** 爱 Each Other as God Loves Us **
In 1 John 3:11-24, the apostle John writes about the importance of loving one another, just as God loves us. This passage is a reminder that our faith is not just about believing in God, but also about showing love and compassion to those around us.
The Message of Love
"For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." (1 John 3:11)
John reminds us that the message of love is not new, but rather it is a message that has been with us from the beginning. God's love for us is the foundation of our faith, and it is this love that we are called to share with others.
Cain and Abel: A Warning
"Do not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous." (1 John 3:12)
John warns us not to be like Cain, who murdered his brother Abel out of jealousy and anger. This serves as a warning to us not to let hatred and bitterness take hold in our hearts.
The Mark of a Christian
"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death." (1 John 3:14)
John writes that the mark of a Christian is not just belief in God, but also love for one another. If we do not show love to our brothers and sisters, then we are still stuck in spiritual death.
Loving in Deed and Truth
"Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)
John emphasizes the importance of putting our love into action. It is not enough to simply say that we love one another; we must show it through our actions.
The Confidence of Faith
"Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." (1 John 3:19)
John concludes this passage by reminding us that when we love one another, we can have confidence in our faith. We can be assured that we are of the truth and that our hearts are right with God.
In this passage, John reminds us that our faith is not just about believing in God, but also about showing love and compassion to those around us. As we strive to love one another, we can be confident in our faith and assured of our relationship with God.
