To Love One Another

1 John 3:11-24

Key Verse 23

“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

Introduction: 

In the previous study, John elaborated how great the love of the Father is. John also emphasized our blessed adoption thanks to Jesus by saying, “That is what we are!”  Today’s passage is the continuity of his practical lesson about what love is. John said “This is...” 5 times in verses 11, 16, 19, 23, and 24. Also “this is how we know” is repeated three times(16, 19, 24). He delved into the practical aspect of Jesus’ command to believe his name and to love one another. No doubt, the backbone of his message is still in verse 16 that Jesus laid down his life for us. But in reality we have a gap due mainly to our deceptive hearts and often times have hard times to not overcome our own heart’s desires. So this is a so called “reality check.” But John redirects us to know what love is and writes about Jesus’ command as a solid anchor of our soul. May the Lord help us to rely on his command and claim the eternal life. 

1.  Read verses 11-13. What did we hear from the beginning (11)? Who is Cain and why did  he murder his brother (12; Genesis 4:1-8)? What should be our response to the world if it hates us? (13)

1-1)  Read verses 11-13. 

11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 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. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 

1-2) What did we hear from the beginning (11)? 

We should love one another(John 15:12, John 13:34, 1 John 1:1, 1 John 2:7)

1-3) Who is Cain and why did  he murder his brother (12; Ge 4:1-8)? 

Cain belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous

Genesis 4:4-7 “But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. ”

The only way we can master the realm of death which is the root of all of our hatred is by believing in the name of Jesus and remain in him by obeying his commands. 

1-4) What should be our response to the world if it hates us? (13)

We should not be surprised. 

2. Read verses 14-15. How can we know that we have passed from death to life (14a)? Where does anyone remain if he does not love? (14b) What is anyone who hates his brother? (15a) What do we know about a murderer regarding eternal life? (15b)

2-1) Read verses 14-15.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

2-2) How can we know that we have passed from death to life (14a)? 

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. 

2-3) Where does anyone remain if he does not love? (14b) 

Anyone who does not love remains in death. 

2-4) What is anyone who hates his brother? (15a) 

A murderer

2-5) What do we know about a murderer regarding eternal life? (15b)

No murderer has eternal life in him. 

a) Eternal life is different from an earthly life. Abel was killed. But he still speaks in Hebrew 11. So we must have an eternal perspective about what real life is all about. Paradoxically, when we love our brothers, it may cause us to lose our time, money and career in this world. But eventually there will be eternal rewards from our eternal Father who knows what is really going on and reward him without fail. 

b) It is much like a time of driver’s training. You were instructed to figure out at least a half mile ahead instead of staring at the front car only. Likewise John is talking about the “long view.” In Biblical terms, what happens “on the path” now and here is not as important as the end of the path. 

c) The right path from the Bible is based on 1 John 2:17. 

3. Read verses 16-18. How do we know what love is? (16a; Jn 15:13) How then should we love our brothers? (16b) How can we love our brothers practically with our material possessions? (17) What is the genuine way to love our brothers? (18)

3-1) Read verses 16-18. 

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

3-2) How do we know what love is? (16a; Jn 15:13) 

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. Greater love has no one than this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:13)

Someone said that love is that feeling you get when you meet the right person.  Most people in this world believe that this is the only type of love out there with the possible exception of their parents’ love.

There are four different loves: Storge (affection), Philia (friendship), Eros (romance), and Agape (unconditional).

Here John talks about the last: agape-unconditional love of God. 

God’s love is to seek the benefit of others.

3-3) How then should we love our brothers? (16b)

We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 

Children naturally imitate his or her father. Likewise we follow the example of our Father in heaven. 

3-4) How can we love our brothers practically with our material possessions? (17) 

We can help our brothers with material possessions whenever sees them in need. 

This passage does not necessarily talk about rich people per se. Rather we are enriched with God’s blessing as an adopted son and daughter. That’s why 1 John 3:1 shows God’s lavished love and our new blessed position as His children. 

So we are able to love others at any situation.

 

3-5) What is the genuine way to love our brothers? (18)

When we love with actions and in truth. 

4. Read verses 19-20. How can we know that we belong to the truth? (19a) How can we set our hearts at rest in God’s presence despite our hearts’ condemnation? (19b-20a) Why? (20b)

4-1) Read verses 19-20. 

19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

4-2) How can we know that we belong to the truth? (19a) 

It is to love our brothers with actions and in truth.

4-3) How can we set our hearts at rest in God’s presence despite our hearts’ condemnation? (19b-20a) 

These Bible verses are a bit confusing to be honest. But interpret this way.

Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God’s side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord. But if we have bad consciences and feel that we have done wrong, the Lord will surely feel it even more, for he knows everything we do. 

4-4) Why? (20b)

God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything!

We must accept that God’s heart is greater than ours. God’s ways are higher than our ways. If we are truly children of God we have to learn from His words(commands) about how to deal with those we naturally want to hate and about how to love. 

John reminds us that God is greater than our hearts so we shouldn’t focus on our feelings but on the truth of God. Our feelings are often misleading but his truth and commands are not. Real confidence is based on truth not on feeling or hope.

5. Read verses 21-24. When do we have confidence before God (21) If we obey God’s commands and do what pleases him what can we receive from him? (22) What is his command? (23) What kind of intimate relationship with God occurs when we obey God’s commands? (24a) How do we know that God lives in us? (24b)

5-1) Read verses 21-24. 

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

5-2) When do we have confidence before God (21) 

If our hearts do not condemn us (If our consciences are clear)

It is important for us to check our hearts (consciences) and pay more attention to the word of God.

In other words, when God’s living words (truth) and our consciences are working together as a team, we have a reliable guide in this confusing times. 

That’s why we want to write our personal testimony based on the inductive Bible study method. 

5-3) If we obey God’s commands and do what pleases him what can we receive from him? (22) 

Everything we ask in prayer. Prayer is the natural step that follows based on God’s truth and righteous fellowship. Praise Jesus who answer our prayers. 

5-4) What is his command? (23) 

It is to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 

5-5) What kind of intimate relationship with God occurs when we obey God’s commands? (24a) 

God lives in them and they live in him. 

5-6) How do we know that God lives in us? (24b)

It is by the Spirit he gave us!

We can love because he gave us his Spirit.  His Spirit is the source of power and capability.

This is how we know that he lives in us. It is a very similar closing with that of 1 John 3:10. 

When we obey his command to believe Jesus’ name and to love one another, we know the fact that he lives in us through his Holy Spirit. 

In essence, Jesus is not a mere good example but he is the very reason why we have to love others. 

In conclusion, Jesus laid down his life for us. So we ought to love our brothers. But still our hearts and consciences are stumbling blocks because we are living in the generation where our own decision is made holy. But God gave us his holy command to believe the name of Jesus Christ and to love one another by denying our own feelings and obeying his command. This is the safe and sound direction for young people because it’s the right path to reach God’s eternal life. May the Lord help us to live according to his truth before God’s presence rather than following the mainstream of our contemporary generation. Amen. 

One word: This is how we know what love is!