1 John 3:10-15 (Love of the Brethren)

Chapter 3

Verses 10-15:

"In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."

In verse 10 it uses this word "manifest", to be evident or known. So drawing from the previous verses, verses 7-9 John draws the conclusion that "in this" or "by this" the "children of God and the children of the devil are made [evident and known]." Then the apostle repeats what he has basically been making very clear throughout the epistle, that, "whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God." Thus making it very clear that righteousness and walking in His commandments as far as human weakness is able, is clear evidence of our divine adoption.

Then adding to this, John says, "nor is he who does not love his brother." Not that this is some new thing that has just come up as he says it, but it "is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." Jesus says...

John 13:34-35:
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 15:12-13:
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

Which sounds alot like John in this epistle when he talks about laying down your life for the brethren (v.16).

This was nothing new, Christians have known this from the beginning, the whole law is based on the love of God and the love of your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39, Luke 10:27). But I will speak of the outworkings of love and what love for the brethren is in the next blog, Lordwilling.

Verse 12, "not as Cain who was of the wicked one..." The reprobate, or unbelievers, are children of the devil (Ephesians 2:2-3), as Cain was, and hatred reigns supreme in their heart. John gives this example to further his point in the next line "Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you." John says Cain's "works were evil," the same as "the world," and that his brother's (Abel's) were "righteous," or that he was a child of God. Thus, Cain hated Abel = The reprobate hate the children of God.

Verse 14, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." The love of the brethren or the people of God is one clear sign that you are an adopted child of God and vice versa.

John then says something that could be shocking to many, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." John is not saying anything that hasn't already been said (Matthew 5:21-22). Hatred of the brethren is linked to murder.

"Envy, malice, ill-will and bitterness
of spirit are the very reverse of the
real essence of Christianity.

Love is the sum and temper
and spirit of Christianity.

An envious Christian, a malicious
Christian, a cold and hard-hearted
Christian, is the greatest absurdity
and contradiction."

-Jonathan Edwards-