Living with the Love of the Lord
1 John 3:10-18
Sermon by Rick Crandall
Series: The First Epistle of John
(Prepared December 30, 2023)
MESSAGE:
*God's kind of agape love is one of the greatest themes in this very short letter from the Apostle John. We know this because the original words for godly love are found over 50 times in these verses.
*In all of these verses and many more, the Bible is talking about Christians loving one another with the same kind of unselfish, servant-hearted, sacrificial love that God has for us. It's the same kind of love we see in John 3:16 where Jesus said, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
*It's also the same kind of love found in God's greatest two commandments. One place to see them is in Matthew 22:37-40, where Jesus said:
37. . . "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38. This is the first and great commandment.
39. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
40. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.''
*God loves us with this kind of agape love, and He commands us to love other people the same way that He loves us. But He puts a special emphasis on Christians loving one another with agape love. It all started on the night before the cross when Jesus gave His followers this crucial new commandment. In John 13:34-35 the Lord said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
*Jesus repeated the love commandment 3 times in those 2 verses. And that's not all. We can find this love commandment for Christians at least 16 times in the New Testament! (1)
*For example, on the same night before the cross, in John 15:12-17 Jesus said:
12. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
14. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
17. These things I command you, that you love one another."
*In Romans 13:8 Paul said, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."
*In 1 Peter 1:22-23, the Apostle Peter tells Christians:
22. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
23. having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
*And 1 Peter 4:8 says: "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'"
*Christians: Loving one another with God's kind of agape love is one of God's greatest priorities for our lives. And today's Scripture helps us see why.
1. FIRST: GODLY LOVE SHINES THE LIGHT ON OUR SALVATION.
*This is God's message for us in vs. 10-11, where John wrote:
10. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
11. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
*Here God's Word gives us a sharp contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil. Verse 10 says "the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest." The original word means to make something apparent, recognized or known. The word picture is "to shine the light" on something. And in vs. 10 John gives us two things that shine the light on our salvation. The first is right living, because John said, "Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God."
*And the second thing that shines the light on our salvation is godly love. Again in vs. 10-11, John said:
10. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
11. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
*The children of God are manifested or made known by our love for one another. That makes sense because of the Lord's new commandment Jesus gave us in John 13:34-35. There again Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. As I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.''
*Christians: This is one of the most important reasons why it is so important for us to love one another. Our loving one another is crucial for Christians, and it's crucial in the life of every church. Lyndon Marcotte said, "Listen closely, -- you may even want to write this down, because it will make or break every church. It will determine our impact on our community, and will show up 5, 10, 20, 50 years later. It doesn't matter what buildings you have, what pastors you have, what people you have, what finances you have, what programs you have, IF you don't love God, and you don't love one another. (2)
*Our love for one another helps shine the light that Jesus is real, and that we are His true followers. But Satan doesn't want them to know, so he does everything he can to pull us apart. The devil works hard to stir-up trouble in churches because Christians fussing and fighting kills our witness.
*Bro. James Strittman reminded me of this truth years ago. James was a most godly man. He and his wife Flora faithfully served the Lord for 70 years! Once I visited with Bro. James, while Mrs. Flora was in surgery. We talked about church, and he asked me about some of the churches around us that were struggling at the time.
*Then Bro. Strittman told me about a church he had considered going to pastor. He said at first glance everything seemed fine. They had recently carpeted the whole church. And they had air conditioning, back in a day when most churches didn't. But when Bro. Strittman looked a little deeper, he found out that no one had been saved in that church for over 2 years. That greatly concerned him. And over time it became clear that the people in that church were fussing with each other.
*Bro. Strittman said that on the day they voted to call him, the vote was 145 to 6. After the service, one of the men who voted against him came out the door and said, "Preacher, we want you to know that we weren't voting against you. We were voting against that other 145!"
*After telling me that, Bro. James paused for a moment. Then he said, "I sure am glad the Lord led me in another direction." He also said he could understand why people were not being saved. Those church people weren't loving each other. And that kind of fussing kills the witness of a church.
*"It kills the witness of a church," Bro. Strittman said. And that makes sense, because again in John 13:34-35 Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. As I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.''
*Verse 12 also shines the importance of us loving one another, because here John wrote that we must not be "as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you."
