CONFIDENCE IN A CHAOTIC WORLD
(Love one another - August 29, 2021)
Series Big Idea: "Close fellowship with Christ silences the destructive beliefs and behaviors of this world"
Sermon Big Idea: "Our New Birth is on display when we as Christians practice love for one another"
Key Scripture (1 John 3:11-15)
Love has been at the center of Christianity since the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. And Christians who practice love on a daily basis are telling the world that they have new birth and life in Christ. John has been discussing false teachers that had made their way into the Church and were trying to prevent this love for one another that Christ preached. For John, love is not an option or something that can be debated. He says that love is the proof that Christians have been born again.
(1 John 3:11-15)
Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
When we are born again, we know we receive a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Because of the new nature that Christians have (John 13:35), they are to love Christ and love others at any cost. This is foundational to the Christian faith. John is definitely directing these words at Christians. He said "this message is in you." He didn’t just jump right in telling them what love is; he first told them what love was not. He used Cain from the OT as an example of what it wasn’t.
Cain murdered his brother Able (Genesis 4:8). You have to understand that Able exhibited a more perfect righteousness than Cain did (Genesis 4:2-7). And because of this, Cain resented his brother. This story would have got the attention of John's readers because he knew that hatred for another Christian usually brings on feelings of guilt in that persons own life and this kind of reaction is not of God.
The point of the illustration of Cain cannot be missed here. Cain's anger was vicious enough for him to kill his brother. The underlying reason for his hate and murder was jealousy. Remember, the religious leaders had Jesus killed for this same reason. Cain hated and resented Abel's righteousness and the world will hate and resent a Christian's righteousness. The world hates righteousness and it should come as no surprise that it would hate us.
The love for brothers and sisters in Christ was placed there by God (verse 14). If we have eternal life in Christ, it will be made clear by our love for others. It is true that some people are harder to love than others but ultimately the desire to love will shine through. Even Jesus disciples argued with one another at times but they still had love for one another.
When we accept Christ we are resurrected! We go from death to life and from hate to love (Galatians 5:6, 22). Love is the ultimate test of the new birth (1 John 2:9). Our love for our brothers and sisters is proof that we are experiencing salvation (John 13:35).
CONCLUSION
The Church must always keep love and harmony at the forefront of all we do. So how do we do this? First we can pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ daily. We pray for wisdom for them in keeping with the things of God. Secondly, we build each other up by working together in all humility. This could mean the giving of our time and finances to help them in certain areas. Above all, we exalt Christ by refusing to spread division within the Church. One of the ways we do this is by refusing to gossip. But we can't do any of this without Christ (John 15:4-5).
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
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Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.
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