Love One Another (1 John 3:11-18)

Series: 1 John: That You May Know

Preacher: Pastor Brad Hillman

Summary:

Preaching from 1 John 3:11-18, Brad delivers a potent message on the nature of sin and the essence of love. He establishes that loving fellow Christians is undeniable evidence of new life in Christ, a stark contrast to consistently practicing lawlessness, which signifies allegiance to the devil. Brad stresses there's no neutrality with God; one is either His enemy or His child. The sermon highlights Christ's voluntary, vicarious, and victorious sacrificial love on the cross as the ultimate model. Believers are called to demonstrate this love sacrificially, specifically, and Spirit-led, actively "doing" rather than just "talking." Brad concludes with a call to repent, embrace new life in Christ, and reflect God's transformative love.

Key Points:

• Love for Christians as Evidence: Loving fellow Christians proves new life in Christ.
• Actions Show Allegiance: Our deeds reveal whether we belong to God or the devil.
• No Neutrality with God: Spiritually, you're either God's enemy or His child.
• Christ's Sacrificial Love: Jesus' death is the blueprint for true, transforming love.
• Practicing Christ-like Love: Express love through costly, specific, and Spirit-led actions.

Reflect & Discuss:

• How does the sermon's emphasis on actions as evidence of faith challenge or affirm your understanding of discipleship?
• In what ways can you tangibly demonstrate sacrificial and specific love to those around you this week?
• How does Christ's victorious sacrifice empower you to overcome specific sin patterns in your life?

Scripture:

• Main Passage: 1 John 3:11-18
• Supporting Passages: John 13:34-35, Matthew 5:44, Genesis 4:1-8, James 1:15, Romans 6:14, Colossians 1:13, 1 John 1:8, Galatians 5:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:12-13, Matthew 7:21-23, John 10:27-29, Romans 10:9-10, John 3:14-16, Numbers 21:4-9.

Keywords:

Sin, Rebellion, Lawlessness, Jesus, Salvation, Sanctification, Righteousness, Holiness, Abiding, Holy Spirit, Christian Life, Deception, Temptation, Grace, Faith, Perseverance, Love, Sacrifice.