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1 John 3:11-18 (NCV) 11 This is the teaching you have heard from the beginning: We must love each other. 12 Do not be like Cain who belonged to the Evil One and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because the things Cain did were evil, and the things his brother did were good. 13 Brothers and sisters, do not be surprised when the people of the world hate you. 14 We know we have left death and have come into life because we love each other. Whoever does not love is still dead. 15 Everyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderers have eternal life in them. 16 This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters.17 Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not help. Then God's love is not living in that person. 18 My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring.
Introduction: John 13:34-35 (NIV) 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
I. THE MARK OF THE WORLD IS HATRED.
John contrasts the love that we are to have for one another with Cains murder.
vs. 11-112 (NLT) Contrasts love and hate.
vs. 13 (NLT) World hates you.
John 15:17-20 (NIV) 17 This is my command: Love each other. 18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also."
* Definition of Love
1 John 3:16a (NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
Biblical love: Self-sacrificing, caring commitment that shows itself in seeking the highest good of the one loved.
* Definition of hatred
Opposite of love: Selfish insensitive attitude that shows itself in disregarding others good as I seek my own interests.
* What about examples of genuine love of the part of unbelievers ?
Luke 6:25 (NIV) "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
Love is one of God's gifts that He has not withdrawn completely from non-Christians.
Five things to learn about hatred from our text.
A. Hatred is typified in Adam's firsborn.
1 John 3:14 (NIV) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
B. Hatred originates with the devil
1 John 3:12, 15 (NIV) 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.
15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
To harbor hatred is to oppose God and put yourself in leaque with the devil.
C. Hatred divides people and may result in the taking of life.
1 John 3:12, 15 (NIV)
James 4:1-2a (NIV) 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
D. Hatred is motivated by personal sin.
1 John 3:12 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.
E. Hatred is the evidence of spiritual death.
1 John 3:13-14 (NLT) 13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.
THE MARK OF THE CHURCH IS LOVE
A. Love is typified in God's firstborn, Christ.
1 John 3:16 (NLT) We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Romans 5:8 (NIV) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
B. Love orginates with God.
1 John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
C. Love unites people and results in laying down our lives for others.
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
* Self-sacrifice is never convenient.
D. Love is motivated by God's love in Christ.
1 John 4:11 (NIV) Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
E. Love is the evidence of spiritual life.
1 John 3:14 (NIV) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
CONCLUSION:
1 3:11 (NIV) This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
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