Historical Posts
1 John 03:15-24 – Brotherly Love – What is it and Why do I Want it? audio
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Text: 1 John 3:15-24
Introduction
1. The apostle John has given us two reasons in 1 John 3:10-15 for why it is necessary that we love the brethren:
a. Along with practicing righteousness, it distinguishes the children of God
b. It signifies a passing from death to life
2. But what does it really mean to love the brethren? And what benefits do we receive in return when we possess brotherly love?
3. These two questions are answered by John in 1 John 3:16-24, which serves as the text of this lesson
Body
I. BROTHERLY LOVE IS: (1 John 3:16-18)
A. JESUS EXEMPLIFIES WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE THE BRETHREN (1 John 3:16)
1. The word for love, has often been described as “active goodwill”
2. In giving His life for our sins, Jesus certainly demonstrated goodwill in an active way
3. Meditating upon His example we are “taught of God to love one another” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9
4. With Jesus’ example, then, we come to understand what brotherly love is all about: sacrificially serving others!
a. Therefore we should be willing to lay down our lives for one another
b. In some cases, it may indeed involve “dying” for our brethren; but it can also be “living” for them through serving
B. BROTHERLY LOVE IS NOT: (1 John 3:17)
1. John uses the example of not helping a brother when it is within your power to do so
2. In view of Christ’s love, how we can claim to have love if we are not willing to sacrifice for a brother in need?
3. This illustrates that brotherly love is not only being willing to “die” for someone, but willing to “live” for them as well, through active service on their behalf
C. THEREFORE, AN ADMONITION TO “TRUE LOVE” (1 John 3:18)
1. An admonition prefaced by John’s favorite term of endearment: “My little children”
2. To love, not just in words, but truly, through deeds!
D. We see, then, that “brotherly love” which:
1) distinguishes the Children of God, and
2) signifies one as having passed from death to life, must go beyond the spoken word or occasional hymn.
E. Patterned after the example of Jesus, “brotherly love” is manifested by what one does, not just by what one says – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
F. The blessedness of such love is not only for the recipient, but also for the giver, as we learn beginning in 1 John 3:19
II. THE VALUE OF BROTHERLY LOVE (1 John 3:19-24)
A. IT GIVES ONE ASSURANCE BEFORE GOD (1 John 3:19-21)
1. Love of the brethren is an indication that one is “of the truth”, just as it as an indication that one had passed from death to life – 1 John 3:14
2. It is certainly not the only indicator (1 John 3:10), but it does help to provide one with assurance of their salvation
3. The importance of such assurance:
a. If our own hearts condemn us…
1) Because we know we do not love the brethren as we ought
2) Certainly God, who is greater and knows all things, will know of our shortcomings in this area, if conscience condemn us in known sin, or the neglect of known duty, God does so too.
b. But if our hearts do NOT condemn us…
1) Because we are loving the brethren as we know we should
2) This will make us able to approach God with joyful confidence!
B. IT LEADS TO POSITIVE ANSWERS TO PRAYER (1 John 3:22-23)
1. Our prayers are more likely to be answered according to our requests
2. Because we are keeping the commandments of God (of which loving the brethren is one), and thereby pleasing Him
3. “Commandment-keeping” is a condition upon which God hears prayer, just as it is a condition upon which Christ promises His abiding love – John 15:10
C. IT ENSURES THAT ONE ABIDES IN CHRIST (1 John 3:24)
1. Abiding in Christ is contingent upon keeping His commandments (and loving the brethren is certainly one of His commandments) – John 14:23
2. And how do we know that Christ truly abides in those who keeps His commandments?
a. By the Spirit whom Christ has given
b. He (the Spirit) is the one Who reminded the apostles of the key to abiding in Christ – John 14:19-26
Conclusion
1. Aren’t these three blessings what every true Christian desires…?
a. Abiding in Christ, and He in us?
b. God answering our prayers?
c. Confidence concerning our standing before God?
