Real Love

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 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. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 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 and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1John

Love vs Hate

Eternal life comes from love death comes from hate

Love vs hate.

Murder vs laying down your life.

evil vs righteous actions.

The world hates us because we love each other.

We are hated because it has been happening since the beginning. Cain vs Able

1 John 3:12 NIV

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.

1 John 3:13 NIV

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

Jealousy from those who are not doing wrong and get caught versus those who are doing what is right.

Haven’t we been guilty of that since we are children. If we get caught doing something wrong, and our sibling was innocent, how many times did we get them back for being good?

People want to pull you down when you are doing what is right. Isn’t this why Jesus was crucified. He was good and did right and the religious leaders were jealous and afraid they would lose their power.

John is reminding us that if we love each other the way we are supposed to, those who are not loving will be jealous and try to destroy us.

Then the hard part is we are supposed to love them anyway.

1 John 3:15 NIV

Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

John is talking about murder as a result of belonging to the evil one, but isn’t he also talking about hate. Jesus told us in the sermon on the mount that if you hate, you have already committed murder.

But the good news is Jesus was so righteous that when he gave his life for us, he gave it for all murderers and haters. We just have to receive his forgiveness.

NOTICE something here. Hatred, murder, anger they all lead to someone else’s death or destruction. This is the opposite of what love and life bring.

Interesting Change

Love

Love on the other hand love leads to life.

1 John 3:14 NIV

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

However love led to death because of Jesus. GREATER love has no man than this that he would lay down his life

1 John 3:16 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 and sisters.

1John 3:

Example of Love is Jesus who laid down his life for us. So we ought to lay down our lives for each other.

Our love should lead to our death to self, to desire, for others

Love leads to giving our own blessings to others

1 John 3:

1 John 3:17 NIV

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Ex. material possessions. We may never be asked to die for someone, but we are asked to give of ourselves and especially our things every day. That is dying in a way. Dying to our own self interest or self desires, by giving to those in need especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The body of Christ in the Highland Lakes really excelled at this one during the flood. I was told a couple of weeks ago that the muck out took a third of the time it should have because of the amount of people from our community who answered the call.

But, Do we show the same enthusiasm to serve every day in smaller ways.

Let us not love in WORD or SPEECH but in ACTIONS and TRUTH our heart

Murder vs laying down your life.

1 John 3:

1 John 3:18 NIV

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

evil vs righteous actions.

We are hated because it has been happening since the beginning. Jealousy from those who are not doing what is right and get caught verses those who are doing what is right. Cain vs Able

Don't love with words or speech but with actions and truth

The essence of it all. Love is action. It shows itself in what we do and who we are not in what we say.

It’s doing rather than saying. It’s showing up at Highland Lakes Elementary School yesterday, some at 6:00 am and serving. It’s reaching out to your neighbor in need. It’s giving up your holiday time with your family to be with someone who is alone. It’s spending the day taking people to the ER or doctors or grocery store because they can’t on their own. It’s shepherding a family who lost everything in the flood or to a fire. It’s rushing to the hospital so someone doesn’t have to be alone while their child or spouse is seriously ill. It’s dying to yourself so that someone else might experience the love and life found only in Jesus.

Don't love with words or speech but with actions and truth

Jerome, in his ... tells us that when St. John became too infirm to preach, he used often to say no more than this, “Little children, love one another.” His hearers at last wearied of it, and said, “Master, why dost thou always say this?” “It is the Lord’s command,” he replied; “and if this alone is done, it is enough.”

Homework:

Little children love one another

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