This is the manuscript for the ninth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”
1 John 3:23-24 NIV And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives 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.
Last week we said that the evidence that we are the children of God is that we love one another.
Not just affection for others. It is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done. The ultimate test of someone's Christianity is whether he or she loves others. This love is spontaneous, sacrificial, serving, and satisfying. The world will recognize the sincerity of our faith not by our churchmanship or outward piety, but by the expression of love we exhibit toward one another.
For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.
You can see the entire service from September 27 ,2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/YrJjOSWqtyA
1 John 3:23-24 NIV And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives 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.
Last week we said that the evidence that we are the children of God is that we love one another.
Not just affection for others. It is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done. The ultimate test of someone's Christianity is whether he or she loves others. This love is spontaneous, sacrificial, serving, and satisfying. The world will recognize the sincerity of our faith not by our churchmanship or outward piety, but by the expression of love we exhibit toward one another.
For an audio recording of the sermon click the YouTube link at the end of this manuscript.
You can see the entire service from September 27 ,2020 on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/YrJjOSWqtyA
Scripture Reading:
1 John 3:11-24 NIV For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 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. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 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 and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives 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.
Text:
1 John 3:23-24 NIV And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives 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.
Introduction
Last week we said that the evidence that we are the children of God is that we love one another.
Not just affection for others. It is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done.
Matthew 5:43-48 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This kind of love has a redeeming quality; it seeks to lift others up and heal their heartache and pain.
John spoke of one’s love for another as “a new command”.
1 John 2:8 NIV Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
Jesus also called it a new commandment.
Matthew 5:43-45 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Jesus also indicated that it was an old commandment when He said that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In fact He said that it was the second greatest commandment and along with the first one, which was to love God, took care of all the other commandments and the prophets.
Mark 12:29-31 NIV “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
So how can a command be both old and new?
It is old commandment but new in freshness; it is old in principle but new in practice.
The command to “love one another” comes from one of the oldest known laws of God.
Leviticus 19:18 NIV “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord .
But it becomes a refreshingly new command as it is restated and demonstrated in Jesus Christ.
As Christians grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, each new day brings the light of greater knowledge—and at the same time, a new unfolding of the unfathomable depths of His love!
Therefore the ultimate test of someone's Christianity is whether he or she loves others. If we study our Scripture reading from today (1 John 3:11-24 that Jean read for us), we find that John described this love in four ways.
He described it as.
- A spontaneous love
- A sacrificial love
- A sharing love
- A satisfying love
I. First, we find that it is a spontaneous love (1 John 3:14).
1 John 3:14 NIV We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
A. A Christian’s love for others should be an involuntary, spontaneous act of the heart.
We should not have to say, “I will make myself love my fellow man. They have ignored me, insulted me, and wronged me, but I will love them even if it kills me!”
If that is the way we love others, we are not showing spontaneous love.
Remember what Jesus said, we just read that earlier;
Matthew 5:44-45 NIV But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
B. In verse 14 of 1 John 3 John said that this spontaneous love proves that we have been born again as God’s children.
1 John 3:14 NIV We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
Spontaneous love means that we are spiritually alive, born into God’s family with other Christian brothers and sisters. So when we see our brothers and sisters in Christ, we reach out to them in love! It's a supernatural reflex, we don't have to think about it.
II. Second, we find that this love is a sacrificial love (1 John 3:16).
1 John 3:16 NIV 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 and sisters.
A. When John says "this is how we know" he means “to know by experience.”
We don't know about the love of God simply because we have read what the Bible has to say about it. Rather, as believers in Jesus Christ, we have experienced the love of God.
B. The identifying quality of God’s love, which every believer has experienced, is that Jesus “laid down his life for us.”
This was, on Jesus’ part, an act of the will. Jesus’ life was not taken away from him by evil men who pursued him as a hunter stalks an animal,
When they came to arrest Him one of His disciples, probably Peter, drew out his sword to protect Him and Jesus said;
Matthew 26:51-54 NIV “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
No He willingly laid down His life for us.
John 10:17-18 NIV The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Because Jesus laid down His life for us, John said, “We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
By so doing we imitate the love of Christ in our lives. We literally allow Christ to love through us, even if it means giving our lives for him!
1 John 3:16 NIV 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 and sisters.
A. When John says "this is how we know" he means “to know by experience.”
We don't know about the love of God simply because we have read what the Bible has to say about it. Rather, as believers in Jesus Christ, we have experienced the love of God.
B. The identifying quality of God’s love, which every believer has experienced, is that Jesus “laid down his life for us.”
This was, on Jesus’ part, an act of the will. Jesus’ life was not taken away from him by evil men who pursued him as a hunter stalks an animal,
When they came to arrest Him one of His disciples, probably Peter, drew out his sword to protect Him and Jesus said;
Matthew 26:51-54 NIV “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
No He willingly laid down His life for us.
