(Exalting Jesus in 1, 2, 3 John (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary), William Barclay adds "We can tell what a tree is by its fruits, and similarly we can tell what a man or woman is by that person’s conduct. But John wants us to know that we can have our hearts assured. They were the ones who were modern, progressive "with-it". Third, and the easiest to detect, God’s children love each other (1 John 3:11-24—Social). –Gabriel Zepeda-Rolón 4th Sunday of Easter (White or Gold) Acts 4:5-12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18 1 John 3:11-24-Love One Another (New Revised Standard Version) 11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. The content, style, and vocabulary seem to warrant the conclusion that these three epistles were addressed to the same readers as the Gospel of John. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:21â22 ESV). Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 1. Loving the Lord means that we deny ourselves for the glory of God. ", Vine - The readers heard it from the beginning, since it was among the first things inculcated in their hearts as believers, and not only so but it had been constantly repeated. We are not listening to ourselves, to the world, or to Satan. A MARK OF THE CHILD OF GOD, Westcott sums up 1John 3:10-18 - "Life reveals the children of God!" One of the purposes of our community groups is to know each other better so we can love each other like John is commanding. Love One Another 1 John 3:11-24 In the eleventh verse of this chapter, John reminds his fellow disciples in the beloved community love is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There the message which John's readers had heard was a doctrinal one, the theological foundation for their faith that rests in the character of God. KING JAMES VERSION (KJV) TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT. John begins the next section of his letter with his central theme -- love: "This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." We have the full, complete revealed word of God that tells us what we must do to be pleasing to God. We also need to be aware that there are many in the world who know how to take advantage of Christians by claiming to be Christians even though their lives do not show this to be true. Home >> Bible Studies >> 1, 2, and 3 John Studies >> 1 John 3:11-24 These small group studies of 1 John contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. We speak that we do know. 3) What does Jesus mean when he said in John 3:12 “I have spoken to you of earthly things”? If we do not love one another, we are murderers. In reminding them of this message to love one another, John himself was remembering the command of Jesus in John 13:34 - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. We cannot say we love. (Harris) Earlier John had said, Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. Doctrine is of the essence of the gospel--doctrine about the character of God; about human sin; about the mediator, Jesus Christ, who is the God-man; about his life, death and resurrection to forgive the sins of his people and give them eternal life; about the need for personal response of faith to appropriate the work of Christ into one's own life. For this is the message— In this verse we have St. John's first reason why Christians should love one another; namely, "It is the message or command of God in Christ." But how we treat others - how we love one another - really matters before God. We are not talking about having warm fuzzy feelings for each other. I just want to focus on two things. (The Letters of John by John R. W. Stott), From the beginning - Same phrase - 1Jn 1:1, 2:7, 2:13, 2:14, 2:24, 3:8, 3:11. God is greater than our guilty feelings. (Wuest), Guzik - The basic Christian message has not changed. Picking up in the middle of Paul’s description, “having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.” (1 Timothy 5:10 ESV) The point I want to make is that we are not talking about people who claim to be Christians but have shown themselves to be Christians. In the context the message is a reference to the original, apostolic Gospel, the good "message" of Him Who loved us (Jn 3:16) and which births children who exhibit a Spirit-enabled, supernatural love for their brothers and sisters in Christ. And I would add specifically "Life in the family (love of the brethren)! 