Note: Devotional taken from last Sunday's sermon on 1 John 3:7-17.
We know that we have passed from
death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother
abideth in death (1 John 3:14).
Last Sunday I preached from 1 John
3:7-17 and suggested two main themes in this passage.
The first theme is that “the Son
of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (3:8). By his
death, burial, and resurrection Christ saved sinners, changing their status
from being son of the devil (John 8:44) to being sons of God (John 1:12).
The second theme is that this change
in status results in a change in behaviors and actions. “In this the children of
God are manifest, and the children of the devil” (v. 10). On one hand, the children
of God desire to do what is righteous (see 1 John 2:29: “ye know that everyone
that doeth righteousness is born of him”). On the other hand, “whosoever doeth
not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his neighbor” (3:10).
John suggests that the greatest
evidence of our change of nature and status is demonstrated in our treatment of
others: “we should love one another” (3:11). This begins with love of neighbor
(all men) as Christ commanded (cf. Matthew 22:34-40) and extends especially to love
of Christian brethren. 1 John 3:14 provides one of the clearest tests of
assurance as to whether someone is truly in Christ, “We know that we have passed
from death unto life, because we love the brethren.”
John’s
teaching calls for us to apply a test of self-examination: Is there evidence
that I have moved from death to life? Is there demonstrated in me a love for
neighbor, and, especially, a love for the brethren? Or do I remain harsh,
unloving, unfeeling to the considerations of others?
In his book
on witnessing to Muslims, Pastor Ibrahim Ag Mohamed wrote:
I know of an Egyptian, who when converted, was wondering how he
could witness to his wife. By the grace of the Lord Jesus he completely changed
his way of thinking and how he related to her. In his becoming a new creature
in Christ his wife was amazed by his new conduct and life, service and love.
When she asked him to account for this great change, he told her it was because
of a new Friend Who now gave him good advice. She insisted on knowing about the
Friend; and this is how he could then speak to her about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Later, she too found the Lord (God’s Love for Muslims, 87-88).
Have we also
found a New Friend in the Lord Jesus Christ who has changed our status, made us
Sons of God, and given us good advice for living?
Grace and
peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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