Love One Another
1 John 3:11-4:6
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
#Brotherly Love
#Sacrificial Living
- Who was your first "true love" growing up?
- How do you stay informed on current events?
#People = The world, Cain, Abel
#Time =
#Place = The world
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
Love One Another
11 For this is the message that
you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We
should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother.
And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his
brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised,
brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know
that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.
Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone
who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has
eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he
laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the
brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's
goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against
him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little
children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are
of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for
whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows
everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not
condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever
we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what
pleases him. 23 And this is his
commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ
and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever
keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by
this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Test the Spirits
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By
this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and
every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the
spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the
world already. 4 Little children, you are from God
and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who
is in the world. 5 They are from the world;
therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We
are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God
does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the
spirit of error.
- What makes it possible for us to love one another according to 1 John 3:11?
- What does the author mean when he says that whoever does not love remains in death in 1 John 3:14?
- Why does the author say that it's sin to hate our brother in 1 John 3:15?
- What makes it evident that we are living in God according to 1 John 3:24?
1 John 3 invites us to immerse ourselves in God's extraordinary love and let it transform us from within. As children of God, we are called to live righteously, mirroring the purity of Christ and displaying profound love for our fellow believers. The manifestation of love should extend beyond mere words, finding expression in action and truth. As we navigate through our daily lives, let us keep these profound truths at heart and strive to live in a way that is pleasing to God.
Section: Brotherly Love and Its Expression (Verses 11-18)
John reminds us of the old command to love one another, highlighting Cain as an example of one who failed to do this and murdered his brother out of envy. Instead of following Cain's example, believers must be ready to lay down their lives for each other, demonstrating love not merely in words but in actions and truth.
Section: Assurance of Salvation (Verses 19-24)
In the concluding verses, John provides assurance that if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts. Believers who obey God's command to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another remain in God, and He in them. This relationship is confirmed by the Holy Spirit He has given us.
Unfolding the Truth: The Discernment of Love and Spirits in 1 John 4
1 John 4 beautifully highlights the indissoluble link between God and love. It serves as a strong reminder that in discerning truth from falsehood and in exhibiting genuine love, we both demonstrate and experience the divine presence. The essence of our faith revolves around understanding, accepting, and reflecting God's incomparable love. Fear has no place where such love exists, for in the act of loving, we are living out our God-given purpose.
Testing the Spirits (verses 1-3)
John urges believers to test the spirits, distinguishing between those from God and those that are worldly. Any spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ came in the flesh is from God, while any spirit that does not is the spirit of the antichrist.
Victory over the World (verses 4-6)
Believers are reminded they have overcome worldly influences because the one in them (God) is greater than the one in the world (the devil). The world listens to its own, but those who know God listen to His apostles.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- What do you think Christians in the first century were encountering from the non-Christian world? From each other?
- What is the heart of John's message?
- Why does John use the story of Cain and Abel here (see Ge 4:1-8)? Where do you see "Cain-like" attitudes in yourself?
- What is John's definition of love (vv. 16-18)? How does this differ from contemporary definitions?
- What are we assured of through loving others (vv. 14,19-20,24)?
- What does John command in verse 1? What else has he said about false prophets (2:18-29)?
- How can a Christian distinguish a true prophet from a false (see also 2:20-23)?
- What are some practical ways that we can love one another as this passage commands??
- How does this passage help us understand what it means to be children of God??
- What does it mean that God is love?
Thesis: Embracing God’s love facilitates our ability to love one another, breaking the cycle of sin and opening pathways to spiritual transformation.
Introduction: Today, let’s explore how God’s love transforms us, enabling us to truly love others as commanded in 1 John 3 and 4.
1. Understanding God's Nature of Love
A. 1 John 4:7-8 emphasizes God’s intrinsic nature as love, which defines all his actions.
B. Knowing God through his love equips us to reflect that love to others, breaking personal barriers of sin and selfishness.
2. The Necessity of Loving One Another
A. 1 John 3:11-16 shows that love is not optional but a fundamental command for all believers, which epitomizes the life of Jesus.
B. This passage ties loving others with passing from death to life, showing the spiritual vitality of love.
3. Overcoming the World Through Love
A. 1 John 4:4 empowers believers with the knowledge that “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
B. Recognizing and overcoming false teachings and spirits through God's truth and love protects and strengthens our walk with Christ.
Conclusion: To live out God’s love in our lives, we must immerse ourselves daily in his truth and love, align our actions with the life of Jesus, and reach out lovingly to others to effect real change in our surroundings.
- How would you like to consciously practice Jesus-like love this week? With your family? A friend? At church? In politics? In social issues? A difficult person? A person in need? How will doing this affect your own need for love?
- How are answered prayers and obedience connected (vv. 18-22)? Will obedience affect what we pray for? How has this been true for you?
- What do you believe about Jesus' nature? What difference does it make whether he was truly divine? Truly human?
- What “power” equips you to overcome false prophets?
- What does it mean not to love the world or the things in the world? (v. 15)
- What does it mean to keep God's commandments? (v. 22)
- How can we know that we abide in God? (v. 24)
- How can I become more like Christ?
- How can I keep from sinning?
- How can I know that I am truly saved?
- How can I live a holy life?
- How can I love others the way Christ loves me?
- What does it mean to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind?
- What does it mean to walk in the light?
- What is the meaning of Christ's sacrifice?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- What transformative move needs to be made?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
- As much as possible, live in peace with everyone.?
- Don't be angry with each other.
- Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers.
- If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, just ask him.
- If you have anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you.?
- Love one another deeply from the heart.
- Don't be afraid to witness about Christ and his love for us.
- Remember, Christ loves us and died for us; therefore, we should love each other.
1 John 4:1
Francis Chan: Are Your Beliefs Biblical? (Crazy Love Chapter 5)
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