*It's striking that God's Word takes us straight to the example of murder. But John takes us back to the first two brothers in Genesis 4: The story of Cain and Abel. Lyndon Marcotte explained that "Abel was a shepherd, and Cain was a farmer. When the time came to present their offerings to the Lord, Abel brought the firstborn of his flock. Cain brought a portion of his crop.
*The Bible says that God respected Abel and his offering but not Cain's. This story upsets and confuses people, because they think that God wasn't being fair. After all, both offerings look good on the surface. So, what was wrong with Cain's offering of crops? Actually, the most important thing of all.
*You see, even from the beginning God wanted us to see the seriousness of sin. God wanted us to know the truth of Hebrews 9:22, that "without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins." Even from the beginning, God was pointing us to the cross of Jesus Christ. -- That's why the lambs had to die.
*And Cain could have easily swapped some of his crops for one of Abel's lambs. But Cain was too proud to go God's way. Since that time, millions of lambs were sacrificed in the Old Testament, and every one of them was a picture of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." He is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) (2)
*Timothy Peck explained that by faith, Abel was on a spiritual journey with the LORD that Cain had strongly rejected. That's what fueled Cain's hatred for his brother. Cain didn't hate Abel because Abel stole Cain's girlfriend, or because Abel cheated him on a business deal, or because Abel badmouthed Cain behind his back. Cain hated Abel only because Abel was following the LORD, and Cain wanted to go his own rebellious, selfish way." Church: There are a lot of "Cains" in the world today, and there always have been. That's why in vs. 13 John said, "Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you." (3)
*But again in vs. 10-11, John said, "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another"
2. GODLY LOVE SHINES THE LIGHT ON OUR SALVATION. IT ALSO STRENGTHENS THE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION.
*Godly love strengthens the assurance of who we are and all we have as Christians. And we can see this truth in vs. 14-15. Here John made two more sharp contrasts: Life versus death, and love versus hate.
*And John wrote:
14. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
15. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
*In vs. 15, John is not saying you are literally a murderer if you hate your brother. He is reminding us that all sin starts in the heart. You're not greedy because you steal. And you don't hate your brother because you murdered him. It's the other way around.
*William MacDonald explained that "In the eyes of the world, hatred is not a very wicked thing. But God calls it murder. The thought is that hatred can give rise to murder. The motive is there, even if the act is not committed. Thus, whoever hates his brother has the heart of a murderer. Also know that when John says that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him, he does not mean that a murderer cannot be saved. He simply means that a man who characteristically hates is a potential murderer, and is not saved." (4)
*All sin starts in the heart. But godly love gives us confidence of eternal life. As John said in vs. 14, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death."
*Christians, we know that we are saved by God's grace through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But when we are saved, we will love the Father's family, and this godly love is one of the best assurances we can ever have of our salvation.
3. GODLY LOVE STRENGTHENS THE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION. AND IT SPURS US INTO ACTION.
*We see this truth in vs. 16-18, where John said:
16. By this we know love (that is, the love of God"), because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18. My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
[1] NOTICE THAT GODLY LOVE MAKES US WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR EACH OTHER.
*What an amazing thing John says to us in vs. 16: "By this we know love (or "we know the love of God"), because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
*John is talking about love without limits, and it's amazing in two ways. First and foremost, the amazing truth that God laid down His life for us! That God could even die! And that He was willing to die for me! But that's what Jesus did when He died on the cross for our sins. Thank God for the cross! Thank God for the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
*Love without limits is amazing because God laid down His life for us! But it is also amazing, because John said, "We also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren!" Someone said this means loving one another in a cross shaped way, and I like that. (5)
*Does God call us to literally die for each other? -- The answer is yes, if necessary, and millions of Christians have laid down their lives for one another. But in Luke 9:23 Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Jesus is telling us that we are to sacrificially lay down our lives every day and take up our crosses for Him.
*But what does it mean to lay down our lives for Jesus? Fred Craddock gave this great explanation, and Craddock said:
"To give my life for Christ appears glorious, to pour myself out for others, to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom: 'I'll do it. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory.' We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table. 'Here's my life, Lord. I'm giving it all.'