2. For these blessings to be ours…
a. We must allow Christ to teach us by His example what it really means to have “brotherly love”
b. And then manifest such sacrificial service in our lives! “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
3. Does the love of God abide in you?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 John 03:10-15 – Children of God vs Children of the Devil – audio
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Text: 1 John 3:10-15 KJV (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction
1. In our previous study, we saw where John described two different kinds of people:
a. One who continuously practices sin, and is therefore of the devil – 1 John 3:8a
b. One born of God, who does not continuously practice sin – 1 John 3:9
2. John continues to illustrate the contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil in 1 John 3:10, presenting two criteria which distinguishes them:
a. Practicing righteousness
b. Brotherly love
3. Both of these criteria have already been introduced earlier in this epistle:
a. John enjoined brotherly love as necessary to abiding in the light – 1 John 2:9-11
b. He connected practicing righteousness to being born of Him – 1 John 2:29; 3:7
4. It is primarily the subject of brotherly love that John expounds upon throughout the rest of this epistle, including that which serves as our text for this study – 1 John 3:10-15
Body
I. LOVE DISTINGUISHES THE CHILDREN OF GOD (1 John 3:10-13)
A. TWO THINGS MANIFEST THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD’S CHILDREN AND THE DEVIL’S CHILDREN (1 John 3:10)
1. The word manifest means:
a. To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal
b. To be evidence of; prove
2. That which clearly demonstrates the children of God are:
a. The practice of righteousness
b. The love of the brethren
3. Whereas those who are the children of the devil are clearly revealed when they:
a. Do not practice righteousness
b. Do not have brotherly love
B. THE COMMAND TO LOVE IS FROM THE BEGINNING (1 John 3:11)
1. In other words, from the beginning of the gospel, spoken by Jesus – John 13:34-35
2. Note that Jesus also stressed how loving one another would make the children of God (His disciples) manifest to the world: by this all will know – John 13:35
C. EXPECT SOME CONFLICT BETWEEN THESE TWO CHILDREN (1 John 3:12-13)
1. Just as Cain killed his brother Abel
a. He who was of the wicked one killed his brother
b. The murder was sparked by the contrast between the works of the two
2. So don’t be surprised if the world hates you as well – John 15:18-20
D. When we follow the teachings of Jesus, especially His command to love one another, it soon becomes evident (manifest) that we are different from those of the world. But that difference sometimes leads to jealousy and its unpleasant consequences.
E. Why do we have to heed a command that makes us stand out so?
II. LOVE SIGNIFIES A PASSING FROM DEATH TO LIFE (1 John 3:14-15)
A. IT IS A MARK OF TRUE CONVERSION (1 John 3:14a)
1. Certainly brotherly love is not the ONLY indicator
2. Remember that we must also practice righteousness – Galatians 5:22-23
3. But love for the brethren is a positive sign that true conversion has occurred
B. WHEREAS LACK OF LOVE IS AN OMINOUS SIGN (1 John 3:14b-15)
1. That one abides in death
2. As we saw earlier, one who hates his brother is in darkness until now – 1 John 2:9, 11
3. Indeed, hating one’s brother makes one a murderer! (just like Cain)
4. And it should be self-evident that a murderer does not possess eternal life!
C. WHY DO CHRISTIANS NOT LOVE THEIR BRETHREN?
1. It MAY be an indication that true conversion never occurred, and that they are Christians in name only
2. It MAY be that there was true conversion:
a. But the Christian is still a babe in Christ – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
b. Or that what the writer of Hebrews feared has occurred – Hebrews 3:12-14
3. In ANY circumstance, it is not what God desires for us!
Conclusion
1. Two compelling reasons are therefore given by John for why we should love one another:
a. It distinguishes the children of God
b. It signifies a passing from death to life
2. John will have more to say about love and its value, but may these two reasons compel us to examine our hearts and our attitudes toward our brethren!
3. Let brotherly love continue – Hebrews 13:1
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 John 03:04-09 – Sin and the Child of God
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Text: 1 John 3:4-9
Introduction
1. This morning, we saw that the true child of God purifies himself because of the hope of being like Jesus one day – 1 John 3:2-3
2. In discussing purity, the subject of sin naturally arises
a. Which may be why John moves right into a discussion of sin and the child of God – 1 John 3:4-9
b. It also fits into John’s overall theme of combating the teaching that sinning did not affect one’s relationship with God
3. How shall the true child of God regard sin? Is it something to be taken lightly? Not if the apostle John has anything to say about it!
