Original Post Date:
January 24, 2019
v.10
In this
the children
of God are manifest,
and
the children
of the devil:
whosoever
doeth not
righteousness
is not of God,
neither he
that loveth not
his brother.
v.11
For this is
the message
that ye heard
from the beginning
that we should
love one another
(1Jn.3:10-11)
Introduction. . .
The message Jesus gave from the beginning was built on the foundation ... and ... motivation ... of love.
The new commandment of love ... Jesus gave us (Jn.13:34) ... embodied the totality of the law ... for IF we love ... we will not murder ... will not steal ... will not commit adultery ... etc.
The old list of commandments was not "nailed to the cross" and done away with ... as some presume ... but transformed by the Blood sacrifice of Jesus ... motivated by supernatural ... Holy Spirit ... love.
Thus ... the old commandments based on man's self-motivated works became ... instead ... Holy Spirit-motivated works of love from the heart.♡
Therefore ..."Children of God"... genuine believers in Christ ... will be identified by:
(1)..the desire ... (imparted by the indwelling Spirit of God) ... to do what is right ... and will therefore ... be earnestly engaged in studying and hearing God's Holy Word ... in order to know the right thing to do ... to minister to the needs of others ... but especially fellow believers ... "the household of God"... our "forever family."
...and...
(2)..they will be motivated by obvious genuine ... supernatural ... Holy Spirit ... love ... the type of love that goes beyond mere words to actually...
... (like the "Good Samaritan") ... do whatever is required ... to minister to the physical ... as well as spiritual ... needs of those God places in their path during their earthly journey ... to do for others ... as one would want another to do for them ... if faced with the same circumstances in life
... or like Jesus ... who suffered ... and died ... to do something for us ... that we could not do for ourselves.
... this is an extremely unique type of love ... which the children of the devil are unable to manifest.
... The children of the devil will not go the extra mile to ignore their fleshly desires ... to do what is right.
... and ...
... will not be empowered by the Holy Spirit to love their brother (and/or sister) with this supernatural type of love.
The Word, "Brother," in this case ... [Greek #80] ... can be interpreted "fellow man/human" or "fellow Christian."
However ... the Scriptures give priority to those of the "household of faith" ... which is our "forever family."
"As we have therefore
opportunity,
let us do good
unto all men,
especially
unto them
who are of
the household
of faith."
(Gal.6:10)
This means that the needs of a brother or sister in Christ should come before the needs of a rebellious ... Christ-rejecting family member ... or anyone else
... as verified also in other places in the Word of God ... where we are told to shake the dust off our feet if rejected when sharing the gospel ... or... when forced to leave family ... property ... etc. because of persecution.
(Luke 9:5) (Mark 10:30)
God offers powerful encouragement ... to do what He says ... from the amazing riches of His Holy Word ... in the following verses:
v.13
Marvel not,
my brethren,
if the world
hate you.
Our Father tells us through this most Holy Word penned by the Apostle, John ... that we should not be amazed if the truth declared in this Epistle results in a response of hatred from the world.
Therefore ... in the first chapter ... he has already answered the accusations regarding ... any assumed contradiction regarding law and grace ... that would be forthcoming from what he is presenting in this third chapter.
v.14
We know
that we have
passed from death
unto life,
because we love
the brethren.
He that loveth not
his brother
abideth in death.
How do we know that we have been born-again ... "passed from death unto life?"
Evidence is the supernatural love we have for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
v.15
Whosoever
hateth his brother
is a murderer:
and ye know that
no murderer
hath eternal life
abiding in him.
On the other hand ... hatred (the absence of love and compassion) in one's heart proves we have murder in our heart and ... therefore ... do not possess eternal life.
v.16
Hereby
perceive we
the love of God,
because
he laid down
his life for us:
and we ought
to lay down
our lives
for the brethren.
Jesus died for us ... He laid down His life for us.
