1 John 3:11-24
The google search is one of the most frequently used tools to diagnose our health. It may provide insights to our symptoms or it may cause us to think that we will not make it through the night. A google search of your health symptoms may lead you down a rabbit hole of potential causes that could strike fear into your heart. A mild headache due to caffeine withdrawal with a google search may lead you to believe you have an inoperable brain tumor. Although a google search may provide some potential reasons for your symptoms, it may be best to ask a medical professional to help diagnose your symptoms. Self-diagnostic is necessary, but dangerous. It is necessary because we know bodies better than anyone else. And it is dangerous because we often can be easily self-deceived by either being too critical or too passive when diagnosing ourselves. If is beneficial to have help diagnosing our physical health, how much more beneficial is it to have help diagnosing our spiritual health?
Do you have eternal life? Are you born-again? Will you go to heaven when you die? Are you saved? We may answer yes to all of those questions, but how do we know if we are right? If we get these questions wrong, then there will be eternally dire consequences. The Apostle John wrote this letter to the church so that they would know that they have eternal life. 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know you have eternal life.” John writes to those who believe in Jesus Christ for only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God has eternal life. John provides diagnostic tests throughout the letter so that we can know whether we have salvation and eternal life. John writes to the church to that we may know if we belong to God or the world. It does not begin with a quick google search, but an honest evaluation of your heart and life before God.
John provides the criteria on which we must judge our relationship with God. 1 John 3:11, “For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” The message is simple. Love one another. How we love one another will either give us confidence or condemnation. Let us sit in the Apostle John’s doctor’s office and have him ask us some diagnostic questions about our love so we may know whether we have eternal life or are in need of it.
Do you love like Cain?
We can learn how we are supposed to live through positive and negative examples. John begins by providing for us a negative example of Cain. Cain would have been the antithesis of love in the first century. 1 John 3:12-15,
[12] 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. [14] 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.
Cain and Abel were two different people with two different jobs. Abel was a keeper of the sheep and Cain a worker of the ground, Genesis 4:3–8,
[3] In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, [4] and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, [5] but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. [6] The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? [7] If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” [8] Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. [9] Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
Sin is against you. Sin desires your soul. Sin never only affects you. Sin always spreads.
Cain did not bring a good offering before the Lord and therefore the Lord did not accept the offering. Cain became very angry with the Lord and with Abel. Why? John tells us, “because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” There is no indication that the physical offering that Cain brought was insufficient, but we know that the heart in which it was offered was insufficient. Cain did not bring a pure heart before the Lord. His heart was evil and he was exposed by the Lord. John 3:19–21,
[19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Cain hated his brother because Cain hated God. Cain’s offering was evil because it was for his own glory. Cain was jealous of the righteousness of Abel so he killed him in anger. Do you hate your brother?
We do not want to identify ourselves with Cain, but we have to ask, “do we love like him?” Cain was angry with his brother. His anger led to murder and hate. Are you angry with your brother? If you live in anger and hatred towards one another than you do not have eternal life abiding in you. “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Remember Jesus words in Matthew 5:21–22,
[21] “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ [22] But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Anger is not a small matter. Anger is an indicated of whether you have eternal life or not; whether you belong to God or not.
John writes of those who do not know God, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” The world, which is of evil, will hate that which is righteous. If we walk and live in righteousness, then the world will hate us. Do not be surprised when the world hates, but we should be surprised when the church hates. The church is diametrically opposed to the world. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Our love is a marker of our salvation. The church should never be a place of envy, or jealously or hate. The church is a people of love. James writes, (James 3:13–18)
[13] Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. [15] This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. [17] But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Do you love like Cain? Are you angry? Are you full of envy and jealousy? Are you bitter towards others? Those are not of the Father, but the world. The world and its desires are passing away. Those who love the world, do not have the love of the Father in them. Do you love like Cain?
Do you love like Christ?
John has made this point repeatedly in this short letter: those who belong to Christ will look like Christ. We walk in the light as he is the light. Whoever abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. And now here, 1 John 3:16–18,
[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. [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? [18] Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
We love because Christ loved us first. Jesus laid down his life for us. He became the propitiation for our sins and not ours only, but the sins of the whole world. Beloved, we know love because Jesus lived and died and was raised for us. Jesus had everything but made himself nothing so that we who had nothing could have everything. Hear God’s Word, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us.”
If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, let me ask you, how would you feel about someone who took a bullet for you? Would you feel any different if that bullet was fired by a soldier after a judge ruled in court that you were guilty of treason against the government? How would you feel if someone took a bullet that you rightly earned for something illegal that you did? We all have sinned and committed treason against God. We rightly deserve death because of our sin. And yet God in his kindness, sent Jesus Christ to take the penalty on our behalf. Jesus stepped in to take the bullet that was meant for us. He died in our place to pay for all our sun. He laid down his life for us. But after he was dead and buried, God raised him from the dead. Jesus was raised from the dead, because he was not like us. He committed no sin and did not deserve to die. God raised him to life to show the world that he was the Son of God and that by believing in his name you may have eternal life. Friend, Jesus offers himself to you today. Turn from your sin and come to Christ. He will take the bullet that you rightly deserve if you come to him.
