MidweekWednesday 17th June 2020

Our midweek studies in 1 John continue with chapter 3 v11-24, which explores how loving one another relates to our obedience to God's commands and our relationship with Christ.
1 John 3 v11-24

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 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 and God3 in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Footnotes

[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
[2] 3:24 Greek him
[3] 3:24 Greek he

(ESV)

Questions to consider

  1. Do you think loving one another (v11) has been a neglected practice among evangelicals?
  2. How should Cain have overcome his feelings of hatred before it was too late (see v12; Genesis 4 v4-8)?
  3. What are some of the tactics which the devil uses in encouraging a hatred of others? How do we resist these tactics?
  4. How do we in practice live out 1 John 3 v16?
  5. What is the link between obeying God’s command to love and experiencing answered prayer (v21-22)?
  6. How does love grow in our hearts (v22-24)?
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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