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We must sacrifice our material goods for the gain of the Christian in need. But listen to the words of Jesus. In contrast to the wicked act of Cain, John turns our attention to the perfect display of love found in Jesus. Others, however, while not denying the eternality of the Son, argue that that is not John’s meaning here. But God is greater than our hearts. He knows that you are loving him and striving to serve him. Now in our verse today (1 Jn 3:11) the message they had heard from the beginning was equally foundational, but now not in the realm of doctrine, but of ethics. This is the great commandment of God. 10b-11) • Why can John say what he does at the end of verse 10? We beat ourselves up for not doing better. From the very beginning, that is, from the very first time they heard the Gospel, John's readers knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what God would expect and would empower them to do: love one another… And any gospel you believe, any gospel you proclaim that does not include both doctrine and ethics is only half a gospel, tragically incomplete, radically distorted, hopelessly deficient. Both doctrine and ethics are at the heart of the gospel because they are so inextricably linked. Since we are God’s children now, and since we hope in the day when we shall be […] First, faith is rooted in the sufficient message of the apostles (1 John 2:18-27—Doctrinal). John wants us to know this precious truth. If we are not loving each other, then quite simply we are not cutting it. We are not talking about saying that we love each other. Love acts. Every contemporaneous and collateral witness adds to this assurance. John uses this term, ajgaphtoiv (agaphtoi) elsewhere in his letters – the plural form occurs in 1 John 3:2, 21; 4:1, 7, 11 and the singular in 3 John 1, 2, 5, 11. Never forget Paul’s words when we talk about helping others: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8 ESV) John is not speaking about those claiming to be Christians but refuse to work at all or work enough to take care of their own needs. We are putting away the desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and the pride in lifestyle and following the desires of our Lord. Consider THE PLACE THE BIBLE HOLDS as an evidence of Christianity. Robertson on (the message) from the beginning - They had the message of love for the brotherhood from the beginning of the Gospel and it goes back to the time of Cain and Abel (1Jn 3:12). Love is the denial of self for another’s gain. John is not talking about the guy looking for a handout so he can buy beer. He continues the stark contrast he has already pointed in 1Jn 3:10-note between the children of God and the children of the devil, and writes of hatred and love, life and death, murder and self-sacrifice." Verse 20 contains our first assurance. We can feel guilt from our sins even though we have come to Jesus and asked for forgiveness. Hawley - Our nature has consequences; eventually we act the way we really are. John then makes the point even stronger in verse 15. Neither is John talking about someone who has continually chosen to be in need because of his refusal to work and lacks the ambition to work to provide for his family. (4) We have the Spirit of God to let us know that God abides in us and we in him. And in both cases, both in doctrine and in ethics, our need is not for something new. Those who abide in Christ have confidence and will not shrink back when Christ returns. If we do not love each other, then we are murderers. We are proving we are not his disciples. What is the lust of the flesh? God knows everything. Book of 1 John - Bible Survey Who was John the Apostle in the Bible? Have heard (Same phrase in 1Jn 1:1, 1:5, 2:7, 3:11, 4:3) - What had they heard? From the outset of their Christian life, John's readers had been taught the importance of love for one another. John's command in 1Jn 2:24 applies to us in terms of ethics as well as doctrine 'Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.'" Love one another - This is the first of six uses by John of this phrase in his epistles - 1Jn 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 1:5. The Incarnation of the Word of Life. Abel’s heart was right which led to obedience. The practical example John gives is of a Christian who has material possessions, sees a brother in Christ in true need, and does not do anything about it. Therefore, do not be surprised that the world hates you. It is a very close parallel (almost word for word) with I John 1:5. Test the *spirits to see if they are true (1 John 4:1-6) v1 My friends, do not believe every *spirit. Our love for one another is demanded by the character of God, but it is also empowered by the brightness of the God who is light and love, with whom there is no small print. John provides us a simple explanation concerning Cain’s sacrifice and subsequent actions that are so widely speculated. “While the previous passage was primarily concerned with identification,” explains Campbell, “this passage offers direct application: believers are to love one another.” In verse 19 John says we can know we are of the truth and have our hearts assured that we have eternal life. The moral imperative for Christians to love one another was at the heart of the apostolic Gospel. We