*But the reality for most of us is that He sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. Then, we go through life putting out 25 cents here, and 50 cents there. We listen to the neighbor kid's troubles instead of saying, 'Get lost'. We go to a committee meeting for the church. We give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home," or we pray for others in need, we donate for missions, we help in VBS, we give testimonies about what God has done ln our lives, or we serve God in a hundred other ways.
*"Usually giving our life to Christ isn't glorious in this world at all. Most people won't even notice, because it's done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time." (6)
[2] GODLY LOVE MAKES US WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR EACH OTHER. AND IT MAKES US WILLING TO SUPPLY EACH OTHER.
*This is God's message for us in vs 17-18, where John said:
17. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18. My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
*Jess Lair defined empathy as, "Your pain in my heart." Someone else said, "God does not comfort us to make us comfortable. But to make us comforters." That is the way we will live when we have godly love in our hearts. And God will help us love, not just "in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (7)
*Today I was thinking about some of those godly people in my life. And it took me back to my high school days over 50 years ago. It took me back to the two guys who were the most faithful to witness to me: Wesley Humphreys and Sandy Giles. When it came to being Christians, they were the real thing, and they were the most faithful to witness to me. No matter how much I argued with them, no matter how much I ridiculed them, they never gave up on witnessing to me.
*They were always willing to speak the truth to me. And they always did it with patient, kind, and friendly spirits, especially Wesley Humphreys. He sat in front of me in one of my classes, but I haven't seen him since 1969. Wesley had no idea that I got saved six years later, and was later called to preach.
*Eighteen years ago, I started thinking about all of this, and I decided to try to call Wesley. I wanted to thank him for being such a great example and faithful witness to me, so I searched for him online. Thank the Lord, his name wasn't Bill Smith! There aren't too many men named Wesley Humphreys, and I found him in Orlando. Then I called to say thanks. What a shock; what a pleasant surprise for him!
*Wesley was a grandfather by then, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was overjoyed to hear from me. He was amazed to learn what God has done in my life. And I believe that for all his prayers, patience, and kindness to me, one day Wesley will hear words like Jesus said in Matthew 25:23, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."
CONCLUSION:
*Godly love made the difference for me, and it will always make a difference in our world. So ask the Lord to fill you with more of His godly love! And if you have never received Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior, put your trust in our crucified and risen Savior today! Call on the Lord to save you now as we go back to God in prayer. Then start living your life in the overflow of God's love.
(1) Here are the 16 Scriptures that I saw:
1, 2. - John 13:34. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
3. - John 13:35. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.''
4. - John 15:12. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
5. - John 15:17. "These things I command you, that you love one another.
6. - Romans 13:8. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
7. - 1 Thessalonians 3:12. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
8. - 1 Thessalonians 4:9. But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
9. - 1 Peter 1:22. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
10. - 1 Peter 4:8. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.''
11. - 1 John 3:11. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
12. - 1 John 3:23. 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.
13. - 1 John 4:7. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
14. - 1 John 4:11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
15. - 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.
16. - 2 John 1:5. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
(2) Adapted from SermonCentral sermon "Being a Genuine Christian in a World of Fakes" by Lyndon Marcotte - 1 John 3:10-23
(3) Adapted from SermonCentral sermon "Walking with Others" by Timothy Peck - 1 John 3:11-28
(4) BELIEVER'S BIBLE COMMENTARY by William MacDonald - Edited by Arthur Farstad - Thomas Nelson Publishers - Nashville - Copyright 1995 - 1 John 3:1-24 - Downloaded to e-Sword by Rick Meyers - Copyright 2021
(5) SermonCentral sermon "We Have -- They Need: Formula for Life" by Joseph Smith - 1 John 3:11-18
(6) KERUX ILLUSTRATION COLLECTION - ID Number: 2687 - SOURCE: Leadership Vol. 5, no. 4 - TITLE: The Practical Implications Of Consecration - AUTHOR: Darryl Bell, Maple Grove, Minnesota - DATE: 1984 Fall
(7) Sources:
-Original source for Jess Lair quote unknown
-Comfort quote Source - John Henry Jowett (1817-1893) -Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entries 1501-1503 - found in SermonCentral sermon "Blessed Comfort" by Mark Beaird - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
