Chapter 9
1 John 3:11-18
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
In the previous chapter we learned that we are not to engage in any kind of ongoing or habitual sin. John pointed out that since we cannot have fellowship with Jesus and be involved with routine sin, this would be something that would be evident in a Christian’s life. John then added that our love for others should also be evident. John is asking us to examine our ability to love others. While some false teachers may be claiming that love is unimportant and that we should be aware of those teachers, John is essentially asking each of us a vital question, is there enough love in our lives to clearly identify us as being a follower of Jesus? Some call this kind of self-less love the mark of a Christian. Author and theologian Francis Schaeffer wrote a book titled. “The Mark of the Christian” in 1970, here is his opening statement:
Through the centuries men have displayed many different symbols to show that they are Christians. They have worn marks in the lapels of their coats, hung chains about their necks, even had special haircuts.
Of course, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with any of this, if one feels it is his calling. But there is a much better sign—a mark that has not been thought up just as a matter of expediency for use on some special occasion or in some specific era. It is a universal mark that is to last through all the ages of the church until Jesus comes back.
What is this mark?
At the close of His ministry, Jesus looks forward to His death on the cross, the open tomb and the ascension. Knowing that He is about to leave, Jesus prepares His disciples for what is to come. It is here that He makes clear what will be the distinguishing mark of the Christian.
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me; and as I said unto the Jews, Where I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:33–35)
This passage reveals the mark that Jesus gives to label a Christian not just in one era or in one locality, but at all times and all places until Jesus returns.
Notice that what He says here is not a statement or a fact. It is a command which includes a condition: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” And if is involved. If you obey, you will wear the badge Christ gave. But since this is a command, it can be violated.
The point is that it is possible to be a Christian without showing the mark; but if we expect non-Christians to know that we are Christians, we must show the mark.
In 1 John 3:11 John says, “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” Years after Christ’s death, John, in writing the epistle, calls us back to Christ’s original command in John 13. Speaking to the church, John in effect says, “Don’t forget this … Don’t forget this. This command was given to us by Christ while He was still on the earth. This is to be your mark.”[1]
Love is indeed an unmistakable aspect and mark of being a true follower of Jesus Christ.
Now for the third time in this epistle (see previously 1 John 1:5; 2:24) John brings up the fact that we need to adhere to the truth as we were initially taught when we accepted Jesus. In other words, he is saying that we should stick with what we we know: 1) about the problem of sin (if we don’t understand the seriousness of sin and how it affects our lives then having a savior would not be important); 2) about Jesus (who He was and what He did for us); 3) about the gospel (the free offer of salvation through Jesus); 4) about how to live as a real Christian (being a follower of Jesus); and 5) about unconditional love (the importance of love and how to love). The ESV text reads that “we should” love one another, those words are not in the original Greek. There are no ‘shoulds’ about it, we are to love one another (read John 13:34-35; 15:12-13; Romans 5:1-5; 12:8-10; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8, see also Leviticus 19:17-18 which was quoted by Jesus when asked about the greatest commandment, the first was to love God found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and the second was to love others).
