Love Made Known
1 John 3:21 - 24, ESV
Thank you Pastor David!
1 JOHN 3:10
“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”
Love in the family reflects the love of the Father.
The Church We Want to Be:
Captivated by God’s love for us
1 JOHN 3:1
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.”
The Church We Want to Be:
Compelled by God’s love for others
1 JOHN 3:11 – 24
“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 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. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our
lives for the brothers. 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? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 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. 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.”
MATTHEW 22:39
“And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
JOHN 13:34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
The Contrast We Need to See:
Hate . . .
• Originates with the devil
• Selfishly seeks [seeking] another’s harm
• The ultimate example (Cain): taking the life of another
MATTHEW 5:21 – 22
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”
1 JOHN 3:17
“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?”
Hate . . .
• The everyday effect [of hate is]: indifference that leads to inaction
• Is evidence of spiritual death
1 JOHN 3:13
“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”
1 JOHN 3:14
“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.”
Love . . .
• Originates with God
1 JOHN 4:7 – 8
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God . . . Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Love . . .
• Selflessly seeks another’s good
• The ultimate example (Christ): sacrificing your life for another
• The everyday effect [of love is]: compassion that leads to action
1 JOHN 3:18
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
Love . . .
• Is evidence of spiritual life
1 JOHN 3:14
“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.”
The Confidence We Now Have:
God enables us as His children to love like He loves.
God emboldens us as His children to pray for His purpose.
• We desire what God desires.
• We ask for whatever we desire.
The Confidence We Now Have:
God empowers us as His children to live by His spirit.
CHRISTIANITY IS A SUPERNATURAL LIFE . . . CHARACTERIZED BY SUPERNATURAL LOVE.
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