are killing our spouses, our children, our parents, and our brethren when we fail to love them with godly, sacrifice love. The readers heard it from the beginning, since it was among the first things inculcated in their hearts as believers, and not only so but it had been constantly repeated. John 3:11. (The Letters of John by John R. W. Stott). John provides three markers of the Divine parentage. We know what love looks like when we look at Jesus. It is always about what others are doing for them, never about what they can do for others. It springs from an apprehension of the preciousness of an object. They would argue that instead the phrase means what it later means in 1 John 2:7, 2:24, and 3:11, namely, the beginning of the gospel. But it is equally true that the essence of the gospel includes the moral imperatives of repentance and of a new life of love lived under the Lordship of Christ and empowered by his Spirit. From Talk Thru the Bible. In the New Testament the world also appears as a hostile environment. 1 Jn 1:5. John 3:11. We must clean out the filth in our lives and stop practicing sins because we see the amazing love the Father has given us so that we can be called children of God. We are staying in the place of being spiritually dead, separated from God and not in a relationship with God. (Exegetical Commentary on 1 John 3:11-24), John Stott refers to 1Jn 3:11-18 as "an elaboration of the social test… namely that to love is the new command (which is yet old) and belongs to the new age in which the true Light is already shining (1Jn 2:8-note). When Paul instructed who could be helped by the church, there were strict requirements that the widow have proven herself to abide in Christ. Being precedes doing, but all Christian doing must be based on being, that is, on who we are in Christ. We can make decisions and take actions that affect our lives, affect the lives of our families, and the lives of others for years and years, generations and generations. The religious leaders taught that if you murdered you would be liable to judgment. Children of the devil do not give of themselves to others but always take. We must know each other to love each other. Divine certainties. He knows your repentance. We are to lay down our lives for one another. 1 John 3:1) and is not even worthy of the people of faith who live among them (Hebrews 11:38). Bultmann cites Pauline usage as well (Rom 12:19; 2 Cor 7:1) to support his assertion that this was a common form of homiletical address in early Christianity. It is a very close parallel (almost word for word) with 1 John 1:5. The doctrinal foundation that God is light and the moral, ethical foundation of love for one another are both at the heart of the apostolic gospel. In 1 John 1:8, the grammar indicates John is speaking about occasional acts of sin. His example, John says, is not at all to be followed by Christians. It is a cognate of epaggelia which occurs much more frequently (some 52 times in the NT) including 1Jn 2:25. Elsewhere the plural is used of something actually visible (Galatians 6:11). Read 1 John 3:11-12. 2:9-11). The gospel is incomplete unless it includes both doctrine and ethics. 1 John 3:11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:. Wuest - Because this is the message which you heard from the beginning, to the effect that we should habitually be loving one another with a divine love. Only when we see and believe and cherish the brightness of God, will we be free to entrust ourselves and our futures into his hands. Supremely these moral responses are to be ones of love. And it still is. Footnotes. And why did he murder him? (Collected Writings), John Piper explains that " The for at the beginning of this verse shows that in John's mind 1Jn 3:11 is the ground or the reason for 1Jn 3:10, or more specifically the reason for why he can shift from righteousness in general as a test of divine sonship to the specific test of love for the brethren. Previous: 1 John 2:28-3:10, A Purifying Hope
Cain murdered his brother Abel, as recorded in Genesis 4. An Old Command for ALL Christians (vv. The gospel is incomplete unless it includes both doctrine and ethics. John says we have "heard from the beginning" the message that we should love one another. How we treat each other and deal with each reveals where we stand in our salvation. ; John 4:35; John 19:26, John 19:27. 2. Jesus gave the same command: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:12â15 ESV). The world is going to hate you because your actions are righteous and their actions are not. (Love: A Matter of Life and Death). 