Love One Another

Thesis: God give his children proof of their salvation: love and faith.

The Opposite of Love–>Hate

A. Illustration of Cain

1. A child of the devil does evil acts.
2. Righteousness draws hatred from the devil.
3. Sphazo means “to butcher or to slaughter”

B. Hatred has been since the beginning of time.

The Example of Love–>Self-sacrifice

A. Illustration of Jesus

1. God so love the world that He gave His Son.
2. Jesus loved so much that He sacrificed Himself.

B. The Test of Love

1. How can we know if we would sacrifice our life for a brother?
2. We can know by being compassionate toward our brother in his present need.

C. The Activity of Love

1. Love demands more than idle talk or exalted theology.
2. Love demands simple acts of demonstration.

The Assurance of Salvation–>Confidence or Faith

A. How do we deal with our own guilty conscience, “when our hearts condemn us”?

1. John knows how easily the conscience can render us ineffective. Doubt, guilt, and failure are never far from us.
2. Sometimes it is the “accuser” who seizes our weaknesses and shortcomings and so elevates them that we wonder whether we can really be in the truth.

B. God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything, v. 19.

1. God’s word and truth are greater than our feelings.
2. We should not excuse ourselves of sin, but neither should we needlessly accuse ourselves, 1 Corinthians 4:3-5.
3. Glenn Barker said it this way: “Christians are called to fellowship with God. But if we are guilt-ridden and conscience-stricken, rather than seeking fellowship or enjoying it, we will flee the presence of God. We will be unable to abide in Him or claim our position as ‘His children.’ Nor will we dare seek answers to prayer that He alone can provide. On the other hand, those who have His peace in their hearts will have ‘confidence’ not only at His appearing but in the ordinary here-and-now relationship to the Father. Believers will stand in His presence ‘naturally’ as those who are supposed to be here, because He has provided for them.”

C. How do we know we are saved? vv. 21-24.

1. We obey His commands.
2. We believe on Jesus.
3. We love our brothers and sisters.
4. We possess God’s Spirit.

D. The Result–>our prayers are answered.

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