3-6), the test of love (in 1 John 2:7-11), and the test of doctrine (in 1 John 2:18-27).
John repeated that and once again set down three tests by elaborating on them. He set down the test of obedience (in 1 John 2:28-3:10), the test of love (in 1 John 3:11-18), and the test of doctrine (in 1 John 4:1-6).
Today, we are going to examine John’s elaboration of the test of love in 1 John 3:11-18. In John’s elaboration of this social test, he shows how love is a mark of all Christians.
Lesson
First John 3:4-11-18 teaches us that love is a characteristic mark of the children of God.
Let’s use the following outline:
1. Love Is the Message We Have Heard from the Beginning (3:11)
2. Love Does Not Murder (3:12)
3. Love Causes the World to Hate Us (3:13)
4. Love Is Evidence of Spiritual Life (3:14)
5. Love Does Not Hate (3:15)
6. Love Is Sacrificial (3:16)
7. Love Is Practical (3:17-18)
I. Love Is the Message We Have Heard from the Beginning (3:11)
First, love is the message we have heard from the beginning.
John writes in verse 11, “For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” John was of course a disciple of Jesus. No doubt he could still hear the words of Jesus ringing in his ears about the time a lawyer asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:35-40). Love God. And love your neighbor. This is the great summary of God’s law. Moreover, love is a mark that characterizes every believer.
To “love one another” is easier said than done. As far as I know, there never has been a time in human history when there was not a war between people somewhere in the world. Twice these hostilities escalated into World Wars. I have a propensity to like certain people and not others. I am cautious when I am with people who are different than I am. Perhaps they speak a different language and I cannot understand them. Perhaps they have a different economic status than I have. Perhaps they have different physical features than I do. In all cases, John’s message, which is based on Jesus’ message, is that I am to love others because I am a Christian.
Of course, I cannot do this in my own strength. That is where the gospel comes in and by the help of the Holy Spirit, I am enabled to love others.
II. Love Does Not Murder (3:12)
Second, love does not murder.
John writes in verse 12, “We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” John uses an illustration from the very first family. Cain and Abel each offered sacrifices to God. However, God did not accept Cain’s offering but he did accept Abel’s offering. John tells us that the reason Cain murdered Abel is “because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” They were supposed to bring a blood sacrifice to God. Abel did so. But Cain did not. It is almost as if Cain said that if God wanted a blood sacrifice, he would give him one. And so killed his brother as a “replacement sacrifice.”
You may never have taken another person’s life by murder. So you may think that you are doing okay on this point. But remember what Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21–22). You see, murder does not begin with an outward act. It results in an outward act but it begins in our heart. It begins with an attitude of anger. So, when we realize that an attitude of anger receives the same punishment as murder, we know that we are all guilty of that.
But John teaches that love does not murder.
III. Love Causes the World to Hate Us (3:13)
Third, love causes the world to hate us.
John writes in verse 13, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” John was writing to believers who were an extremely tiny minority of the total population. But even in those days, believers were persecuted because of their faith in Jesus.
Over the millennia, the rage of unbelievers against believers has become less visible but it is still there. That is why John goes on to say that we should not be surprised that the world hates believers. We live in a world in which believers are still in the minority in terms of the total population. We should not be surprised that there is increasing hostility against us. Believers are a walking rebuke to unbelievers. As we carry on our daily lives we are a living testimony to God’s grace in us.
I have a vague recollection of an illustration involving Billy Graham. He was playing golf with three other men who were well-known to many people. After their game, someone asked one of the golfers how it was to play golf with Billy Graham. The many shouted angrily, something like this, “It was terrible! He is always trying to shove religion down my throat.” Later, when the man calmed down, he said, “Actually, Billy Graham did not say anything about religion on the golf course. I just had a bad game.”
Without saying a word, Billy Graham was a testimony to the grace of God in his life. And so it is with every believer.
IV. Love Is Evidence of Spiritual Life (3:14)
Fourth, love is evidence of spiritual life.
John writes in verse 14, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.” John likes to use contrasts in his writing, contrasts such as death and life, darkness and light, hate and love. John also makes an astonishing statement in that believers “have passed out of death into life.” Every person alive lives and breathes. So, what is John talking about? John is insisting that believers are the ones who have been giving spiritual life, a new life, a life that is truly “life”! And it is this new life that enables believers to love people.
The new birth is really a radical transformation that takes place in the life of every believer. Believers are spiritually alive to God and one way we demonstrate that new life is in the way we love one another. Believers not only have eternal life but we also have an abundant life – now!