Body
I. THE DEFINITION OF SIN
A. AS UNDERSTOOD BY SOME
1. Sin is nothing more than a violation of human relationships
2. Which can be easily resolved by correcting relationship problems
3. While SOME sins may be a violation of human relationships, the true meaning of sin goes much further than that
B. THE LITERAL MEANING OF THE WORD SIN
1. The Greek word for sin literally means to miss the mark
2. For example, as when an archer fails to hit the center of the target
3. So sin is some kind of action (or lack of it) in which one fails to meet the goal intended by God – Romans 3:23
C. AS DEFINED BY JOHN
1. Sin is lawlessness (NKJV), or transgression of the law (KJV)
2. The word for lawlessness means illegality, i.e. violation of law
a. For example, to break or violate a law, such as the law of God
b. In other words, to steal when the law says Thou shalt not steal
3. So sin occurs when you DO WHAT IS FORBIDDEN (commonly called a sin of commission)
D. AS DEFINED BY JAMES
1. James describes another kind of sin – James 4:17
2. So sin is also committed when you FAIL TO DO WHAT IS GOOD OR COMMANDED (often called a sin of omission)
a. For example, failing to love your brother
b. While you may not do wrong toward your brother, failure to do good is just as much a sin!
E. IN BOTH OF THESE DEFINITIONS OF SIN
1. One has failed to meet a certain standard (they have missed the mark)
2. In this case, the standard is the law of God
a. Which, when carefully noted, is designed to help us in our relationships with:
1) God
2) Other people
3) Even self
b. Every command of God, both negative and positive, affect these relationships in one way or the other
F. Failure to understand the true nature of sin is one reason why there is so much apathy toward it today. But every time we sin, we adversely affect our relationship with either God, others, or our own selves!
II. THE ORIGIN OF SIN – 1 John 3:8a
A. SIN IS OF THE DEVIL!
1. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
2. This statement of John is reminiscent of one made by Jesus – John 8:44
3. From the beginning the devil has been the father or origin of sin (he is a liar and the father of it)
B. THOSE WHO SIN ARE OF THE DEVIL!
1. Since he is the father of sin, those who practice sin are his children
2. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do – John 8:44a
3. So when we miss the mark by either:
a. Doing what is forbidden
b. Failing to do what is commanded
c. We demonstrate the influences of the devil in our lives!
C. If sin can make one to be the children of the devil, than that ought to tell us something about the terribleness of sin!
III. THE DEFEAT OF SIN – 1 John 3:5a, 8b
A. THIS WAS THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST’S COMING
1. He was manifested to take away our sins – 1 John 3:5a
2. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil – 1 John 3:8b
3. As John the Baptist declared: Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! – John 1:29
4. To continue to walk in sin, therefore, is to undermine the purpose of our Lord’s coming!
B. CONSIDER WHAT IT COST JESUS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PURPOSE
1. Nothing less than His own death! – 1 Corinthians 15:3
2. Nothing less than His precious blood! – Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19
3. Does not this tell us something about the terribleness of sin?
C. When we properly understand what sin is, and how terrible it must be in God’s sight, then for the child of God there can only be one goal: what John describes as not abiding in sin
IV. NOT ABIDING IN SIN – 1 John 3:6-7, 9
A. WHOEVER ABIDES IN HIM DOES NOT SIN… – 1 JN 3:6
1. The phrase does not sin is present tense in the Greek, suggesting a practice of not CONTINUING IN SIN
a. John has already affirmed that Christians sin – John 1:8, 10
b. To say we have no sin is to lie, and to make God a liar
c. So John is talking about one who does not continuously practice sin
2. Such is true of those who abide in Him
a. Those who abide in Jesus do not continuously engage in sin
b. That is because they:
1) Let that which they have heard from the beginning abide in them – 1 John 2:24
2) Strive to walk even as Jesus walked – 1 John 2:6-7
3. But the one who continuously practices sin has neither seen Jesus nor known him (despite any claims to the contrary!) – 1 John 3:6
B. WHOEVER HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD DOES NOT SIN… 1 John 3:9
1. Again, John uses the present tense when he says does not sin
a. He is not suggesting that one born of God never sins
b. But that one truly born of God does not continuously practice sin
2. And why is that? Because His seed remains in Him
a. The seed is that life-giving principle that makes one a child of God
b. Which clearly involves the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:22-23
3. As long as one allows the seed (the Word of God) to remain in him, he is born of God
a. As such he does not continuously practice sin
b. Nor can he continuously practice sin, if the seed is remaining in him
c. Instead, he continuously practices righteousness! – 1 John 3:7
Conclusion
1. Again, it helpful to remember that John is dealing with the idea that one can claim to be born of God and not be concerned about sin in their life
2. But when we are aware of:
a. The definition of sin
b. The origin of sin
c. The defeat of sin
d. The abandonment of sin
3. Our attitude toward sin will certainly be different than those John was having to combat!
4. What is your attitude toward sin?
a. Have you been born again through obedience to the Word of God?