1. “It is the Lord’s command, and if this is done, it is enough.” What is here stated, then, is that the manifestation of the character of Christ in the believer is the outcome of receiving the word of God. This is a frightening application to the body of believers. Sometimes our consciences still bother us because we know we have done wrong. James 2:15). (As we discussed, Jesus is the ultimate example of sacrificing for others. Rather than see their own wickedness and repent, they hate those who expose their evil ways. First John 3:11 stands as the thesis for this paragraph: “This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”. page 3 / 8 AN ESSENTIAL EVIDENCE OF OUR LIFE IN CHRIST IS OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. Commentators have debated who “We” is in this passage. "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all" (1 Jn 1:5). Our churches are full of selfish, bickering people. 1John 1:5 And this is the message (aggelia) we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. Loving others shows we have made the transition from being a child of the devil (3:10) to being born of God and a child of God. This hope is the motivation for our purification. And then and only then will we be free to forget about ourselves in order to genuinely love someone else. Cain did not offer what God required in sacrifice and then killed his brother Abel because Cain was evil and Abel was righteous. They were infatuated with newness. The other uses are found in John 13:34; 15:12, 17; Ro 13:8; 1Th 4:9; 1Pe 1:22. By coincidence, I was reading a commentary on this exact passage earlier today. The grammar of 1 John 3:6 indicates that John is speaking of a settled, continued lifestyle of sin. It was not something they had never heard before. (Love: A Matter of Life and Death), Love (25)(agapao) "speaks of a love which is awakened by a sense of value in an object which causes one to prize it. This is the hope of those who are born of God. To love the brothers and sisters in the believing community demonstrates that we belong to God; to reject the brothers and sisters demonstrates that we don’t really belong to God. What does it mean to walk in the light? John was not telling them some new truth or something he had "invented." Used in the Septuagint 11x - 1Sa 4:19; 2Sa 4:4; 2Ki 19:7; Pr 12:25; 25:25; 26:16; Isa 28:9; 37:7; Ezek 7:26; 21:7; Nah 3:19. Both doctrine and ethics are at the heart of the gospel because they are so inextricably linked. BROTHERLY LOVE: Jesus denied himself so that we all could gain. What does it mean that God is light? I. What John and Jesus are teaching is that we are a bunch of murderers. – This is the second time that John addresses the issue of Christian love here in his Epistle which should alert us to its importance (cf. God answers our prayers when we are walking down the right path. As in this case, it will usually force you to examine the context. We must be around each other to love each other. Read 1 John 3:23-24. “We should love one another.” 1 John 3:11 “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” 1 John 3:13 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. Answer: 1. Love not just in what you say but in how you act. I do not want to take the teeth out of this passage, but I think we need to make some observations about what John is saying. Cain murdered his brother Abel, as recorded in Genesis 4. In Jesus' time the world hated him (John 7:7) and will hate his followers (John 15:18-19). Supremely these moral responses are to be ones of love. Commentary on 1 John 3:11-15 (Read 1 John 3:11-15) We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all our brethren in Christ. As the writer of Hebrews declared, we stir each other up to love and good works when we are gathering together (Hebrews 10:24-25). 1Jn 3:11 and 1Jn 1:5 are the only NT uses of aggelia. When we are walking in the light, confessing our sins, and turning to the Lord, God has promised to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). In these verses we are reminded once again that our love for one another is evidence of genuine faith in our hearts. Only when we see and believe and cherish the brightness of God will we be free to entrust ourselves and our futures into his hands. Date of Writing: The Book of 1 John was likely written between A.D. 85-95. 189 The doctrinal foundation that God is light and the moral, ethical foundation of love for one another are both at the heart of the apostolic gospel. Second, behavior is characterized by purity (1 John 2:28-3:10—Moral). Marvin Vincent on message - “announcement,” as of something good; not a mere command, as the law. First John 3:11–18 describes the contrast between hate and love, and how love ought to be seen in the life of a Christian believer. People will come and claim to love God but do not show that love by what they do. Our hope is in Jesus and we follow him alone. John turns to the example of Cain and Abel to teach why we must love one another. We know that we are murderers because we have not sacrificed ourselves for each other. He laid down his life for us. In the last 3 verses of this passage John speaks of right relationship between ourselves and other Christians. Message (31)(aggelia related to aggelos = messenger; our English "Angel") means tidings, news, message, report. 