I John 3:15-16 (Part 1)

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Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

THE STUDY:

Yesterday John uses the dualism of Death and Life. In this passage we read the flip side of death: one who takes life reflects what is in him (not eternal life), one who gives their life is demonstrating what is inside of him (love).

The one who “hates his brother” not only still resides in death but spreads a death-dealing spirit toward others. Love leads to life, lack of love leads to death; both are contagious. Like Jesus, who linked “angry with his brother” (Matt 5:22) to murder and consequent judgment, John warns of the danger of lost love.

When love leaks out it is often replaced by hatred. When hatred seeps in, a person opens the door to the possibility of becoming a “murderer.” This word appears only one other time in the NT where it refers to “the devil” as “a murderer” (John 8:44). This verse speaks of the spiritual condition—eternal life—that could be forfeited by hatred toward our Christian “brother” and sister.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• What we can walk away this morning is the realization of the ways and effects of hatred. To the spirit, it is a cancer that will destroy the soul if left unattended. Just as Love is a choice, hatred is a choice as well. We can either choose hatred (no eternal life) or Love.

CONCLUSION:

           I am very thankful to the fact that God loved us so much he gave us Jesus. In St. Paul’s Cathedral in London is a life-size, marble statue of Christ struggling in anguish on the cross. The statue is titled: “This is how God loved the world!”

          My prayer for us today is to love like Christ loved. Let us take up our cross daily and follow His ways. Let that way be LOVE!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (123). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.