I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A while back I started posting these notes on the blog too. So, here is the outline for our meetings on February 6-13, 2011. A while back we started a new series on 1 John entitled "Theology Matters." This lesson looks at 1 John 3:11-18 and discusses the idea that how we treat others is a matter of life and death. John indicates that people who are followers of Christ love others and find life, while those who are children of the devil do not show love and are "living dead." If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!
A Matter of Life and Death
1 John 3:11-18
Theology Matters Series
Introduction
A visit to the doctor
Needed to get some prescriptions refilled
A spot on my head removed
What could it be?
Good news, by the way
When we visit the doctor, the folks there often take our vital signs
We talked about spiritual vital signs a couple of weeks ago, focusing on our heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure
We asked if our signs towards Jesus were healthy or indicated a sickness that needed to be address
Vital signs are also used in many cases to know the difference between a dead and a live person
Our passage in 1 John today discusses the most important vital sign that distinguishes between life and death
Let’s read 1 John 3:11-18
John tells us that love is a matter of life and death
If we don’t show love, we are dead
If we love others, we are alive
Four things to see from our passage today
1. All you need is love
2. Cain: An Example of Death
3. A Contrast
4. Christ: An Example of Life
Love is a matter of life and death
Our love reveals whether we are dead or alive
1. All You Need is Love
From the start, John reminds his readers of “the beginning”
a. In chapter 1, verse 1, he reminds us that the message he writes is what he experienced from the beginning
b. In 2:7, he reminds them of the old commandment that they had from the beginning
c. In 2:24 he tells them to remember what they learned from the beginning and to abide in it
d. In all of the instances John seems to have in mind the beginning of the Christian movement rather than the beginning of the universe
Here in 3:11, then, John points his readers to that message which they heard from the beginning of the Christian life, the beginning of the church
That message has not changed
It is simple
“Love one another”
It is the command Jesus gives in John 13:34-35
This command is built upon the very character of God
Doctrine and ethics must go together
Theology should point to a way of life—in fact what you believe is revealed in how you live
For Christians, there is no life without Love because God is Love (1 John 4:8)
The distinguishing mark of Christians should be love
Love is a matter of life and death
John turns now to an example of death
2. Cain: An Example of Death
Beginning in verse 12, John elaborates on the negative example. We could call this the example of death or hatred, for all hatred ultimately leads to some kind of death, doesn’t it?
Cain is the negative example
What do you know about Cain’s story?
a. Cain’s story can be found in Genesis 4
b. Cain was the first child born to Adam and Eve after the fall
c. Cain had a brother, Abel. The two of them offered sacrifices to God, and Abel’s was acceptable (Hebrews 11:4 says that what distinguished Abel’s sacrifice from Cain’s was that it was offered in faith)
d. Cain apparently was jealous of his brother, so much so that God warned him of impending sin
e. Cain’s jealousy and anger led to the first murder in Scripture
f. Cain’s actions depict death instead of life
Cain chose to hate or reject his brother
That very hatred caused not only his brother’s death but also revealed the deadness in Cain’s own soul
Cain acted in unrighteousness, did not love his brother, and ended in death
John then reminds his readers that Cain’s example is part of the world’s system
The world, although it sometimes reveals glimpses of love, does not accept God’s divine love (John 1:9-13)
In fact, because Christians do not belong to the world and its system (see 1 John 2:15-16), the world actually hates them
Jesus warned us of this problem (John 15:18-19)
Love is a matter of life and death
If we follow Cain’s example, we are dead
John now contrasts his readers with the world
3. The Contrast: An Encouragement
In verse 14, we find an encouragement
John speaks of assurance when he states that we “know” we have passed from death to life
But what is the defining characteristic that gives this assurance?
Simply stated, John says it is revealed in our love for one another
Because we have experienced God’s amazing love, we cannot help but give that same love to others
That is the mark of a true Christian
The story of Jacob De Shazer, WWII Pilot and POW in Japan--Here is a link: Jacob De Shazer Story
Love is a matter of life and death
If we love, we are alive
The Contrast: A Warning
In verse 15, John issues a warning (continuing his example of Cain, it seems)
When we fail to love others, we are essentially acting like Cain
We may not commit the act, but the anger, animosity, and indifference in our hearts is simply one step removed from taking a life
When we tear down someone’s character, when we highlight faults to make ourselves look better, it is a murderous attitude and it is sin.
Christians should be different in how they treat each other
Love is a matter of life and death
If we do not love, we bring death
4. Christ: An Example of Life
John has looked at the negative (how we shouldn’t act), and beginning in verse 16 he now considers the positive (what we should do)
John fills out his understanding of Christian love by giving an example of life in contrast to Cain’s example of death
Ironically, this example of life is still tied to death in a sense
How did Jesus love us?
Philippians 2:5-8
a. He humbled himself
b. He served
c. His obedience led to the cross
d. He laid down his own life so that we might live
How would we describe Jesus’ love?
Christ’s love was
a. Without discrimination—he didn’t look at ethnicity, orientation, religious persuasion, or even denomination.
b. Offered freely—Jesus put no restrictions on his love for others, he simply gave it
c. Enduring—Jesus does not love for a short season, his mercy is enduring
d. Sacrificial—he gave himself for others without expectation or complaint
e. Transforming—people were changed when they encountered Jesus’ love
Story of the killings in an Amish community in Oct. 2006--Two links on the story: 1. Amish Shooting 2. Grace and Forgiveness
These young ladies were willing to die that others may live
Their love showed the true and eternal life that throbbed in their soul
Christ’s love brings life—are we alive or dead?
So, how are we doing? Are we laying down our lives for others?
John tells us in verses 17 and 18 what our love should look like
a. We must give what we have received—love is practical. You give from what you have (“the world’s goods”) or from what God has given you
b. We must notice others (“sees his brother in need”)—this means that we take time to pay attention to those around us. We need to act with empathy. We ought to feel their pain and rejoice in their joy. Their situations should move us to action and not just arouse emotions. Much of the reason we don’t love is that we don’t see how desperately love is needed in others. The implication is more that just material goods here, it refers to time and community. We must be involved in their lives and not simply write a check.
c. We must take action—John warns us not to love in word only, but we need to love in deeds as well.
This kind of love usually makes us uncomfortable, but we know we need it and we also know we need to give it
Love is a matter of life and death
If we follow Christ’s example, we are alive eternally
Application
The result of this kind of exhortation should be obvious, right? If we want to be known as children of God, as followers of Christ, then we must find ourselves doing as our Master has done—we must love one another
The starting point is obvious—have we passed from death to life? Are we living dead or are we in possession of God’s life?
The only way to distinguish is to look at how we treat each other
Here are some things you can do as Christ followers to show your commitment to God’s life in you
1. First, make sure that God’s life is in you. If you have not made a commitment to Christ, start here
2. Spend some time in God’s Word seeing how Jesus loved others. Read 1 John 3 and 4, Philippians 2, or any of the stories of Christ’s passion in the Gospels
Be a friend to one who has failed, go out of your way to encourage the one everyone avoids, stick closer than a brother to the one who is alone in his or her struggle
3. Give time to bless others this week—listen to someone who needs to be heard, be patient, be kind to the angry person
4. Step outside of your convenient cage of comfort—take a risk to love someone in the name of Christ. Share your faith, tell your story, simply show and tell what love God has done for you
Love is a matter of life and death
Thanks for reading!
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