1 John 3:11-16 (NKJV)
“We Know Love”
I. We KNOW because we LOVE
We must not let the world define how we Love and who we Love! Because Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...” John tells us that We have heard this same message.
We are not surprised because of the example of Cain (that those who live in our same house, eat at our same table, worship at the same alter are not of our father) They are of the wicked one.
We know that we have passed (from Death to Life) because we love our brothers! Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Acts 17:28 “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”
Pastor Chip Ingram said, “Love is giving someone what they need the most, when they deserve it the least, at great personal cost.”
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
II. We KNOW because we LIVE
We know about that eternal life abides within! He who hates his brother is just like Cain! He is a murderer! AND you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him! If you do not love your brother verse 14 says you abide in death! BUT the children of God don’t abide in death because we have passed from Death to Life!
1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:20 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
What abides in you? Either love to life or hate to death!
I know they talk about you – I know they don’t treat you right – I know they broke their promise – I know they lied to your children – I know the stole…
Verse 18 says My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. LOVE IS NOT A WORDS GAME! LOVE IS ABOUT ACTION!
Pastor Crawford Kimble said, “The defining act of love is revealed solely in the rituals of sacrifice.”
• I KNOW YOU DON’T WANT TO BUT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SACRAFICE YOUR PRIDE AND LOVE SOMEBODY!
• YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SACRIFICE YOUR POLITIC AND LOVE SOMEBODY!
• YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SACRAFICE YOUR POSITION OF POWER AND LOVE SOMEBODY!
And John tells us that sometimes your heart is not going to be in it, and you are going to feel condemned – So he gave us verse 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
III. We KNOW because He LAID down His LIFE
We Know Love!
We know what love looks like! - We have seen it before!
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Verse 16 says, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life and we ought to lay down our live for the brethren.”
We Know Love! We saw it…
• One Friday some 2000 years ago!
• When the disciples were scattering and Peter was denying
• When our Saviour was beaten, mocked and spit upon
• When the Romans press a crown of thorns upon His head
• When He stumbled up that Dirty Road carrying the cross of His death
• At Calvary when they nailed His hands and feet
• When the Jews railed at Him, “If you are God, save yourself”
• When He said, Father Forgive them For they know not what they do
• Hanging on that tree - Cursed for our sin
• When He died for your sins and mine!
BUT THAT WAS FIRDAY – And We Know Love! Sunday is Coming!
