Loving the Brethren

1 John 3:11-18

Loving One Another is a Commandment from the Beginning

The previous paragraph in John chapter three deals with brotherly love. The “beginning” (3:11a) is not a reference to the time of Creation, but when Christ gave this command to His disciples as a command which is new in quality. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Clearly, loving one another is not an option, it is a command of God directly connected with our relationship with God and our assurance of eternal life. Many treat loving the brethren like the option of have the waiter sprinkle pepper or shredded cheese on their meal. Loving another is not an optional side or a mere garnish in the life of a Christian, it is part of the main course.

Hate Murdered a Brother from the Beginning

Having just reminded the saints of the beginning of the new commandment to “love one another” as Christ loved the brethren, John now focuses on the beginning of hatred for a brother. He does so by making his first and only directed reference to the Old Testament in any of His three letters.

Cain’s murder of his brother Abel is a perfect contrast to Christ’s self-sacrifice for His brethren. To understand John’s reference to Cain, go back at this point and read Genesis 4:1-16.

John gives two descriptions of Cain. First, he “was of the wicked one” (3:12a). Before Cain became the first murderer, he had been worshiping God. Yet his sacrifice was not accepted by God. Instead, God accepted Abel’s sacrifice. The Hebrew writer explains the reason. “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks” (Heb. 11:4). Jealousy and bitterness were welling up inside the heart of Cain. God warned him that sin was at the door of his heart (Gen. 4:7). Murderous temptations were from the evil one. Second, Cain “murdered his brother” (3:12b).

At this point John asks his readers a rhetorical question: “And why did he murder him?” (3:12c). John immediately gives a two-part answer. First, “because his works were evil” (3:12d) His sacrifice was not of faith. It did not please God. The second reason for Cain committing murder was “his brother’s righteous” (3:12e).

The Pharisees hated Jesus from shining the light of truth on their dark hearts. They sought to kill Him and forever extinguish the light (Mark 15:9,10). He warned them they also were of the Devil who was a murderer (John 8:44). Sinners who are faced with the righteous acts and works of others can do one of two things: repent of their unrighteousness or destroy the righteous. Instead of repenting of his disobedient sacrifice, Cain sacrificed his brother.

Hatred of Brethren is of the World

When one behaves like a Christian should, the world will react the same way Cain reacted to Abel. This should not be a shock to the Christian. After all, man’s basic nature and reactions have not changed. We have changed due to our relationship with Christ which teaches us about loving the brethren. Paul wrote, “yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12) Peter said the same thing, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Pet. 4:12).

The world does not like its wickedness exposed by a comparison of the conduct of the righteous. Another problem results when they are made aware that their conduct will be called into judgment one day by God. When Paul “reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you’” (Acts 24:25). Jesus was hated by those of His hometown of Nazareth, and they even sought to kill Him (Luke 4:28,29). Jesus warned of a time when the world would persecute Christians. He said to His disciples, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matt. 24:9). On the same night He commanded His disciples to love one another, He warned them “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

Loving One Another is Proof of Eternal Life

Proof of a resurrection from death to life begins at one’s conversion. Having been baptized into Christ’s death one is raised to newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5). At that point he is to obey God’s commandments such as “love the brethren” (3:14a). Just as those who do not love their brother does not abide in the light but in the darkness, so “he who does not love his brother abides in death” (3:14b). To love is to continue in God and eternal life. To hate, to remain in both darkness and death.

Hate Is Proof One Does Not Have Eternal Life

John turns to the contrast of proof of eternal life by loving the brethren to proof of not having eternal life by hating one’s brother. His argument is that “whoever hates his brother is a murderer” (3:15a) and of course, everyone knows “that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (3:15b). What? Hating one’s brother is equivalent to murdering him? In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus contrasted the righteousness of the Pharisees with Kingdom righteousness (Matt. 5:19,20). The Pharisees held that only the eternal result (murder) was condemned by the sixth commandment and not the negative attitude of hate from which the act originated. Jesus taught otherwise “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matt. 5:21-22).

All outward actions of sin begin in the heart according to Mark 7:21-23. Everyone who harbors hate in the heart is potentially a murderer. The only difference between the one who hates his brother and the one who acts upon the hatred in his heart is the outward manifestation of hate: murder. The spirit of the hater and the murderer is the same. Therefore, both are sinners before God because both have failed to love their brother. The only reason why one man becomes a murderer, and another does not may be the one who hates lacks opportunity or courage.

The consequences are the same for both the murderer and the one who hates. They will miss out on eternal life and go to hell. Currently, they do not have assurance of eternal life. Just because hate does not appear to do the same amount of damage to another person does not mean it does any less damage to the soul of the one who hates. But the one who only hates his brother and the one who murders him can repent and be saved. They can even have the assurance of eternal life (Acts 26:9-11; 1 Tim. 1:12-15; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). However, no one can become a Christian and continue to hate and hope to have eternal life.

Loving One Another Follows Christ’s Example

Without Christ’s example of love, we would not know love. Love has been experienced by every child of God because of Christ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. It is only because “He laid down His life for us” (3:16b) that we can show His level of love for others. Christ did not just suffer death by those who hated and took His life. He gave up his life or “laid down His life.” The same verb is used elsewhere to describe a shepherd sacrificing his life for the sheep (John 10:11f). Interestingly 1 John 3:16 compares well with John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” If God was willing to love us enough to sacrifice His Son, why should our love for others required anything less than being willing to love them enough to sacrifice our own lives.

Imagine being called upon in a situation where you had to choose between your instinctive need for self-preservation and giving your life as a self-sacrifice for a brother in Christ. Yet this is the standard of love that Jesus set for His disciples. This is not given as an option for John wrote, “we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (3:16c). Yet so many children of God do not have enough love in their hearts to sacrifice their time, their money, their emotions, etc.

Loving One Another is Giving to Their Needs

Three things are necessary for one to demonstrate his love for the brethren. First, he “has this world’s goods” (3:17a). Not everyone is able to help another due to their own situation. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Second, he “sees his brother in need” (3:17b). The term “need” here does not mean a brother’s every want or desire but the necessities of life. Finally, he has to choose to open his heart up and make the sacrifices to meet the needs of another. However, many show their lack of love when they shut up their hearts. John says this is proof that the love of God is abiding in them.

The opposite of love is not always hate, but indifference to the needs of others is just as unloving as being overtly hateful to another.

It is true that just giving to the needs of others will not prove you have the love of God. Atheists can be philanthropists. They may do so for various reasons. None of which will be in connection with the God and His love or because of their love for Him.

Loving One Another is Active and Sincere

John contrasts loving merely “in word” with “in deed” and loving merely “in tongue” with loving “in truth” (3:18). A genuine love for the brethren must be made visible by our actions toward them. Talk is cheap. James asked this rhetorical question, “if a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” (James 2:15-16). Peter commanded Christians “in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1 Pet. 1:22b).

– Daniel R. Vess