1 John 3 (part 3)

1 John 3

(Part 3 - Verses 11 through 24)

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Ÿ Jesus says that His disciples are to love one another with the same intensity that characterized His love for them (John 13:34-35). It is imperative today that we restore the same magnitude of love to the family of God that was exhibited by the early church. (Wayne Fussell)

Ÿ The message of brotherly love was first delivered at the beginning of the Gospel Age. Jesus emphasized love and upright living. It is without question that the children of God esteem one another with the highest consideration. We are to look out for one another's needs. We are to pray for one another. We are to fellowship together and to edify one another in the body of Christ. We are to help each other in our spiritual journey that we might be strengthened more each day.

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Ÿ It describes one who is not only corrupt and evil but is bent on bringing everyone else down to corruption and total devastation. (See 1 Peter 5:8). “Slew” is “sphazo” and means “to slay, slaughter, butcher by cutting the throat.” {Wuest, 1 John 151}. (See Leviticus 1:5). ““And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.” - Gen 4:10. Cain cruelly cut the jugular vein in Abel’s throat and allowed hi righteous blood to cover the ground. “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” - Gen 4:3-5 (KJV). “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” - Heb 11:4 (KJV). “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Rom 10:17 (KJV). It is evident that God had specified a blood sacrifice in words these young men could understand. Abel acted by faith and Cain by his own volition. See also Colossians 2:23. [Wayne Fussell]

Ÿ If Cain had done well, his offering would have been accepted (Gen. 4:7). According to Heb. 11:4, it as by "faith" that Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain ... we may assume that God had revealed his will to the two brothers ... By faith Abel obeyed ... Cain was willfully disobedient. [John R. W. Stott]

Ÿ Cain had a reprobate mind. He could not see Abel as an example of righteousness. Instead he let his jealousy rage within and control his thoughts. Cain made the mistake of doing evil rather than repenting and trying to please God in the future. He did not learn his lesson, so he was cast out from the family and even then God protected him from his would be pursuers. God is both merciful and righteous. This is the love that we are to have. To hate injustice, yet be forgiving and loving.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Ÿ John is saying to these Christians who continue to be shocked that the world hates good people, “Stop being astonished and cease being surprised when you discover that the world hates you.” “These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” - John 15:17-19 (KJV) [Wayne Fussell]

Ÿ Alcibiades, a debauchee, said to Socrates, "I hate you; because every time I meet you, you show me what I am."

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.

Ÿ Regardless of the animosity of the world toward the child of God, he has the security of knowing that he is in the realm of “life.” The apostle says, “ We definitely know that we have migrated from a state of death into a state of life.” See Ephesians 2:1-5; 1 Timothy 5:6. John is not giving perquisites to becoming a Christian: he is giving one sign by which one can know whether he is a Christian or not. If one habitually loves his brothers and sisters in Christ with the love portrayed by Jesus, this is evidence that he is spiritually alive; he has passed over the line from a sphere of death to a blessed state of life. The person who refuse to love his fellow Christians gives testimony to the fact that he is making his home in the sphere of spiritual death. The settled state of the loveless Christian is one of spiritual death or separation from the fellowship of God. [Wayne Fussell]

Ÿ {Death into life ...} This strongly reflects the teaching of Jesus who said, "The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live" (John 5:25). All of the New Testament writers reflect the same thought. The old sinful life is death; the new joy in Christ Jesus is life. [Coffman]

Ÿ See John 5:24

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Ÿ The absence of love is evidence of the presence of hate. It is sobering to know that one who does not love his brother hates him, according to John. [Wayne Fussell]

Ÿ John here skipped a point or two in his argument, but it is nevertheless evident anyway. "His full argument is: where love is not, there is hatred; where hatred is, there is murder; where murder, there can be no eternal life."<W. N. Sinclair> An argument like this is squarely founded upon the teachings of the Master who equated the deprecatory word, the contemptuous epithet, and anger in the heart against a brother, with murder (Matt. 5:21-22). [Coffman]

Ÿ Every Christian definitely knows that an unrepentant murderer can never enjoy eternal life. John says that he should also know with equal certainty that an impenitent brother-hater is also lost. He is lost until he changes his attitude. [Wayne Fussell]

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.

