Review I John 3:10-15
I John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, also the one who does not love his brother.
11 For this is the message which you all have heard from the beginning, namely, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and ruthlessly murdered his brother.
And for what reason did he ruthlessly murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
13 Indeed, do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who 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.
Introduction
Our text this morning resumes our study of John’s first epistle.
Now remember the false teachers who are troubling John’s flock are doing so by their living as well as by their teaching. That is, in addition to denying Christ, they claim that it does not matter how you live in the body or the way that you treat others. Instead, for them salvation is a purely inward spiritual matter.
Therefore, John reminds his readers that righteous living and love for one another are the two key components of what it means to abide in/belong to Christ. Why? Love and righteous living are the two key components of the single work that grace and salvation are doing in each believer.
Notice then the story thus far: if verses 1-10 underscored the centrality of righteous living, then verse 10-26 turn to focus on the centrality of love.
Verse 10
Notice at once, in verse 10 John provides the two key marks by which the children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished. Why? John wants his readers (both then and now) to be able to identify and avoid the deceptions of the world’s false teachers and their vacuous spirituality (both in what you practice and who you follow). Notice then John says that the first mark by which the children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished is righteous living (living that is being transformed by grace according to God’s Word). Not only that, John ended verse 10 by providing the second key distinguishing mark: John says that the one who does not love his brother is not of God. Importance: notice the picture of new life that John provides is not one of a cold, impersonal, indifferent righteousness. Instead, the centrality of love underscores that the righteousness and new life that Christ provides is personal, compassionate, and relational. In other words, true righteousness always has the wellbeing of others in view FN#1.
Verse 11-12
Next, notice John reminds us that love has been the unwavering command of God and a distinguishing mark of His children from the beginning. Importance: in the face of the false teachers’ claims to have new insights into who God really is and what God really expects, John reminds his readers that the message to love one another is something they have heard from God from the very start. Not only that, notice the contrast: in verse 12 John draws our attention back to the account of Cain in order to show us what has always been contrary to God. Notice then John tells us that Cain was of the Evil One. That is, Cain was not a child of God’s grace nor did his actions please or reflect God. Instead, Cain shared the same heart of rebellion and hostility that define that of the Devil. Notice the result: John says that Cain ruthlessly murdered his brother. Importance: notice then John’s point: in the false teachers’ manipulation, mistreatment, and abuse of others we see the same hatred and violence that motivated Cain.
Next, notice the reason that Cain murdered his brother: John says he murdered him because his deeds were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Importance: remember in Genesis Abel brings God an offering that reflects his genuine love for God. However, Cain’s offering is made begrudgingly and reflects his resentment of God and God’s claim on his life. Not only that, when God provides Cain an opportunity to repent, Cain refuses. Instead, he murders his brother. However, please note: for John, Cain’s act of murder was more than simply a crime of passion or fit of rage. Instead, at the heart of Cain’s violence was a hatred for anything that served God (and thus exposed his own obligation and lack of compliance). Notice the point: between Cain and Abel there are two conflicting principles, which are mutually exclusive in their character, allegiance, and objectives. Not only that, for John, these two principle define the entirety of existence as we encounter it.
Verse 13
Next, notice John says do not marvel if the world hates you. In other words, John reminds his readers that if Cain hated Abel because Abel’s deeds were righteous (served God), then don’t be surprised/shocked/taken aback if a fallen world hates you for the very same reason (it is simply the seed of Cain seeking to strike down the seed of Able once again). Instead, we are to expect the principle of unbelief to try and undermine the principle of belief. Notice then the point: John does not want his flock to be naive or unsuspecting. Instead, John wants his readers (both then and now) to be vigilant and to understand the root of hostility/deception when they see it.
Verse 14
Next, notice John says we know that we have passed from death into life. In other words, John says we know for certain to which spiritual principle we belong (we are children of God and salvation and new life are already ours). Notice then how John says we know this: John says we know because we love the brethren. Importance: notice at once, verse 14 does not describe a generic amiability. Instead, it specifically points to a love for and an embrace of those who love and serve God. Thus, in the place of the world’s hostility for God and His people, the believer is drawn to and delights in those in whom the Spirit dwells. Simply put, love for the brethren both reflects God and is for God and therefore is a sure sign of the new life that is from God.
Next, notice the contrast: John says that the one who does not love abides in death. In other words, John points to the false teachers and all who are like them and says that you are to know for certain: that a persistent cruelty, manipulation, and mistreatment of others are sure signs that new life is not present in that person. Instead, you are to know that such a person abides in or remains under the power/principle of sin and death. Therefore, do not imitate them or be vulnerable to their sway.
Verse 15
Next, notice that verse 15 drives home the contrast between the new life/heart that belongs to the children of God and the darkness that captivates the children of the devil: John says that everyone (without exception) who hates his brother is a murderer. How? Hatred always seeks the hurt and harm of another. Therefore, those who regularly hate, disregard, or harm others (unchecked animosity) share the very same spiritual principle and allegiance as Cain. Notice the result: John says that you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. In other words, the death and harm that persistent unchecked hatred brings stands in direct contrast to the healing, well-being, and nurture that love and the new life bring. The two are fundamentally contrary (spiritual principles, trajectories, and objectives).
Bottom line: notice John’s point: John wants his readers (both then and now) to be able to distinguish that which is from God and that which is contrary to God. Why? John wants you to be able to identify and then avoid the deceptions of the world’s false teachers (both in what you practice as well as in who you follow). Therefore, John drives home the fact that love and faithful living are the two key components of what grace is doing in every believer.
Footnotes
Importance: notice at once the picture of new life that is beginning to emerge: love and righteousness are inseparably bound and together define the singular work that grace is doing in each believer. Notice then, love is always the motive of true righteousness (in other words, the reason I behave one way and not the other is because I love God and love my neighbor). On the other hand, righteousness is always the content of true love (that is, love always responds by treating others as their Creator desires them to be treated. As such, righteousness is how true love is always expressed).