I John 3:16
3:16 By this we know love,
that He laid down His life for us;
so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues 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 10-15 underscored the centrality of love, then verse 16-17 provide concrete examples by which true love can be known.
Verse 16
Notice at once, John begins by saying, By this we know love. That is, John begins by pointing back to something concrete by which we can know for certain what true love really is. Notice then where John points us: John points to Jesus. However, please note, the Greek John uses here is far more poignant than the English translations. Thus, instead of using a relative pronoun (He), John uses a demonstrative/pointing pronoun (that one- the one who has been our focus throughout the epistle). Importance: throughout the epistle John has turned our eyes and directed our attention exclusively to Jesus. Why? Jesus alone is God sent by God to make God known. He alone is the single source of our salvation; and He alone is the single standard of love and faithfulness. Therefore, it is Christ alone that we seek to imitate and follow FN#1.
Notice then what John tells us about Jesus: John says that Jesus laid down His life for us. Importance: at once in one single phrase, John gives us both the essential nature and the full extent of real love. Notice then Christ died for us. That is, the essential nature of true love is that it forgoes its own rights, comforts, and interests to seek the wellbeing of others. Thus, Jesus did not insist on His divine privileges. Instead, He took on our nature that He might die to save us (Phil 2:5-8). Simply put, it is this giving of self for the good of others that defines the very essence of love. However, that’s not all: notice the extent of love’s selflessness. John says that Jesus laid down His life for us. In other words, love’s commitment to others is a total commitment of the whole self to its fullest extent. As such, love never stops being love nor does it reserve some areas of life for selfishness. However, please note: this does not mean that love never sets boundaries or that it is ever recklessly/ pointlessly self-destructive. Instead, the extent of love means that even our limits, boundaries, and refusals are not made in disregard for others. Notice then the point: the nature and extent of love combine to tell me that love always seek the wellbeing of whoever it meets. Not only that, love places the whole self at God’s disposal that God’s objectives for the other might be realized.FN#2
Next, notice the result of love’s nature and extent: John says that we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. In other words, the very same nature and extent that we saw in Christ’s love is to define our own love. Therefore, it is to be our desire/objective to see God’s purpose and the wellbeing of others accomplished. Not only that this objective is to define the whole of our lives and our every interaction with others. In other words, regardless of whether God calls you to a literal martyrdom or to more normal service, selfless love is to define the totality of your life. Next, notice the reason John says we are to lay down our lives for one another: John says by Christ’s sacrifice we know love. However, please note: it is not just that we have a concrete example by which we can define love (we do but that’s not all). Instead, Christ’s sacrifice means that we know this love first hand. Think about it: we have received this love (Christ died for us) Not only that, we personally participate in this love. How? Remember John has told us that love and right living are the two key components of what grace is doing in each believer. Therefore, because we have been loved and because this very love is unfolding in our new hearts, we are to strive, desire, and rejoice to reflect this love to others.
Next, notice specifically who John says we are to love: John says we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (i.e. other believers). Why? Is John suggesting that we care only for our own while ignoring the world around us? No (God didn’t do this and neither are you)! Instead, remember the context: Remember, the whole point of this section of the epistle is to provide the two key marks (right living and love) by which the children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished. Notice then, in the face of the false teachers’ cruelty, manipulation, and abuse of others for their own status/gain, John says that those who are from God and for God will delight in all that belongs to God. In other words, they will seek to nourish and promote (not harm and undermine) the work and workers of God FN#3. Simply put, if love for God and all that belongs to God is a chief mark of new life, then the false teachers’ persistent cruelty, manipulation, and abuse are sure signs that they are not from God. Therefore, they are not to be followed or imitated.
Notice then the resolve: when John tells us that we are to love the brethren, he does not in any way suggest or condone a closed off indifference to the world. Instead, a love for God’s people is one of the first fruits of our reconciliation to God. Notice then, it is from this basis (this inclusion in the body of Christ) that we are loved and that we learn love. Then, it is from this basis that we turn together to love the world in the name of Christ. Simply put, verse 16 does not suggest a limit on who we are to love. Instead, the purpose of verse 16 is to enable us to identify the love that grace and salvation truly bestow.
Bottom line: after alerting us that love is one of the two chief components of what grace is doing in every believer, John turns to Jesus to give us a concrete demonstration of the essential nature and the full extent of true love. Thus a love that is from God will cherish what God cherishes with the whole of its life. In turn, it will seek to promote the wellbeing of (God’s purpose for) anyone it meets. By this the servants of God and the servants of self are clearly known.
Footnotes
1] Note throughout the Epistle John uses this demonstrative pronoun (ἐκεῖνος) to poignantly point us back to Jesus (2:6; 3:3,5,7,16; 4:17). In other words, throughout the epistle John dramatically drives home the fact that Christ is our singular definitive reference. Also note, in each case the major English translations all render this demonstrative (that one) as if it were a relative pronoun (he) for stylistic reasons.
2] Verse 16 not only provides us with the essential nature and extent of true love, it also provides us with an extraordinary underlying assurance. Notice then behind every detail of verse 16 is fact that God’s love (not our merit, future performance, or hoped for contributions) is the single motive of our salvation. In other words, the Christian walk is not a constant uncertain striving to earn or keep God’s love. Instead, God’s amazing love is where the Christian walk starts. It is yours from the beginning.
3] To put this another way: after showing us the nature and extent of true love, John turns to show us true love’s first affection (a love that is from God will love those Christ died to save). In other words, verse 16 reminds me that I am to love as Christ loves and who Christ loves. Therefore, if Jesus valued His people to the extent that He gave His life for them, then I am to do the same (be it in a daily giving of self or in the ultimate manner of dying for another if that is what God calls me to do)