Ÿ Children of God know love in the highest sense, its outstanding intensity, its vast extent, and its exalted purpose. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11. “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” - John 10:17-18. The voluntary death of Christ on the cross demonstrated love in its fullest sense and highest degree, for Jesus freely and voluntarily laid aside his life for us. The death of Jesus was a substitutionary death, for He died in our place. Since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and since we all have sinned (Romans 3:23), we all deserve eternal separation from God, which is the meaning of “death” in Romans 6:23. By the shedding of His blood on Calvary, Jesus saved us from this eternal death or from hell and in the same sacrificial act displayed the supreme example of love. [Wayne Fussell]. See also Ephesians 3:14-19.

Ÿ It is a fact that the Lord Jesus Christ laid His life down for us because He loves us. He does not want anyone to perish. All those who freely choose to serve Him wholeheartedly and faithfully will be saved. We ought to sacrifice this life and choose to serve God and bring others to Him. No matter what obstacles that lie in our way, we must be willing to overcome them even if it means facing death for our conviction. See John 15:13; Romans 16:4

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?

Ÿ A Christian who has been abundantly blessed and sees his fellow Christians in need and does not help them is not expressing love at all. He does not have compassion and is lacking in the department of godly love. “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” - Mark 9:41. A stingy Christian is a contradiction in terms. If you truly have the love of the Lord dwelling in you, then you will help a brother or sister in need. Sometimes it may hurt a little to give, but the blessings far exceed the sacrifice. See Acts 20:35. See also James 2:14-16; Matt 25:45; Gal 6:10.

Ÿ The general meaning of this verse, in connection with the previous verse, is, that if we ought to be willing to lay down our lives for others, we ought to be willing to make those comparatively smaller sacrifices which are necessary to relieve them in their distresses; and that if we are unwilling to do this, we can have no evidence that the love of God dwells in us.

Ÿ IN TRUTH AND ACTION

Ÿ What does the New Testament say about good works? Read the following selection of verses (quoted from NLT):

Jesus said:

1. Matt 5:16 - "Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

2. Matt 6:3-4 - "But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right had is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.”

3. Matt 6:19-21 - "Don't store up treasures here on earth...Store up your treasures in heaven...wherever your treasure is, there you heart and thoughts will also be.”

Paul said:

1. 1 Tim 2:10 - "For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.”

2. 1 Tim 6:17-18 - "Tell those who are rich...to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works.”

3. 2 Tim 3:16-17 - "All Scripture...is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”

4. Titus 3:8 - "These things I have told you are all true. I want you to insist on them so that everyone who trusts in God will be careful to so food deeds all the time. These things are good and beneficial to everyone.”

James said:

1. James 2:15-17 - "Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing... but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all-it is dead and useless.”

Peter said:

1. 1 Peter 2:12,15 - "Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see you honorable behavior...It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you.”

John said:

1. 1 John 3:18 - "Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.” (from The Life Application Commentary Series copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Ÿ The prohibition here is not against expressions of love and concern for others; for, in their place, these are beautiful and helpful. What is forbidden is the substitution of loving words for needed assistance, which is here called loving "in word." An even worse error is that of merely using the vocabulary of love without any sincerity whatever, that is, talking of a love and concern for others without either the desire or any intention of doing anything except talking about it. This is called by John, "loving ... with the tongue." The world is loaded with "word" lovers and "tongue" lovers! Christians are expected to love "in deed and in truth." [Coffman]

Ÿ John is telling the brethren to show their love for one another by servitude and by living in truth. He tells them that mere lip service is inadequate. It is important to tell each other that we have a godly love for one another; however, if it is without sincerity then it is empty. See James 1:23-25; 4:11

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

Ÿ If we love as Jesus loved and are willing to prove that love by laying our lives down for the brethren and by sharing our means, then we know that we are “of the truth.” [Wayne Fussell]

Ÿ We know we belong to Jesus by our display of love for others, especially those in the church. Jesus is the truth and by abiding in this truth we can have confidence that he is pleased by our loving actions.

Ÿ See Romans 8:1; Hebrews 9:14-15.

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Ÿ The Christian needs reassurance from time to time in his daily pursuit of a loving life. Truly, God knows what is the best and the worst for us. God not only knows our failures, He knows the intentions of our hearts, and He is not so much concerned where we are spiritually as He is about the direction our life is taking. God overrules the judgment of our conscience when we fall short and forgives us anyway. John gives his “children” assurance that, in spite of their faults and failures, the condemning judgment of their hearts can be answered and silenced. [Wayne Fussell]

Ÿ Many times, we as Christians, become disheartened that we have failed. We become discouraged and wonder if we are going to be able to endure the tough times. This is a time to go in to prayer and realize the beauty of God’s love. He knows we are weak and are in need of His strength. He looks at the intents of our heart and knows them better than we do. Rest assured, God is on our side and will help us through life’s many obstacles. Our God is an all knowing God.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Ÿ {Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, we have boldness toward God;} Whatever consolation may have been intended in the preceding verses, a greater consolation is promised for the Christian who will keep his conscience clean. [Coffman]

Ÿ NT:3954 parrhesia (par-rhay-see'-ah); from NT:3956 and a derivative of NT:4483; all out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance: KJV - bold (X -ly, -ness, -ness of speech), confidence, X freely, X openly, X plainly (-ness).