While we may not actually be called to die for another person ... we will very likely be called to set aside our life in this world in order to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of others
... based on what God requires ... not what we feel like doing ... at the moment
... but keeping in mind ... that God owns all of our time ... abilities ... and resources.
... And note ... the Scriptural instruction regarding our responsibilities toward the brethren ... are strictly personal
... not something we can give to another person ... or turn over to the world's system of "good works."
The purpose of our personal involvement is a unique spiritual test and means of spiritual growth ... that cannot be transferred to another.
True ... the Good Samaritan ultimately entrusted the care of the injured man to another ... but ... the person who carried out his responsibility was personally hired ... and under agreement/his authority to carry out the instructions he was given.
The innkeeper did not take over the authority of the one appointed by God to care for this victim.
v.17
But whoso hath
this world's good,
and seeth
his brother
have need,
and shutteth up
his bowels
of compassion
from him,
how dwelleth
the love of God
in him?
Loving others with self-sacrificing ... supernatural Holy Spirit love is clearly a test of our spiritual genuineness.
When someone in need is lying at our feet ... in the path in front of us ... we are forced to make a choice ... either we can ... (like the Good Samaritan) reach out in supernatural love to supply all that is required to restore the person physically and spiritually ... or ... harden our heart ... step over him ... and continue our own ... self-determined ... journey in the world.
God sees our heart ... and whether it is an open heart ... of compassion ... or ... a closed ... self-serving ... hard heart ... void of real compassion.
v.18
My little children,
let us not love
in word,
neither in tongue;
but
in deed
and
in truth.
God specifically defines what He is looking for
... a love that goes beyond mere Words and self-limiting gestures ... to a heart-felt genuine loving response that brings total recovery ... just as we would desire for ourselves.
v.19
And hereby
we know that
we are
of the truth,
and shall
assure our hearts
before him.
These challenges are God-given ... to help us correctly discern whether we are really walking and living in Truth ... "of truth"... and since Jesus is "thee" Truth ... it becomes a test to assure our heart ... whether our perceived relationship with Him is genuine or not.
The status of our relationship with God is not something to be careless about.
We need this assurance of possessing genuine faith ... to avoid any self-deception.
v.20
For if our heart condemn us,
God is greater
than our heart,
and
knoweth all things.
God is faithful to give us this assurance ... because He alone ... knows what is really going on in our heart ... because "the heart is deceitful..." (Jer.17:9)
v.21
Beloved,
if our heart
condemn us not,
then
have we confidence
toward God.
Therefore ... this "test" was designed by God to assure our heart regarding our relationship with Him.
v.22
And whatsoever
we ask,
we receive of him,
because we keep
his commandments,
and do
those things
that are pleasing
in his sight.
When we obey His Word/commandments ... we have a genuine relationship with Him ... which also gives us the confidence to believe He will answer our prayers.
v.23
And this is
his commandment,
That we
should believe
on the name of
his Son Jesus Christ,
and
love one another,
as he gave us commandment.
This is a love relationship ... loving our Father in heaven ... and loving the brethren on earth.
v.24
And he that
keepeth
his commandments
dwelleth in him,
and
he in him.
And
hereby we know
that he abideth
in us,
by the Spirit
which he
hath given us.
(1Jn.3:13-24)
This is how we know we really belong to Him.
We love and follow what He has said ... loving Him ... and loving others as He has loved us and given Himself for us.
So. . .
"He Ain't heavy ... He's my brother."
...or... we could say:
"He's my brother ... Not a burden."
♡♡♡
* * * * *
If you have become aware that your priorities are really not in line with the Word of God ... and you and your own fleshly desires are ruling and reigning over your life instead of the Lord Jesus Christ ... scroll to the top of this page ... click on the gift wrapped in gold ... and follow the directions with a sincere heart ...
Then you will be blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit with you ... to teach ... and lead ... in aligning your priorities ... as you walk out the Word of God in your daily life ... assured that your eternal life is secure.
♡♡♡
