July 3, 2022

THE LETTERS OF JOHN: LOVE MATTERS

July 3, 2022

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Can you share a true blessing that happened this week, and also a challenge that you faced, and tell how you handled it?

Today we will study the second half of chapter 3 in 1 John. Last week, in the first half of the chapter, we learned we could make a change in our lives by seeking purity and avoiding sin. Many of us, if given the option, would make many changes in our lives, especially in those things that impact our lives, causing us to sin. In today’s sermon, John wants us to go to a new level of change as he tells us that love for our Christian brother or sister is paramount—as is also loving our neighbor, the unsaved, different from us by politics, creed, lifestyle, etc., which is how Christ lived. He is our example. Now we need to be the example to the world.

Focal Passage: 1 John 3:11-24

Love is not a choice

  • Read 1 John 3:11 and Lev. 19:18. What are some definitions of love? In verse 11, did God—through John—say whom we should love?
  • Why did God not give you an option? Why did He not say we could pick and choose the people we want to love?
  • Read verse 14. Who are we to love in this verse? Read James 2:8-10. Did James mean just the Church here, or neighbors?
  • Lest there be any who needs an excuse to not love a neighbor, can someone share the highlights of the Good Samaritan parable?
  • Why is loving others not a good gauge of salvation? Can you be lost and still love others? Can you be saved but NOT love others? Why not?

Jealousy is the enemy to love

  • Read verse 12-13. Why did Cain kill Abel? What do you remember about the account of Cain and Abel’s problem as described in Genesis? Why was Cain jealous of Abel? How could he have chosen differently?
  • (Think): Do you ever see this scene playing out in your own life (substitute hatred for murder)? What are some things that make you jealous? What can you do to stop jealousy in your life?
  • What is it about Christ-followers (like Abel) that is so hard for others (like Cain) to tolerate? In other words, why does the world hate Jesus?
  • Read verse 15. Do you know any one who hates someone else? Why would God identify hatred as murder? What is murder driven by? Read 1 Samuel 16:7b.

Love needs to be connected to action

  • Read verses 17. How can—as John asked—the love of God reside in a person who will not meet the needs of others whom they know about? Read James 2:14-17. How does the kind of faith that meets needs manifest itself?
  • What are some of the ways in which our love for God and for other people shows itself? What does John mean when he says that we need to love “in truth”?
  • If you had to list the most important thing that, as a Christian, you experience, what would it be? Why is your behavior while among the unsaved a sure sign of your heart?

Love can only come through Christ

  • Read verse 23. What is the difference in the command of God saying “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and spirit,” and what John says, “believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ”?
  • Read verse 24. Read Deut. 27:10. Is this an OT mate to the NT verse by John? How do you know the Spirit remains inside of you?
  • Why is obedience so essential?
  • Do you desire to be holy above all things? Read Rom. 7:21-25. Does the desire to be holy ever war with your flesh?

Close:

What a magnificent lesson on love John gives us! Often, in the chaos of life, and the busy-ness of our schedules, we let opportunities slip by that could be turned into a time to put actions to our faith, meeting needs as we go to Walmart, the grocery store, or some other retail store. How many times have you been in a check-out line and the person at the register didn’t have enough money to pay for their purchases? It probably won’t bankrupt you to pull your wallet or purse open—or get out your credit card—and tell the clerk you’ll pay for their groceries. It is an action that says you love them.

Everyone is not lovable; we all know that. If you’ve found a way to love just about all the people who cross your path, teach the lesson at church! However, since the feelings can’t be seen, except as you allow your face to reflect them, at the very least you can smile, greet them happily, or compliment something about them. Those endorphins are going to pop into their hearts, leaving a good feeling for a while. There will always be those who don’t respond to overtures of encouragement but that shouldn’t stop you from offering them. It is an action that says you love them.

Life is very rough right now. Most people are suffering in some manner or are in some type of pain. Ease it when it’s within your power to do so—it won’t cost you anything to smile or say hello. It might also save their life, and the “ripple effect” will go on for days. Just remember how Jesus looked at people and “had compassion” on them (as in Luke 7:13), or even “loved them” (as in Mark 10:21). Can we do any less? These actions tell them you love them. Just like Jesus did.

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