11 Most assuredly, Jesus used “most assuredly” three times during this important dialogue with Nicodemus, showing with unequivocal force the importance of being born again. 1. The gospel not only saves men but unites them to Christ and this produces in them that love which is essential in His character, was manifested by Him, embraces all the other qualities of the fruit of the spirit, and fulfills the law of God. Aggelia is closely equivalent to euaggelion: (1) it refers to the proclamation of the eyewitness testimony about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as proclaimed by the author and the rest of the apostolic witnesses (prologue, esp. 1Jn 3:23; 4:7; 11–12; 2John 1:5; John 13:34; 15:12, 17)." (1 John 3:10) This week John delves more deeply into the question of what it means to love one another. The reason why Cain killed Abel was because his own actions were evil while Abel’s actions were righteous. Now that we have zeroed in on who John is talking about, let’s allow the strength of God’s word convict our hearts. (1 John 3 Commentary - Daily Study Bible), Harris notes that "This section marks the beginning of the second major part of First John (1John 3:11–5:12)." Our love for one another is demanded by the character of God but it is also empowered by the brightness of the God who is light and love, with whom there is no small print. Only here in John… NET Note - The word aggelia occurs only twice in the NT, 1Jn 1:5 and in 1 John 3:11. John has already told us in 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Those who hate are of the world. This is the kind of love that John is talking about. God knows us and forgives us even we seem to be unable to forgive ourselves. John has been teaching his readers about the hope they have in Christ. 1Jn 1:3–4), and (2) it relates to the salvation of the hearers/readers, since the purpose of this proclamation is to bring them into fellowship with God and with the apostolic witnesses (1Jn 1:3). The positive example comes in 1Jn 3:16–18. Perhaps some have thought that because Christians talk about a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ” that it is only us and Jesus who matter. They were the ones with the latest ideas. “It is the Lord’s command, and if this is done, it is enough.”. We are living with Christ, but are living in darkness, separated from God. Perhaps we think John is exaggerating or going a little overboard. (2)We love one another, just as our Lord commanded us and showed us. ", Piper - The wording of 1 Jn 3:11 is striking. … Even after we have done these things, we will sometimes have days where our hearts still condemn us. We need to see what John has set up so that we can feel the gravity of his conclusions. And then and only then will we be free to forget about ourselves in order to genuinely love someone else. 4236 Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach Florida, 33417, 2018 Lectureship Series (A New View of Life), 2016 Lectureship Series (Growing In Godliness), 2015 Lectureship Series (Following The Followers of Jesus), 2012 Lectureship Series (Escaping Ordinary), 2011 Lectureship Series (Refreshed: Revive Your Faith), 2010 Lectureship Series (He Still Moves Stones), 2009 Lectureship Series (Building Character from Bible Characters), 2008 Lectureship Series (A Closer Look at Romans 12), 2007 Lectureship Series (Drawing Closer to God), 2006 Lectureship Series (Building Proven Character). Jesus made the very same connection. 1 John 3:11. John teaches that if we open our hearts (and our wallets) to those in need, God will open His wallet to us.) We know that we have not loved like we ought to have loved. Let those heavy words sink into our hearts and minds. Arché refers to what is first or has primacy (the state of being first). Love is sacrificing ourselves for the gain of others. We feel bad about our sins and failures. Verse 11 tells us — for (because) this has been the message that the readers have heard taught since the beginning of hearing the gospel. The Lord saw Nicodemus as representative of many who could not bring themselves to believe in the grace concept whereby God makes all the provision for salvation (Jn 1:14). The character of God, who as light is wholly righteous, true, and loving, demands and empowers moral responses on the part of his children. Because of this the adjective “gospel” is included in the English translation (The NET Bible = "the gospel message"). Jesus now discloses to the henceforth silent Nicodemus, in growing excitement of feeling, the source of his ignorance, namely, his unbelief in what He testifies, and which yet is derived from His own knowledge and intuition. 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