Ÿ “Confidence.” - This word indicates the right of a free man to speak . A bondman does not have this right. The Christians is a free man because he is a child of God and his conscience is kept free and clear. (Wayne Fussell)

Ÿ If our heart is right with God, we can be assured that we have the right to be bold before His throne and make our petitions known. Without God, there is no confidence.

Ÿ See 1 John 2:28; John 15:7; John 9:31

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Ÿ {Whatsoever we ask we receive ...} "This declaration is limited by the conditions, which in other passages of Scripture, are made necessary to our petitions being granted by God."<52> There is in this verse the implied condition that it is the prayers of the obedient which are answered. [Coffman]

Ÿ The reason that we can continually ask God for blessings goes back to the boldness that comes from a clear conscience in the previous verse. Answer to prayer is not unconditional. We can come before God with a clear conscience and boldly ask Him for the things we need “because” we do two things: keep His commandments and do those things that please Him. It should be the desire of every Christian to “do always those things that please” the Father. (John 8:29). “Sight” means a “penetrating gaze.” See Genesis 16:13. (Wayne Fussell)

Ÿ We receive those things we ask of God by certain conditions. These are obeying Him in every thing we do, by trying to please Him by our actions, and by a contrite heart.

Ÿ See Luke 18:1; 1 John 5:14; James 4:17

Ÿ We can have no hope that he will hear us unless we do so live as to please him.

Ÿ Obedient souls are prepared for blessings, and they have promise of audience; those who commit things displeasing to God cannot expect that he should please them in hearing and answering their prayers, Ps 66:18; Proverbs 28:9.

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Ÿ His commandment is two-fold here. Number one is that complete faith in Jesus Christ the Son is essential for eternal hope. Number two we should love one another in the body of Christ as He has instructed us in the beginning of the Gospel Message. In addition we are also told to love our neighbors and our enemies.

Ÿ This statement only intensifies the importance of the two directives and stamps on our minds the fact that believing and loving are inseparable in serving God. (See Psalm 124:8; John 13:34; Galatians 5:6). (Wayne Fussell)

Ÿ See Mark 16:16; Acts 16:31-33; John 13:35; Psalm 9:10; 2 Timothy 1:12

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Ÿ {By the Spirit he gave us ...} In Christians, this refers to "the influence of the Spirit renewing their nature, sanctifying their wills, and directing their actions.” [James McKnight]

Ÿ We have called this the "Gift Ordinary" of the Holy Spirit, given to Christians as an earnest in consequence of and subsequently to their being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38ff and Eph. 1:13). This is also called in the New Testament the "earnest' of the Holy Spirit. [Coffman]

Ÿ In the wonderful words of this great chapter, the apostle John has revealed the true secret of the wonderful life in Christ, a life so glorious that it is appropriately described as a transfer from darkness to light, and as passing from death to life. The basics of it are profoundly simple. These are: the acceptance of Jesus Christ as God's only begotten Son, the confession of his name, being baptized into him, abiding "in him," having him "abide in" us, and responding to his great love by loving all people of the whole world, and "the brethren in Christ" with even a more fervent love. Such a life is the greatest adventure that human life on earth can offer, and those who dare to accept the challenge shall receive a final reward of eternal life with God in heaven. [Coffman]

Ÿ There is an intimate union that exists in fellowship with God that makes possible a communion or joint participation between the Christian and God. See 1 Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 3:27; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 3:16; Romans 8:26; Galatians 5:22; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:11; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 2:22; 1 John 4:13; John 16:7; John 14:18; Acts 2:38; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Acts 5:32; John 7:39; 2 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; Ephesians 3:13-17. (Wayne Fussell)

Ÿ We have God dwelling in us when we are obeying His commandments. We are really walking with Him when we do as He asks. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives us the comfort that we need to make it through this life and to be prepared for the next life in Heaven. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit when He left. Three thousand precious souls received the gift of the Holy Spirit when they were baptized in water in the name of Jesus on the day of Pentecost. They truly believed in Him and were willing to give up their own way of life and follow after Him.