b. Are you letting that seed remain in you so that you do not continuously practice sin?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 John 03:01-03 – The Children of God – audio
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Text: 1 John 3:1-3
Introduction
1. In 1 John 2:29, for the first time John speaks of Christians as those who are born of God
a. It is an expression that will be used time and again throughout the remainder of this epistle – 1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18
b. It is a figurative expression, emphasizing that the Christian’s spiritual life is a result of the redemptive work of God – Colossians 2:12-13
c. As a result of this working of God in our lives, we have been born again, and can therefore be properly called God’s children
2. That we can be called children of God was amazing to John, and in our text (1 John 3:1-3) he desires that we consider:
a. The significance of being called the children of God
b. The news of what we shall be
c. The transformation that is to take place in our lives
Body
I. WHAT WE ARE AS CHILDREN OF GOD
A. WE ARE RECIPIENTS OF GOD’S LOVE – 1 John 3:1a
1. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
2. It is through the love of God that we can even become His children – John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10
3. It is an honor for God to even take notice of us, how much love God must have to allow us to become His children!
B. WE ARE UNKNOWN BY THE WORLD – 1 John 3:1b
1. …the world does not know us…
2. That is, they do not truly recognize, appreciate or understand what we have become in Christ
3. They may even deem us as religious fanatics, fools – 1 Corinthians 4:9-13
4. But this is understandable:
a. For the world did not (and still does not) really know Jesus – John 1:11
b. And for now, our lives are hidden in Jesus – Colossians 3:3-4
5. Loved and honored by God, unknown and sometimes despised by the world; that is what we are today as the children of God.
II. WHAT WE SHALL BE AS CHILDREN OF GOD
A. IT HAS NOT YET BEEN FULLY REVEALED
1. Exactly what we shall be like has not yet been revealed
2. Which may be that due to our finite capability to comprehend
3. In general terms we have been promised a spiritual body and immortality – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 50-53
4. But there is something else, hinted at by both Paul and John
B. WE SHALL BE LIKE JESUS!
1. …we know that we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
2. Paul also says that we will be like Jesus when He comes…
a. We shall bear the image of the heavenly Man – 1 Corinthians 15:49
b. Our lowly bodies will undergo a wonderful transformation to become like Jesus – Philippians 3:20-21
III. WHAT WE SHOULD BE AS CHILDREN OF GOD (3)
A. OUGHT TO BE MOTIVATED BY OUR HOPE
1. “everyone who has this hope…”
2. The hope of which John writes, of course, is the earnest expectation that we will be like Jesus when He comes
B. DILIGENTLY INVOLVED IN PURIFYING ONE’S SELF
1. This involves the idea of being set apart for a holy purpose, which Christians are taught to pursue – Hebrews 12:14
2. How can Christians purify themselves?
a. First and foremost by appropriating the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus! – 1 John 1:9
b. Only then can we hope to be truly holy and without blemish – Ephesians 5:25-27
c. But we also have an obligation to remove ourselves from things that would defile us – 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1
Conclusion
1. By virtue of God’s love for us, and His working in us, we can truly be called the children of God!
2. However, to become a child of God, and truly remain such, we must be willing to cooperate with God
a. When our faith joins with the working of God, we can become His children! – Colossians 2:12-13; Galatians 3:26-27
b. As long as our faith remains strong, we have the assurance of receiving the promises God has made – Hebrews 3:12-14; 4:1-2; Revelation 2:10
3. Is the love our heavenly Father has shown in making us His children, serving to motivate us to remain faithful to Him!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 Peter 01:01-02 The Elect of God – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2
Introduction
1. In our previous study, we noticed that Peter referred to Christians as pilgrims of the Dispersion
a. This description implies that Christians are but strangers, foreigners, sojourning in a land that was not their own, and scattered about like seed
b. With their citizenship in heaven, they may be in this world, but they are not to be of this world
c. Therefore, one of their important duties is to be separate – 1 Peter 2:11
2. One might think that since Christians are scattered strangers in this world, they are to be pitied
3. Not so, for though they are strangers in the world, they are the ELECT of God – 1 Peter 1:2
a. The word elect simply means chosen and is thus translated – 1 Peter 2:9-10
b. There we learn that Christians are a chosen generation; they are truly God’s chosen people!
