Part 11 of the sermon series on the Letters of John
John shows a clear divide between the children of God and the children of the devil. Sin is lawlessness. Jesus came to take away sin and destroy the devil’s work. Those who belong to Christ do not keep on sinning. A true believer cannot live in habitual sin. Righteousness marks the one born of God. So does love. Our actions reveal who we truly belong to. John continues by showing that love is the core command of the Christian life. He contrasts love with hatred using the example of Cain.
Love
The message from the beginning was to love one another. This command is not optional. It is a must. Loving one another is a result of a genuine faith and knowledge of God. It is impossible to love one another without experiencing the love of God in salvation.
1 John 3:11: For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
The one who loves God will love God’s people. If one has true fellowship with God and the Son, the same person will have fellowship with the children of God. But the one who hates is still in darkness.
Bad Example
Cain is a bad example. His deeds were evil. He murdered his brother, Abel. Abel was not evil, but righteous. The author then mentions the world hating the children of God. Like Cain, the world hates the believers.
1 John 3:12-13: 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.
The world will hate all who live a righteous life in Christ. People who hate the people who follow Christ are like Cain. They are evil. Therefore, those who hate what is righteous in God’s eyes are evil. They are in darkness.
Test
Love for God’s people gives assurance that one has eternal life. The one who does not love the community of believers remains in death. He does not possess eternal life. Like Cain, the one who hates a brother is a murderer.
1 John 3:14-15: 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.
The author equates hatred with murder. Hatred cannot be taken lightly. A true believer will resist hatred because it is not of God. The one who hates is in darkness, but the one who loves the brotherhood is in Christ.
Application
1. Love God’s people. Love the brotherhood (sisterhood). Love the community of faith. In the context of John, love is serving one another, which includes generosity, especially in times of need.
2. Guard the heart from jealousy, grudges, and resentment. Such can lead to hatred. Do not be surprised if the world hates us. Unrighteousness does not like righteousness. Darkness is opposed to the light.
3. One clear evidence that we are born of God is the love for God’s people. Those who do not love the community of faith remain in darkness. Therefore, we resist hatred.
Poem
DO NOT HATE by Ed Pilapil Jr Do not be like Cain, full of hate Murder and hate: both the same state It’s a devilish, evil state In our hearts, there should be no hate The command from the beginning Of course, it’s about believing Yet we know it’s about His love And that is from His throne above The command: love one another What does it mean? Serve each other It’s in the context of gospel truth And the deeds of service that soothe In contrast, hate can never soothe It is always against God’s truth Flipside of serving each other It’s evil, hate for another They will hate us and God above Strangers to His generous love Yet we’ll continue believing The Son who’s from the beginning No eternal life for those who hate Thus, be in a different state It’s the regeneration state Because we love and do not hate
Study Guide
1. What does it mean to “love one another” as the message heard from the beginning?
2. Show the connection between Cain and hatred, then Cain and the world.
3. What is the connection between murder and hatred?
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