1 John 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.
John then refers to a very early story in the Old Testament and says we are not to be like Cain, the first murderer in the Bible, who John says was of the “evil one” (the devil) putting him on par with many of the Jewish leaders during Christ’s time (read John 8:42-47). I am glad that John asked the rhetorical question, “why did he murder him?” since many Christians ask that same question. The story of Cain and Abel can be found in Genesis 4:10, however we get a clue from the author of the book of Hebrews, as to why Cain murdered his brother (read Hebrews 11:4, see also Jude 1:11). Both Cain and Abel gave offerings to God, Abel gave God an animal sacrifice and Cain gave God “fruit of the ground.” The author of Hebrews says the problem began when God would not accept Cain’s offering. God even approached Cain and asked him why he was downcast and angry and said that if he did well he would be accepted (implying extra effort or understanding would be necessary). The first question one might ask at this point is, why was Cain’s offering not found to be acceptable? Even though we do not see God’s acceptance criteria or any other rule written down at this point in time (as the written Law was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai several thousand years later, see Exodus chapters 19-31), we do know that God made it clear to Noah which animals were clean and which ones were not (read Genesis 7:2; 8:20) even though those regulations were not ‘codified’ (written down) until much later (see Leviticus 11). Another thing to remember is that in the previous chapter (Genesis chapter 3) sin was introduced to mankind, a curse pronounced, the first promise of a coming Messiah given (see Genesis 3:15) and God provided skins of an animal to cover Adam and Eve’s shame. God was setting up the example (or model) of how salvation would work by requiring the shedding of some innocent life to provide a covering (an atonement). God undoubtedly gave these new humans verbal instructions regarding acceptable ways to give an offering, just as He gave instructions regarding which animals were considered clean to Noah. Cain unfortunately either ignored God’s acceptable protocols and decided to create his own style of religion, had a bad atttitude regarding God and rejected Him in his heart, or he was ignorant of the regulations. Would God require Cain to offer a sacrifice without informing him? John is saying we are not to be like Cain, something about Cain, that goes beyond just his offering being unacceptable, was wrong in God’s eyes. Cain refused to listen and obey God, pleasing God is an integral part of following God. John is telling us that we are not to rebel against God nor follow our own beliefs of what we think is right or wrong. Cain rebelled and followed a horrific path that lead to destruction.
1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
Today non-believers simply do not understand our motives to love others or our need to follow Jesus. John reminds us that we should not be surprised that the world hates us. Jesus said if the world hated Him we would also be hated (read John 15:18-19; 17:14). Rather than be startled (or act confused) when you get a reaction from people that is contrary to acceptance, just accept it (see John 15:18-25; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:10-13; 1 Peter 4:12-13).
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
John also reminds us that Jesus promised us that if we believe in Him we would obtain salvation (read John 5:24), so we can know that we have passed out of death into life. If someone does not believe, they will instead abide (remain) in death. In His “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus compared murder with anger (see Matthew 5:21-22), here John explains that the heart of someone who does not love their brother (Greek word ‘adelphos’ a sibling, from the same parents, heritage, nation, or even beliefs) is just as guilty of sin and lawlessness as a murderer and points out that we already know that such a person will not see eternal life without accepting Jesus and repent of their sins.
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
John returns to the subject of love by giving us one way to recognize true love, someone who is willing to die for someone else. The phrase that expresses one to “lay down their lives,” is unique to John, seen only in his gospel and epistles. He is saying that if the time comes where someone’s life is endangered we are to lay down our own lives to save them (Greek word translated as ‘ought’ carries the meaning to owe or be indebted, see John 10:11-18; Romans 9:3-5; 2 Corinthians 1:9-10; Philippians 1:21; 2:25-30).
1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
John then quickly appends that verse with a question, if anyone possesses ‘goods’ (the same Greek word ‘bios’ translated as ‘life’ or ‘possessions’ in 1 John 2:16 carries the meaning of things that are ‘needed’ for life such as possessions, resources, wealth, goods, etc.) and chooses not to share these goods with others that are in need of them (read Deuteronomy 15:7; Matthew 6:1-2; 25:34-40; James 2:15-16) how does the love of God abide in him? In other words, John is saying that if we have no regard or love for others (not just those that love you, see Matthew 5:46) are we really following Jesus?
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
We are to move beyond fooling ourselves by thinking we love others or become active in programs that make us look like we care; we are to really love! For a Christian, as one that follows Jesus, we are to stop talking about loving, we are to stop writing about loving, we are to stop having committee meetings about loving, we are to actually love. The word John uses is the Greek word ‘ergo’ which is often translated as ‘work’. Yes, love requires us to work, to make an effort (see Ezekiel 33:31; Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:7; James 2:18-26).
John also adds that we are to love in truth, in other words we are to love for the right reasons. We are not to act like we love someone or go through the motions of looking or sounding like we love someone, we are to share God’s love (see Romans 5:5) with others, His way.
Paul wrote similar words in his epistle to the Church at Colossae with some instruction, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:12-17, ESV)
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[1] Schaeffer, F. A. (1982). The complete works of Francis A. Schaeffer: a Christian worldview (Vol. 4, pp. 183–184). Westchester, IL: Crossway Books.