4. In this lesson, we shall consider what it means for Christians to be The ELECT Of God
Body
I. WE ARE A PART OF GOD’S PREDETERMINED PLAN
A. PETER SAYS ELECT ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD
1. The word foreknowledge comes from prognosis
2. It means forethought, pre-arrangement
3. Being the elect of God is in keeping with God’s plan which He designed beforehand
B. PAUL EXPOUNDS UPON THIS PRE-ARRANGEMENT IN EPHESIANS
1. God planned it before the world began – Ephesians 1:4
2. It anticipated the chosen being holy and without blame – Ephesians 1:4
3. It looked forward to the elect being adopted as sons – Ephesians 1:5
4. This plan is according to God’s good pleasure – Ephesians 1:5
5. This plan has a goal that the elect walk in good works – Ephesians 2:10
C. WAS THIS ELECTION INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE?
1. I understand election by God to have been general, not particular; corporate, not individual
2. That it would be the body of Christ, the church as a whole
a. Which God chose to be the recipients of His divine and gracious purposes
b. And which He planned beforehand (Foreknowledge) to carry out in Christ Jesus
3. While in the corporate sense this choice is unconditional and final, as individuals we must be diligent to make your calling and election sure – 2 Peter 1:10
a. Just as Israel (As a nation) had been chosen by God to receive His blessings during the Old Testament period
b. But individually, the Israelites also had to make their calling and election sure
II. WE BECOME GOD’S ELECT THROUGH THE SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT
A. SANCTIFICATION AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Sanctification, the process by which we are set apart for God’s purpose, is accomplished by the Holy Spirit
2. There are several passages that describe the connection between the Holy Spirit and our sanctification – 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
B. HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT ACCOMPLISHES THIS SANCTIFICATION
1. It is through the Word of God
a. It was God’s will that the Holy Spirit would reveal the Word to the apostles – John 16:12-13
b. Through this revealed Word, we are sanctified (Set apart) – John 17:17
2. Therefore, when people obey the Word of God which has been revealed by the Holy Spirit, they become chosen…to salvation through: – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
a. sanctification of the Spirit (The Divine side of conversion, as the Spirit has revealed the Word and convicts men of sin through it)
b. and belief of the truth (The human side of conversion, as they believe it)
III. WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OBEDIENCE!
A. GOD’S CHOSEN ARE EXPECTED TO BE OBEDIENT
1. We saw earlier in Ephesians 2:10 that it was part of God’s plan before time began that the people of God would walk in good works
2. This is all part of God’s wonderful grace as defined by Paul – Titus 2:11-14
3. We do not earn salvation by such good works (Titus 3:5), but nonetheless we are to be diligent in doing them – Titus 3:1, 8, 14
B. PETER WILL LATER EXPOUND UPON THE NEED FOR OBEDIENCE
1. As obedient children of God, we are to be holy – 1 Peter 1:14-16
2. We are even to submit to civil authorities, that we might silence the ignorance of foolish men – 1 Peter 2:13-15
3. Peter implies grave consequences to those who obey not the gospel of God – 1 Peter 4:17
IV. WE HAVE THE BLESSING OF FORGIVENESS!
A. WE ENJOY THE SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
1. A clear reference to the blessing of forgiveness of sins made possible by the death of Christ
2. The blessing of forgiveness is one enjoyed
a. When we first become Christians upon our baptism into Christ – Acts 2:38; 22:16
b. As we confess sins throughout our daily walk with God – 1 John 1:7-9
B. THIS BLESSING IS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL MENTIONED IN PETER’S EPISTLE
1. He later speaks of an inheritance – 1 Peter 1:4
2. And the salvation of souls – 1 Peter 1:9
3. He describes Jesus as the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls – 1 Peter 2:25
4. He also refers to the care of God – 1 Peter 5:7
Conclusion
1. We hope to examine some of these blessings for God’s elect in greater detail in future lessons
2. But what we have seen from 1 Peter 1:2 is that while Christians may indeed be pilgrims, strangers living in a world not their own, they are not to be pitied!
3. For by the grace of God and their obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they are God’s elect, His chosen ones, and as such they are:
a. Part of God’s predetermined plan
b. Chosen through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit
c. Given responsibilities in keeping with the fact they are the children of God
d. Recipients of the richest blessings God has to offer (Such as forgiveness of sins)
4. Is it surprising, then, that Peter would address such people with: Grace to you and peace be multiplied?
5. Certainly those who are God’s elect receive in multiple measure the saving grace of God and the peace which accompanies such unmerited favor!
6. How about you? Are you one of the elect of God? You are if you have answered the call of the gospel through the obedience of faith – Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38-41
7. If you have not yet rendered obedience to the gospel, then please do so today, especially in view of the following statements by Peter and Paul:
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? – 1 Peter 4:17
And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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