Reassured (2)

The love test is the focus for today. Love is the indispensable sign of the reality of our faith. It’s the undeniable sign that I am really following Jesus. Love is not merely an optional duty, but proof positive that a person truly knows Jesus (John 15:12; I Peter 1:22, 23).

Now, we learn here in 1 John 3:11 that God has been giving us the same message over and over from the very beginning. Love each other.

And then we are introduced to an Old Testament character. Cain. He was one of two sons of Adam and Eve. The other son was named Abel. You can read about it in the first book of the Bible, Genesis 4.

Both Cain and Abel wanted to worship God. Abel brought an animal sacrifice just like God said to do. Cain brought an offering of fruits and vegetables. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but not Cain’s.

Why did God accept Abel’s sacrifice, but not Cain’s offering? The animal sacrifice pointed to Jesus who would one day be the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.

But Cain wanted to come to God on his own terms and not on God’s terms.

The reason this story is important is because Cain’s heart was exposed. He wasn’t “of God.” He was “of the evil one” – the devil. His heart was filled with bitterness, resentment, jealousy, ambition, and self. So, he killed his brother, Abel.

In verse 12, we’re told not to be like Cain who allowed un-love to build in his heart and ended up murdering his brother.

So, in verse 13, he says just like Abel was hated for doing what’s right, don’t be surprised if you are hated for doing what’s right. This has been going on for a long, long time.

Now, verse 14 teaches us that the way we know we have been transferred from a state of spiritual death to a state of spiritual life is that we love. We love our brothers and sisters. Love is the proof that we are “of God” and not “of the evil one.” But if we don’t love, we are in state of spiritual death, just like Cain was.

Then, in verse 15, John lays down some true smack in stark terms. It’s either love or hate. Indifference is not love. So, even something as seemingly as mild as indifference is a form of hate. And we all know that hate could eventually lead to murder. So, if you don’t love, you’re guilty of hate and that makes you a murderer in your heart and no murderer has eternal life (Matthew 5:21-26).

John allows for no middle ground: you either love someone or you hate them. As much as we might want to try, we can’t sit on the fence and say, "I don't love him, but I don't hate him either." John won't let us say that. Not loving is hating. And hate is what leads to murder.

Think about how you feel about people in your world. Who annoys you? Who ticks you off? You may not actually kill anyone but do you treat them like you wish they were dead? Do you treat them like you’re better than them – like your life counts for more, like their life doesn’t count?

Later we will look at verses 16-18 and talk about love.