John 10:17-18 NIV The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Because Jesus laid down His life for us, John said, “We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
By so doing we imitate the love of Christ in our lives. We literally allow Christ to love through us, even if it means giving our lives for him!
III. This love that we as children of God should have is first a spontaneous love, second a sacrificial love, and third, we find that it is a sharing love (1 John 3:17–18).
1 John 3:17-18 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
A. Here John became very practical about Christian love.
He had been talking about such high and lofty acts as giving one’s life for another for Jesus’ sake. Now he introduced the fact that we can show a sharing love to others. These are not necessarily heroic acts; nonetheless, they demonstrate the love of Christ.
1 John 3:17 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
John was talking about those who have “material possessions” or material blessings from God, that we tend to take for granted.
B. John’s summary of practical Christian love in verse 18 is classic.
1 John 3:18 NIV Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
He is not saying that we should not use kind, warm words of encouragement to express our love to a needy brother or sister. He is simply saying that those words must be accompanied by warm deeds! Every pious, religious word in the world cannot take the place of one genuine act of Christian love.
That's the same thing that James said.
James 2:14-17 NIV What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
I need to be clear here because this is not a license to take advantage of a brother or sister either. If we take advantage of brother's or sister's loving generosity we are not showing the kind of love that John is talking about either. Both the giver and the recipient of Christian love must rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance but if there is any question or doubt always give if you are able.
IV. The love that John says is the ultimate test of our Christianity and proof that we are children of God is spontaneous, sacrificial, serving, and fourth and final it is a satisfying love (1 John 3:22–24).
A. The Bible is filled with precious promises God has given to us, particularly promises regarding prayer.
1 John 3:21-24 NIV Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives 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.
But often these promises are accompanied by certain conditions.
In verse 22 the promise is, “[We] receive from him anything we ask” (NIV).
How wonderful! But what is the condition?
“We keep his commands and do what pleases him” (NIV).
B. John was not talking about sinless perfection.
He was describing the state of Christians who, as far as they know, have no unconfessed sin in their lives. They are under the control of the Holy Spirit. When this happens, John said that Christians will have “confidence before God”
1 John 3:21 NIV Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
They will have courage, freedom in speaking, and boldness to stand before God in prayer. The love of God in them is a satisfying love.
Conclusion
The lyrics of a song state the truth of this message simply yet profoundly:
The hymn is "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love"
Which was written by Peter Scholtes
Lyrics:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.
Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.
Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.
Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
The world will recognize the sincerity of our faith not by our churchmanship or outward piety, but by the expression of love we exhibit toward one another.
1 John 3:17-18 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
A. Here John became very practical about Christian love.
He had been talking about such high and lofty acts as giving one’s life for another for Jesus’ sake. Now he introduced the fact that we can show a sharing love to others. These are not necessarily heroic acts; nonetheless, they demonstrate the love of Christ.
1 John 3:17 NIV If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
John was talking about those who have “material possessions” or material blessings from God, that we tend to take for granted.
B. John’s summary of practical Christian love in verse 18 is classic.
1 John 3:18 NIV Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
He is not saying that we should not use kind, warm words of encouragement to express our love to a needy brother or sister. He is simply saying that those words must be accompanied by warm deeds! Every pious, religious word in the world cannot take the place of one genuine act of Christian love.
That's the same thing that James said.
James 2:14-17 NIV What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
I need to be clear here because this is not a license to take advantage of a brother or sister either. If we take advantage of brother's or sister's loving generosity we are not showing the kind of love that John is talking about either. Both the giver and the recipient of Christian love must rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance but if there is any question or doubt always give if you are able.
IV. The love that John says is the ultimate test of our Christianity and proof that we are children of God is spontaneous, sacrificial, serving, and fourth and final it is a satisfying love (1 John 3:22–24).
A. The Bible is filled with precious promises God has given to us, particularly promises regarding prayer.
1 John 3:21-24 NIV Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives 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.
But often these promises are accompanied by certain conditions.
In verse 22 the promise is, “[We] receive from him anything we ask” (NIV).
How wonderful! But what is the condition?
“We keep his commands and do what pleases him” (NIV).
B. John was not talking about sinless perfection.
He was describing the state of Christians who, as far as they know, have no unconfessed sin in their lives. They are under the control of the Holy Spirit. When this happens, John said that Christians will have “confidence before God”
1 John 3:21 NIV Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
They will have courage, freedom in speaking, and boldness to stand before God in prayer. The love of God in them is a satisfying love.
Conclusion
The lyrics of a song state the truth of this message simply yet profoundly:
The hymn is "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love"
Which was written by Peter Scholtes
Lyrics:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.
Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.
Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.
Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.
Chorus:
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
The world will recognize the sincerity of our faith not by our churchmanship or outward piety, but by the expression of love we exhibit toward one another.
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