September 26, 2014
LOVE AS AN ACTION
1 John 3:11-24
Richard Edstrom
Central Truth
Be leery of charming or deceptive words and put love into actions.
Key Verse | 1 John 3:16, 18
By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. . . . Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:16, 18)
1 John 3:11-24
Love One Another
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 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. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, 1 3:13 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 14, 16 that the world hates you. 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.
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. 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? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, 2 3:24 Greek him and God 3 3:24 Greek he in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Dive Deeper | 1 John 3:11-24
God calls Christians to love, not just one another but to love everyone (1 John 4:7). Unfortunately, that's not so much what we are known for. Just like all other sinners, we can be judgmental, condemning, and hurtful in our words and actions. There are many times that my words proclaim my love for God, but words and actions that follow show anything but my love for God.
We can show love in many different ways: holding others accountable, helping someone in need, disciplining a child, or just giving someone a word of encouragement. John 3:16 tells us how much God loves us by the way He sent His Son to die for our sins. Jesus showed His love for God the Father, and for you and me, by submitting to the will of God. Eric Metaxas illustrates love through self-sacrifice very well in his book 7 Men by describing how seven great men sacrificed themselves in various ways in order to serve Jesus and love others through their actions.
I used to be pretty gullible, and it wasn't until I figured out the hard way that what people say and what they do can be completely different. This is when I started to become more of a "quit-talking-and-show-me" guy. That's when I saw that I was the opposite of what I expected others to be. My heart was so full of conviction that I couldn't stand it. As God continues to show me my imperfections, I know my words and actions will sometimes fail to fall in line with each other. When I realize it, or it is pointed out to me, all I can do is ask for forgiveness from God and those whom I have hurt.
Discussion Questions
1. Does your definition of love line up with the way the Bible tells us to love?
2. Would others describe you with any of the adjectives listed in the first paragraph above, or would they describe you more like one of the men in the book 7 Men?
3. Think back over your past few days or weeks. Have your actions supported your words? What can you do today to align your words and actions?