Big Idea: The Spirit of Christ within the believer manifests itself in love for the brethren. The spirit of the flesh is prone to hatred and sabotage. The Apostle John is calling us to put to death hatred and embrace a pro-active, deliberate, and intentional love.
_________________________ for the Brethren (brothers and sisters in Christ)
1 John 2:9 (ESV) — 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.
John 15:18–20 (ESV): If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Hatred not only manifests itself in strong feelings, it also manifests itself in strong opposition.
Genesis 37:1-28 (pg 29)
We should hate hatred for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
_________________________ for the Brethren
1John 2:10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
Just like God’s love for us is sourced in God’s love for Jesus, just like our love for the Father is sourced in Jesus’ love for the Father, so our love for the brethren is sourced in Jesus’ love for the brethren.
1 John 2:7–8 (ESV): 7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
God’s love is not a passive love, instead it set into a motion a plan to redeem the world even from the beginning. God’s love is intentional, forward thinking, and pro-active.
Genesis 3:15 (ESV) — 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
The world sees the beauty of God’s pro-active love through the intentions that we have for one another.
John 13:33–35 (ESV): 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Questions to Consider
Are there brothers and sisters in the church who you would rather not be around? Why or why not? Does this reflect the Spirit of Christ within us? What might you do to make this right?
How is the love of Christ manifesting itself through you toward your brothers and sisters in Christ? Are you actively seeking for their well-being? What might this look like in your relationships with those in the church? And with those in the world around you?
