THE LETTERS OF JOHN: LOVE MATTERS

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Last week, we talked about making a change in our lives by seeking purity and avoiding sin. Today, John takes to another level of change as he tells us to love. 

1 John 3:11-24 (CSB) For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth. 

19 This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight. 23 Now this is his command: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us. 

1. Love is not a choice 

Vs 11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another 

• A reminder from 1 John 2:7 – “this is not a new command but an old one…”
• John reminds the reader that love is not an option or a choice, but a command from God
• Matthew 22 clearly instructs us on God’s command to love 

Vs 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death 

• Our love for others is a clear marker of our faith 

2. Jealousy is the enemy to love 

Vss 12-13 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

• Cain’s actions were a result of his hatred of his brother doing the “right thing”
• The world will hate us too if we are seeking to following God’s plan for our lives
• Why? Because the world doesn’t know HIM

Vs 15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him 

3. Love needs to be connected to action 

Vss  17-18 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.

• This is a reminder not to be like those who talk about love but don’t actually love
• The church was full of individuals claimed piety and love for others but were only focused on self
• We must act on our love
• Warren Wiersbe says, “To love “in word” means simply to talk about a need, but to love “in deed” means to do something about meeting it. You may think, because you have discussed a need, or even prayed about it, that you have done your duty, but love involves more than words—it calls for sacrificial deeds.”[1] 

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 512.

4. Love can only come through Christ 

Vss 23- 24 Now this is his command: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us.

• This is a reminder of Jesus’ command from Matthew 22
• Verse 24 calls us to action and obedience
• Verse 24 also gives us a “check” in our spirit which flows from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives
• This is a precursor to chapter 4
• David Walls states, “True Christian experience is revealed not just in our beliefs but in our behavior.”[1]

[1] David Walls and Max Anders, I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude, vol. 11, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 199.