I John 3
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
The love of God is the source of our assurance. Because of it we have confidence and know love. Never think you are getting nowhere by living for the Lord. If the world doesn’t like you simply because you believe the Bible, trust Jesus as Savior, and try to live right, it’s the river that is going the wrong way. You are going the right way. It’s better than floating downstream to destruction.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
We accepted Jesus as Savior. It’s more than a feeling. We know that we’ve been saved. There is a love for God and the people of God. Before salvation we would avoid church and Christians. Now we’re one of the brethren on the right track. Sometimes we can count on our Christian family more than we can our physical family. Without love there is no life. Jesus came because he loved us. He wanted to die for our sins. If we lose our love for one another, it hurts us spiritually. Jesus told the church at Sardis they had lost their love for each other. We must continue to love each other because doing so shows our love for God. It all works together.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Hate is never godly or excused. It is not a virtue. It destroys others, but it also destroys the one who hates. It’s like a knife that stabs and hurts. We should never turn hurt for hurt. Be willing to love and return good for evil.
The devil tells us that God doesn’t love us as much as he used to. He may get upset with us, but he always loves us. He gave his son for us and proved his enduring, unending love.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
This is straight language. If we say we love and boast about it with our words, it doesn’t mean a thing if we never show it. We should show compassion and encouragement. Often we think of excuses not to help others, but the time will come when we’ll need help and encouragement. We’ll always need someone. It’s important to recognize our own need of others. God helps through others, and when we refuse help we rob others of blessings. We need each other. That is a proof of love. We need each other here at church. You are missed when you’re not here. We miss those who can’t come to church. Let’s enjoy each other. We’re brothers and sisters. God is our Father; we’re family. We’re not perfect; we won’t always get along perfectly, but we can love each other. We’ll spend eternity with God and Jesus, but I’m glad to spend it with you too. Let’s love in word and truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
Hereby: by doing this—loving one another, forgiving one another, and forbearing one another—we have assurance in our hearts. My right relationship with you is an assurance of being right with the Lord.
I John 4: 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Thank God for how John put this. The Lord looked on us. He saw no good qualities. Without his grace, goodness, and his Son there is nothing worthy of heaven. BUT HE LOVES US. If he feels for each of us in this way, he expects us as adopted sons and daughters to love and treat each other as the brothers and sisters we are.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 