¹¹ This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹² We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. ¹³ So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

Love Others

This passage starts out pretty good. Love one another. That’s so nice. I mean, really, who could argue with that? Even people who don’t want anything to do with Jesus or God can appreciate a good ol’ “Love one another.”

So, why does John feel the need to toss in that last line? Why did he have to go from “love one another” to “don’t be surprised if the world hates you”? I mean, really John, what gives?

Well, since John is dead (you know, dead as in he’s not here with us but is alive in Heaven), it’s going to be tough for him to explain this passage. Let me give it a shot.

I think the answer lies in the example he uses right between those two phrases. Cain and Abel. Their story is found in Genesis 4. According to the passage, they are brothers, sons of Adam and Eve. The story is told that they both bring an offering to God. However, Abel’s offering is accepted and Cain’s is rejected. We don’t really know why, other than it was clear to God that Cain’s heart was wrong. His motivation for bringing an offering to God was suspect. After the rejection, Cain is jealous of Abel and ends up murdering his brother.

So, here’s my take on why John used this story as an example: It’s one thing to be nice to others. But to truly love them requires a level of self-sacrificing that can be offensive to those who refuse to love that way. As you demonstrate a love for others the way God intends you to love them, you will begin to offend those who do not love to the same degree. They will become jealous and critical. They will be forced to look inward at their own selfishness. And, eventually, some will grow to hate you. All because you have chosen to honour God with your life by loving him and loving others.

When we live life as God designed us to live  it, we force others to examine their own existence. For some, it draws them to want what we have. For others, it eventually offends because they simply will not give their life over to the only one who can turn it into something beautiful.

My prayer: Lord, I pray for those who may hate me simply because I choose to do your will. Open their eyes to the abundant life you offer them. Help them see how incredible and amazing your grace truly is. Soften their heart so that they might find freedom in you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

⁷ Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. ⁸But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. ¹⁰ So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

Children of God

This is one of those passages that can easily be misunderstood or misquoted if one is not careful. It’s important to know what it isn’t saying as much as what it is saying.

It’s not saying that our good behaviour is what makes us children of God. After all, that would contradict the entire message of grace. Either we can’t earn God’s acceptance or we can. I believe the Bible is very clear that we are accepted by God because of what Christ did for us and not because of anything we’ve done. And so, John is not saying that you have to do good things in order to be a child of God.

What he is saying is that there should be evidence – fruit – that you have turned your life over to God. There should be a difference in those who claim to be followers of Christ. Our lives should show that we are no longer living for ourselves but for God’s purposes. If there is no evidence to point to that change, then has there really been a change?

Of course that leads to the question of what that evidence should be. Are we moving toward that “list of sins” again? No, we’re not. John suggests that the evidence of a life changed by God is a turning away from sin. And, as we discovered yesterday, sin is whatever keeps me from loving God and loving others.

So, a child of God – one who has experienced the transformation that comes from accepting the gift of grace – should demonstrate that change by striving to love God and love others every day. And, there should be evidence of that love for God and others in how we live.

My prayer: Lord, help me to live my life as one who represents what it means to be a child of God. I pray that in every thing, I will bear the fruit of someone who loves you and loves others. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

⁴ Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. ⁵ And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. ⁶Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

What Is Sin?

Defining “sin” is one of those things that we seem to really complicate in many church circles. And yet, I think it should be rather simple to understand. According to this passage, sin is anything that runs contrary to the law of God. Easy, right?

Well, not yet. After all, far too many people then try to define what God’s law is. And so, they make up lists and rules and regulations that one must follow in order to please God. If you follow the Old Testament, you know that there are over six hundred laws to follow. So, sin is anything that runs contrary to those six hundred laws. Of course, in most churches today, we like to mix the Law and Grace together. We end up with a list of “Do’s and Don’ts” that every Christian must follow. Depending on where you live and the type of church you attend, the list will contain different things.

However, didn’t Jesus sum up all the law of God in a simple statement? Of course he did. “Love God. Love others.” That’s the entire law wrapped up in a single statement.

So, what does that mean for our definition of sin? Glad you asked. I believe sin is anything that causes us to turn away from loving God and loving others. Anything? Yup. Anything.

It also means that what is sin for you may not be sin for me. You may be able to enjoy a certain activity and still love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. I may participate in the same activity and find I cannot love God and others while doing it.

I realize that’s a very simplistic way of looking at sin, and perhaps some of you want to challenge my thinking in the comments section, but I do believe that if we simply avoided those things that cause us to love God and others less, and focused on the things that cause us to love God and others more, that we’d be far better off.

Just a thought.

My prayer: Lord, I know that there are things I do that take my attention away from you and others. Those things cause me to look inward, selfishly wanting my will to be done rather than yours. Forgive me when I do that. Help me to turn my attention away from the things that pull me from you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.