1 John 3:11-24 Lesson 461

1 John 3:11-24
Lesson 461

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

What is the acid test of love (3:16-18)?

Note how often the keywords "love" and "know" appear in this passage.
Why is that?

This lesson concludes the segment on seeking Christ and how Christians should love each other that began with lesson 460.

Cain prepares to kill Abel.

(Stain glass art.)

Study Tip:

As you study, consider how to apply each passage to your life.
Bettering ourselves by applying God's truth is a difficult part of Bible work and may require several days of thought and prayer. But the results are worth the effort.

The First Epistle of John

The King James Bible

1 John 3:11-24
Love each other

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Margin Notes:

"We should love one another." (3:11) - Jesus' "first and great commandment" is for us to love each other (Matthew 22:35-38; John 15:12; 15:17).

"Cain." (3:12) - The first-born son of Adam and Eve and a farmer (Genesis 4:2).  Cain believed in God and made sacrifices to Him, but he belonged to Satan (1 John 3:12). Showing his shallow faith, Cain offered God "the fruit of the ground" as a sacrifice. Cain's weak faith and bloodless sacrifice displeased God. But Cain's younger brother Abel made a sacrifice that did please God. In a fit of jealousy, Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4:8), making him the world's first murderer. God cursed the land Cain farmed (Genesis 4:11-12), forcing him to flee to the land of Nod, east of Eden (Genesis 4:16). There, he built a city and named it after his son, Enoch. You can read more about Abel and Cain in Genesis 4:1-17.

"Who was of that wicked one." (3:12) - Cain believed in God and offered sacrifices to Him, but in his heart he belonged to Satan.

"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." (3:13) - "Don't be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." Why, read Jesus' words in John 17:14. Who are our brethren? Read what Jesus said in Matthew 12:50.

"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." (3:14) - "We know that we have been reborn because we love our fellow Christians." Jesus asked believers to show the world their faith by being good role models and loving each other (John 13:35).

"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." (3:15) - John is reinforcing Jesus' words in Matthew 5:21-22. If you hate someone, it's like killing them in your mind.

"Hereby perceive we the love of God." (3:16) - "We know the love of God."

"We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (3:16) - This is the ultimate test of love. Laying down your life could mean dying for others or dedicating your life to them. Perhaps John was thinking of Jesus' words in John 15:13 when he wrote this verse.

"Whoso hath this world's good." (3:17) - "Whoever has worldly wealth."

"And shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him." (3:17) - "And closes his heart to him." People without compassion fail the test of love. Read also Proverbs 21:13.

"Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." (3:18) - Love is more than talking about loving others.  Love is proved by putting words into action.

"Hereby we know." (3:19) - "By this we know."

"If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart." (3:20) - "If our conscience condemns us, we can still be confident that God will be merciful."

"If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." (3:21) - "If our conscience is clear, then we can approach God with confidence."

"Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him." (3:22) - John probably heard this from Jesus
(Matthew 7:7; 21:22; John 15:7). John will reinforce this message in verse 5:14. See also Psalm 34:15.

"This is his commandment." (3:23) - To believe in Jesus (it is faith that saves us) and love one another (John 13:34).

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 to learn about the value (13:1-3), defining features (13:4-7), and abiding nature (13:8-13) of love.

New Living Translation

1 John 3:11-24
Love One Another

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.

14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them.

16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion-how can God's love be in that person?

18 Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.

22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

24 Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What does this passage emphasize?

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. This passage emphasizes fellowship with other believers, holiness, and love.

Application thought for the day:

Spend time today (and every day) showing love to others.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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