1 John 3:11-17
11 “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.13 Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 17 But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him?”
Not as Cain: Love does not do harm to its neighbor. Christians love fellow believers at the cores of their beings. Therefore, we are to express this love in behavior.
Death into life: Loving Christians is a sign that we have been truly saved. Not only are we completely forgiven but we have been given new life. This new life manifests in love for fellow believers. Whoever does not love Christians abides in spiritual death and is in need of eternal life in Christ. This is the core issue with humanity: People need eternal life not perfected moral living.
No murderer has eternal life: John is speaking of those who are inherently murderers, or those who are still enslaved to sin. Paul had a history of murdering Christians. Likewise, the thief on the cross had a rather difficult past. But both experienced a nature change through the grace of Christ.
We ought to lay down our lives: Christians are to receive the servant love of Jesus and transmit it to fellow believers. This does not mean having poor relational boundaries where we never say “No.” But it does mean that we have the chance to love one another as Christ loves us. If this love is absent, then we have not crossed from death to life.
