1 John 3:11-24
Q.1. What is God’s message to believers? What makes the world hate believers? Why did Cain slay his brother? What attitudes and actions are incompatible with eternal life? (1 Jn.3:11-15)
John summed up God’s message to a lost world in John 3:16. Having embraced that truth, His message to believers is the call to – love one another (1 Jn.3:11). The world hates righteousness. That explains why Cain killed Abel (1 Jn.3:12-13). The proof that believers have passed from death to life, involves the way they love others, especially other believers. (1 Jn.3:14). As Jesus taught, hating is tantamount to murder (1 Jn.3:15 c.f. Mt.5:21-22). Followers of Christ forsake such a life of hatred.
Q.2. How did God reveal His love for us? How should this truth be applied to believers? Why does loving require practical action? – (1 Jn.3:16-20)
The clearest revelation of love was when Christ – laid down His life for us (1 Jn.3:16a). A good man may perhaps do the same, but in this case, it was the altogether holy and righteous One, laying down His life for the ungodly (c.f. Rom.5:7-8; 1 Pet.3:18). However, there was not just a cross for Jesus – … we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 Jn.3:16b; Lk.9:23; 14:27). John went on to explain how this looks. Love is more than words. It will respond with practical support for the needy. Such love will produce a clear conscience with God (1 Jn.3:17-20).
Q.3. How can we increase our confidence in praying? Why is obedient living an essential part and proof of our relationship with God? – (1 Jn.3:21-24)
The one who seeks to please God, and responds to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, not only has a clear conscience, but also has confidence in his relationship with God (1 Jn.3:20-22). John summed up God’s commandments with two simple yet profound injunctions. Believe in Christ’s name and love one another (1 Jn.3:23). He described what believing means, with the explanation – The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us (1 Jn.3:24). For John, believing meant obeying God’s commands and staying connected to Christ. He further explained what this looks like. There should be evidence of Him in our hearts of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We do not have the Holy Spirit within if we remain ignorant or unwilling to obey what God wrote in the Bible. That is not genuine believing in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.