1 John 3: 11 – 18
The message to love one another is not a new message, but has been around since the beginning. How we live it out is always new.
EXAMPLE OF HATRED CAIN AND ABEL
Cain hated Abel because Abel was righteous and he was not. Cain’s offering was rejected by God not because he did not give the best of his fields (Cain was a farmer), but because sacrifices had to include blood (Abel was a shepherd)
1 Peter 4: 12 “Don’t be surprised at the fiery trial you are going through as if something strange were happening to you. “
Jesus: The world hated me because I accuse it of doing evil” (John 7: 7)
Vs 14 you have passed from death into life to prove you are different
Key Point: The hatred from the world had better not be in the church
Vs 15 murders are defined as anyone who hates his brother or sister. This is a quote from the sermon on the mound when Jesus was talking.
Matthew 5: 21, 22 “…You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. But I say if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment. If you call someone an idiot you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone you are in danger of the fires of hell.”
Anger = stir up feelings, provoke
Curse = impious not showing respect to them
We have a choice
Deuteronomy 30: 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live
We are called to live differently
1 Peter 3: 9, 10 Don t repay evil for evil Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you pay them back with a blessing That is what God has called you to do and He will bless you for it
Cain has been given the supreme example of hate, Christ is presented as the supreme example of love
We are not called to admire Jesus example, but to copy it
Vs 17 it goes from loving brothers to loving a brother. We can love so many others that it is never personal to us. Let us love the one next to us.