Do you remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? Jesus said that a man was on a journey from Jerusalem to Jericho and he was beaten by robbers and left for dead. A priest passed him but did not help the man. A Levite passed him and also did not help him. Finally, a Samaritan, whom the Jews hated, came to the man and helped him. He bound his wounds, set him on his own animal, and took him to an inn and took care of him there. Then he paid the innkeeper to take care of the man.
Friends, love is evidence of spiritual life. So, I need to ask myself how well I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. Do I demonstrate care and compassion for others? Do I go out of my way, like the Good Samaritan, to help others in need because that is an expression of the love that God has given me?
V. Love Does Not Hate (3:15)
Fifth, love does not hate.
John writes in verse 15, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Jesus said that anger breaks the command of “You shall not murder” (cf. Matthew 5:21-22). Hatred is the essence of murder. That is not to say that – just like all sin – one cannot repent and receive God’s forgiveness. What John is saying, however, is that a person who has an attitude of hatred toward another person (or persons) cannot possess eternal life. Love and hate are mutually exclusive.
All people are emotional beings. We are capable of all kinds of emotions. We see a whole range of emotions in toddlers. As they grow up, they display all kinds of emotions. We see them happy, sad, scared, angry, and so on all in the space of five minutes! As we grow up, we learn to control our emotions better. What we need to keep in mind is that hatred is an emotion that is characteristic of a murderer. We need to pay attention to our emotions and if we see any ungodly emotions, let us repent of them so that we may receive God’s forgiveness.
VI. Love Is Sacrificial (3:16)
Sixth, love is sacrificial.
John has been writing to his beloved flock that one of the marks of a Christian is love. Love for one another is a distinguishing mark of the Christian. And then John imagines that some in his flock may ask what that kind of love looks like. And so John answers in 1 John 3:16, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” Love is supremely sacrificial as demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Christ. Love is giving. Love is serving. Love is doing what is best for the other person.
The mark of Christian love is that it is self-giving rather than self-serving. Believers give love because we want to serve others. We may not receive love in return but we are not loving others for what we can get out of it. This kind of love is hard. Biblical love is costly and time-consuming. Again, one thinks of the Good Samaritan who went out of his way to help the wounded man. He also paid for the man’s care. This kind of love is startling. But it is this kind of love that is truly meaningful and makes a difference in the world.
VII. Love Is Practical (3:17-18)
And finally, love is practical.
John has been teaching that one of the marks of a Christian is love. And that kind of love is supremely demonstrated in Jesus, who laid down his life for his brothers. But, most Christians, even in the first century, were not called to lay down their lives for their brothers. Love for others is also demonstrated in other ways, as John writes in verse 17, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” Seeing fellow believers in genuine need is much more common than the possibility of laying down one’s life for others. And it is in helping in practical ways that love is demonstrated.
Some scan artists take advantage of the generosity of others. But many are genuinely needy. One way to express help to others is to be hospitable. Offering a meal to someone is an expression of love as well as of help. Sometimes more help is needed, such as clothing or shelter or a job. That is where a church can join together, often through its diaconal ministry, to help people in need.
John then writes in verse 18, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” Once again, John begins this sentence with the words, “Little children.” The Greek word (teknion) refers to “a person of any age for whom there is a special relationship of endearment and association” (cf. Louw and Nida). John is writing to his beloved flock for whom he has great love and concern. He is their pastor and protector from the false teaching of the false teachers. And so he urges them on to real love. Love is not simply speaking the right words. Love is action. Love is seen by how we act toward our brothers and sisters.
God made people with the capacity to give and to want love. Recently, I was with a group of friends from a church where I had previously served. There were two small children. One was about seven months old and the other was three years old. I watched how family and friends loved these two precious children and I saw the contented, satisfied looks on the children. The family and friends were not merely saying they loved the children but they played with the children and hugged them and demonstrated their love by their deeds. We need to find ways to demonstrated love to adults in deed and in truth.
Conclusion
In his book titled, The Mark of the Christian, Francis Schaeffer writes the following:
Through the centuries men have displayed many different symbols to show that they are Christians. They have worn marks in the lapels of their coats, hung chains about their necks, even had special haircuts.
Of course, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with any of this, if one feels it is his calling. But there is a much better sign – a mark that has not been thought up just as a matter of expediency for use on some special occasion or in some specific era. It is a universal mark that is to last through all the ages of the church until Jesus comes back.
What is this mark?
At the close of his ministry, Jesus looks forward to his death on the cross, the open tomb and the ascension. Knowing that he is about to leave, Jesus prepares his disciples for what is to come. It is here that he makes clear what will be the distinguishing mark of the Christian:
“Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:33–35).
This passage reveals the mark that Jesus gives to label a Christian not just in one era or in one locality, but at all times and all places until Jesus returns.
