First John Notes

1 John series #7 “Love In Action” DQ notes

1 John 3:11

“For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;”

It really is as simple as that.

No one of the world is going to love Christians, really love them, so greatly that they would give up their life for a Christian simply because he or she belongs to Christ.

But we are called to love one another, bear each other's burdens, cry with those who mourn simply because we are bonded in Christ.

“Love is basically the sum of our Christian life, along with faith.”

John 13:34-35

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 
By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

If we exhibit anything other than love for our brethren, the world is watching. And judging.

Satan couldn't care less about any poor soul trapped in sin.

But a Christian doing right, loving as he or she should…is like a fiery dart to Satan's chest. Which is why he continues his mad program of hate, doing all that he can to sabotage the church and the cause of Christ.

He cannot touch Christ, so his vehemence is directed at us, the Bride of Christ.

He plants tares of discontent and hatred among us wheat, tearing apart churches which have forgotten that our primary love is to be for Christ AND for our brethren.

1 John 3:18-20

^“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 
We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 
in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.”

“in whatever our hearts condemn us”-this phrase speaks to us because we know that we do not love as we should, that we do not always exemplify Christ. God is greater than our hearts; He has Grace enough to forgive us our failings.

And that is key-God knows us intimately and loves us anyway.

“When we pray we are seeking God's Will, not that He would do our will.”

God's Will for us is that we should love one another.

If I trust that God is working in my life to conform me to the image of Christ, when I see a brother or sister in Christ who is failing/falling/stuck…my duty is to pray for them, lift them up and

(this is key)

Trust that they are also being conformed to the image of Christ.

Philippians 1:6

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

We will all be with Christ throughout Eternity.

We shouldn't allow pettiness nor hatred or any lesser emotion keep us from obeying Christ's command that we love one another.

Especially those who are hard to love.