Beloved, Jesus is our Savior but he is also our example. We know how to love because Jesus has shown us how to love. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. We are called to do what Christ has down. If we belong to Christ, then our lives should look like Christ. He laid down his life for us so we should lay down our lives for our brothers. It is not difficult to understand, but difficult to do. It is difficult because we love this world and its goods too much. John asks this simple diagnostic question, “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?” How do you know that you have eternal life? If you have the world’s good and you open your heart to your brother in need, then the love of God abides in you.
John wants us our heart to be like Christ’s heart. Christ opened his heart to us by giving his life for us. He now wants us to do the same. He wants us to live and walk like him. If we do not open our heart, but close off to our brothers, how does God’s love abide in us? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. It is easier to say you love someone but harder to show it. It is easier to talk a good game, then to live it. God’s love is not easy; it is supernatural. Jesus laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. This is not easy, it is supernatural. We can only love one another by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. Our supernatural love towards one another reveals whether we have been born again supernaturally by God’s love.
Do you love like Christ? In one sense, the answer will always be no, but in another sense, it should be yes. We chose how we are going to love every day. The love that God is requiring of us is a sacrificial love. It is costly. It will require you to give up your time, give up your money, give up your sleep. As I have been reflecting on this passage this week, I have been overwhelmed in how you are loving one another. There are so many families who are opening up their homes to those who need encouragement and a warm meal. Several who have come to me and said we want to bless a family financially who is need during the holidays. The sacrificial love and care for our seniors who need help with groceries or to get to the doctor. The love and grace you have showed Karen and Kenny over the last several weeks has been tremendous. In tears, Karen has shared with me how all the food sustained them when they were first diagnosed with Covid and how many of you reached out to over the last several days. It has been truly humbling to watch your love for the body.
There will be many ways you love one another that will only be seen by the Lord. But remember the Lord sees what is done in secret and will reward you. I want to exhort you to continue to love one another in your families sacrificially. Moms and dads continue to pour your lives out for your children. As the Lord has laid down his life for us, continue to lay down your life for your children. Teachers pour out your lives for your students. Children lay down your lives for your siblings and parents. Let us love in deed and in truth so that the world would know Christ. I would love for Rock Hill to us, by this we know love, that Park Baptist Church has laid down their lives for us. Let us our love be a reflection of Christ’ love us.
Does your love Condemn?
It may be easy to hear the call to love one another and feel condemnation for all the ways you are not loving one another like Christ has loved us. We must always remember our confidence is not merely in our ability to love but the love of God for us in Christ. Our confidence is rooted in Christ not in ourselves. 1 John 3:19–20,
[19] By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; [20] for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
Christian, you will be convicted of sin. There will be days that your hearts will condemn you. You will feel that your sin is too great to be forgiven and that your life does not reflect the life of Christ. When those days come, Christian, remind yourselves who God is. God is greater than our hearts. We do not merely trust our feelings, but we trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Jesus paid for our sins. Every. Last. One. He has been raised from the dead giving us hope over the grave. Jesus Christ called out on the cross, “It is finished.” Salvation has been accomplished.
Peter denied Christ three times before crucifixion. Jesus asked Peter a three times after the resurrection. “Do you love me?” Peter replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Beloved, God knows everything. If you truly love the Lord from your heart, you do not need to fear for God is greater than our hearts.
Yet, if your heart condemns you, because you know you don’t believe and are still in your sin, turn to Christ. John writes to those who believe in the name of the Son of God that we may know we have eternal life. And he wants you who do not believe in Christ to know you don’t have life outside of the Son. He who has the Son has life and he who does not have the Son does not have life. There may be some of you here who have a false confidence of your salvation. You may think you know Christ, but you do not love those who are in Christ. If you do not love the body of Christ, you may not be of the body of Christ. God wants you to have a rock-solid assurance that you belong to him. Repent of your sin and follow Christ. Do not trust in your past obedience or your past decision. Are you walking with Christ today? Be confident. If you are not walking with Christ today…repent so you may be confident in him.
Does your love Comply?
John wants us to have assurance that we have eternal life. One of the marks of assurance is that we are living with a clear conscience before him by keeping his commandments. We should strive more and more to abide in Christ. 1 John 3:21–24
[21] Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; [22] and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. [23] And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. [24] Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Our confidence is connected to our obedience. Our obedience does not save us, but he affirms that we do believe. Those who believe in the name of the Son and love one another is in God. Whoever keeps his commandments, primarily in believing in Jesus and loving one another, is in God. The Holy Spirit confirms within our Spirit that we belong to God because of how we believe and how we love.
John is asking us to do heart work in diagnosing our spiritual health. As it is not enough to say that you have good blood pressure, you actually have to take the test to see if you have good blood pressure. We can diagnose our health individually and as a body by looking at the evidence to see if we are loving one another. If we are loving one another, it reveals we are abiding in God. And if we are not loving one another, it reveals we are off with the Lord. Our love for our brother and sister is an indicator if we are loving the Lord. Or our love for the Lord is shown in how we love our brother and sister. No love for others, then no love for God. Love for others, then love for God. Everything begins with our love for the Lord. Beloved, we know love and if we know God’s love, we will love one another.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. Let our hearts know we know love, by how we love. Let the church know we know love, by how we love. Let the world know we know love, by how we love. Beloved, we know love, by how we have been loved. By this we know love, that Jesus laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
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