Part 12 of the sermon series, the Letters of John.
John reminds believers of the foundational message they have heard from the beginning: to love one another. He contrasts the love of believers with the hatred of the world, using Cain as an example of unrighteousness and murder driven by jealousy. John warns that hatred is incompatible with eternal life and equates it with murder in the heart. True Christian love, by contrast, is the mark of those who have passed from death to life.
His Love
John explains that love was about Christ laying His life down for us. This can be cited in John’s Gospel Account (Jn 15:13). Christ died on the cross, which should be the model of believers. Love for believers is about laying down their lives for the community of believers.
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.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
In John’s gospel account, after Judas left the table, Jesus commanded the disciples to love one another, which means to serve each other, based on the context. One may observe the same after the false teachers and those who believed in false teaching left the community; John reminded them to love one another.
Our Love
What does it mean to lay down our lives for the brothers (sisters)? It is about helping each other, especially in times of need. The recipients of the letter experienced economic and sometimes physical persecution. The believers must support each other. John questions the indifferent if God’s love abides in them.
1 John 3:17: 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?
The community of faith must watch out for each other. The early church met in small groups or churches in their homes. The small group of believers in godly fellowship must never be indifferent to each other’s needs. Practical service and giving are expressions of love.
Deed and Truth
According to John, love is demonstrated through deeds. Mere talk will not suffice. The author is calling believers to action, urging them to express the love of God by taking care of each other's basic needs.
1 John 3:18: Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
John made it clear that those who know God must keep His commands. They also do not hate. They do not love the world. They do not follow false teaching. Now, he adds one more: they love the community of faith, expressed in tangible action.
Application
1. Remember the love of Christ for us, for that is our model. His selfless love is the basis for our actions. His love is the reason why we should love one another as a community of faith.
2. The members of the community of faith should help each other, especially in times of need. It is an opportunity to love in His name and for His glory. May we do it with utmost sincerity.
3. On the other hand, let us not abuse the love given to us. Scripture said that those who do not work, neither shall they eat (2 Thess 3:10). Other than that, there seems to be no exceptions if they are in the community of faith.
Poem
DEED AND TRUTH by Ed Pilapil Jr The sacrifice of Christ is love It is the best gift from above Now we know love by His standards Let’s reflect on what’s in our hearts To brothers, let’s not close our hearts We now live by diff’rent standards Listen ye all born from above In deed and in truth, we shall love We do not hate, but we must love A command from heaven above To live by heavenly standards The Father will look at our hearts From the Savior’s heart to our hearts Truth and deed are our standards To uphold those born from above Deeds and doctrines are about love
Study Guide
1. How does Christ’s sacrificial death define what true love looks like, and in what ways are we called to reflect that kind of love in our daily lives?
2. What does it reveal about our relationship with God when we fail to show love to a fellow believer in need, even when we have the means to help?
3. What are some practical ways we can move from merely talking about love to living it out “in deed and in truth” within our church and community?
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