1 John Chapter 3 Verses 11-24

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1 1 John Chapter 3 Verses NKJV Notes by Pastor Mike Sasso This is a Matter of Love or Death! Introduction There are many misconceptions in the minds of men concerning what it means to be spiritual or right with God. John makes very clear in this letter that one who claims to be righteous must live righteously (3:7). We also know that to sin is to live contrary to the life of God (3:8). He who lives in sin is siding with the devil and is laboring for the very thing Jesus came to destroy. John now takes this concept one step further and includes the ingredients of love and hate. We will discover that love is of God and hate is of the devil. If you are harboring a hate of any kind in your life, get ready to be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to open your heart to the voice of God. May God give you ears to hear and eyes to see what He is speaking to you personally in the following text. STUDY NOTES: verses v. 11 For This is the Message that You Heard from the Beginning, that We Should Love One Another - John will now elaborate on what he has already said in 2:7-11. The message God has sent us through His Son and through His apostles is a message of love. The message of love is not a new message. It is what God has been telling us from the beginning. v. 12 Not as Cain Who was of the Wicked One and Murdered His Brother. And Why Did He Murder Him? Because His Works Were Evil and His Brother s Righteous You can read the story of Cain in Genesis 4:1-16. Cain and his brother Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain murdered his own brother because he was jealous. God had accepted Abel s offering but rejected Cain s. God had even forewarned Cain that he was heading for trouble. But Cain refused to heed God s warnings. This was the first case of sibling rivalry and the first murder. The story of Cain is an example of where hate can take a person. v. 13 Do Not Marvel, My Brethren, if the World Hates You - We should not be surprised when those who do not know God hate us. Jesus taught us to expect such in Luke 21:17, John 7:7, and John 15:18,19. But we should be surprised when those who claim to be Christians hate. v. 14 We Know that We Have Passed from Death to Life, Because We Love the Brethren The most powerful evidence that a person is truly born again is the presence of love in their lives. We find this teaching throughout the scriptures (John 13:35, 15:12,17; 1 Thess. 4:9; Heb. 13:1; 1 John 2:10, 3:23, 4:7,8,12,21, 5:2). He Who Does Not Love His Brother Abides in Death - To live a life of love is to truly live. To live a life of hate is to exist in the experience of death and not life. The one who does not love

2 stays in the dark place of spiritual death. John states this truth in several places in various ways. See 1 John 2:9,11 & 4:20, and Proverbs 21:16. v. 15 Whoever Hates His Brother is a Murderer - This is a very bold statement. But remember that John has just used the example of Cain who murdered his brother. If you follow the path of hate to its natural end, you will find murder and death. Jesus taught on this in Matthew 5: And You Know that No Murderer Has Eternal Life Abiding in Him Since love is the evidence of the life of God dwelling in a person, hatred and murder is evidence to the contrary (Gal. 5:21, Rev. 21:8). v. 16 By This We Know Love, Because He Laid Down His Life for Us Jesus is the ultimate example of love. Love is much more than just a feeling. Love is an action word. A Christian singer friend of mine used to sing a song called LOVE IS. One line of the song said, Love is a ten letter word my friend. It s spelled commitment right to the end See John 15:12-14, Rom. 5:8, 1 John 4:9-10. We would never really know what love is if it wasn t for the Cross of Christ. And We Also Ought to Lay Down Our Lives for the Brethren Jesus is given as an example for us to follow. It is not just a nice thing that He did for us. He set a pattern that we should follow in His footsteps (John 13:34, 15:12; Eph. 5:2, 25; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6; 4:11). Laying down our lives for the brethren can be such an elusive saying. So in our next verse John gives us a practical example of what laying your life down for your brother might look like. v. 17 But Whoever has this World s Goods, and Sees His Brother in Need, and Shuts up His Heart from Him, How Does the Love of God Abide in Him? Now John is getting very practical. Do you want to know how to truly love your brother? John says, Open your heart to him and meet his material needs. Love freely gives to the one being loved with no strings attached. John is saying here, The love of God is a love that gives. So how can God s love dwell in you if you refuse to give to those in need? v. 18 My Little Children, Let Us Not Love in Word or in Tongue, but in Deed and in Truth - They say talk is cheap. And John says that real love costs something of the lover. Notice again that John is instructing his readers out of a heart of love. He calls us My little children. The aged apostle of love writes with the heart of a loving father, urging us to action. v. 19 And by This We Know that We are of the Truth, and Shall Assure Our Hearts Before Him Many Christians today struggle with assurance of their salvation. Here, John gives us one remedy for doubting our position with God. If you can look at your life and see that you really love people, then you can assure your heart before God. Assuring your heart is not a new concept. David gave his own heart encouragement in Psalm 43:5. We also should follow this example. v. 20 For if Our Heart Condemns Us, God is Greater than our Heart, and Knows All Things John is telling us here that it is actually possible for our hearts to condemn us and yet we are really in good standing with God after all. Just as there is such a thing as false confidence (thinking that you are OK when you are not), so there is also a false condemnation (thinking you

3 are condemned when in fact you are not). You cannot trust the feelings of your heart (Jer. 17:9). It is so good to know that God knows all things. He is greater than our fickle hearts. v. 21 Beloved - Don t ever overlook this wonderful word. This is an accurate description of God s attitude toward you. The Greek word used here is agapetos meaning esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love. If Our Heart Does Not Condemn Us, We Have Confidence Toward God This is the state of mind every believer desires, a place of confidence before God. Confidence is boldness to stand before Him without fear or shame. This is a picture of a healthy, believing heart in right relationship with God. See Hebrews 4:16. v. 22 And Whatever We Ask We Receive from Him, Because We Keep His Commandments and do Those Things that are Pleasing in His Sight Jesus said a similar thing in John 15:7 - If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. But before you put together your shopping list, keep in mind that these verses promise that God hears and answers the prayers of the one who is walking right with God. And the one who is walking right with God always prays, Not my will, but thine be done. God is not interested in answering your greedy requests (James 4:3). But He delights in answering those prayers that are according to His will (1 John 5:14). It is so important that we understand the conditions behind every promise of God. v. 23 And This is His Commandment - The commandments of scripture are often taken as suggestions. When God gives us commandments He is not giving us a multiple-choice decision. Commandments are given to be strictly obeyed. That We Should Believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ The Greek word for believe here is pisteuo, meaning to trust in, rely upon and cling to. God s command is that we trust in, rely upon, and cling to His Son Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. When the religious Jews asked Jesus what work they must to for eternal life, Jesus replied, This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent (John 6:29). It sounds too simple. But if God made it any more difficult we probably wouldn t get it. And Love One Another - You ask, Is that all I have to do is believe in Jesus? The answer is, Yes. Believe and love one another. For how can we love God and not love those God loves? As He Gave Us Commandment - Again John uses this word commandment. He wants to make sure you don t miss it. We are commanded to believe in the name of Jesus. But we are also commanded to love one another. You cannot choose to obey one command and not the other. v. 24 Now He Who Keeps His Commandments Abides in Him, and He in Him Simply put, to obey God s commandments is to abide in Jesus. To disobey God s commandments is to not abide. Remember how Jesus stressed the importance of abiding in Him. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as

4 a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:4-6). And By This We Know that He Abides in Us, by the Spirit Whom He Has Given Us Notice again that the Spirit is a whom not an it. He (Jesus) abides in us through the third person of the Godhead dwelling in us. Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God TRUTH APPLIED: 1. What is the main message of this text? 2. Should you expect the world to love you? Why or why not? 3. What would you conclude if a person who calls himself a Christian hates you? 4. Who does John call a murderer? Please explain why. 5. How can a Christian assure his heart before God? 6. According to John, what does God s love look like? Is it seen more in words or actions? Please explain your answer. 7. If our heart condemns us, is that absolute proof that we are not right with God? Explain your answer. 8. Many people s religion can be summed up in the statement, Listen to your heart. Is this a good rule to live by? Why or why not?

5 9. Can we receive anything we want from God if we pray in faith? Explain your answer. 10. What are the two commandments found in today s text and how are we to specifically respond to these commands? 11. What do we learn about abiding in Christ in today s text? 12. What do we learn about God s Holy Spirit in this text? CONCLUSION: I especially appreciate how commentator Warren Wiersbe outlines chapter three of 1 John: 1. God the Father loves us 1 John 3: God the Son died for us - 1 John 3: God the Holy Spirit lives in us 1 John 3:9-10 And may I suggest that as a result of these three things we should expect to see the love of God ruling and reigning in our lives 1 John 3: Abiding in Christ s Love, Mike Sasso