The Love that Cushions the Blows of Battle

Love stands as the motivational factor for righteous living.

I.  The message followed by believers.  (1 John 3:11)

    To point out real error, so long as it is done in a loving manner, is a magnificent show of love, for God is always more interested in the eternal than in the temporal.

     Beware the purveyors of secret knowledge, like that of the early Gnostics.  Beware so called Christian ministries that discourage the dissemination of their materials and teaching to the non-initiated, or in some cases the non-paying.

II.  The murderous hearts of unbelievers.  (1 John 3:12)

     Not to love is in essence to hate.  (See Matt. 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15)

     A.  The mode of the murder. (i.e., Cain's murder of Abel)

          The Greek wording indicates that Cain's actions were even more rebellious than might at first appear, for he in essence sacrificed his brother.  It is as if he is saying to God through his action, "You demand a sacrifice with blood, I'll give you a sacrifice with blood."

     B.  The motive of the murder.

     C.  The malignity of the murder.

     D.  The manner of the brothers.

     E.  The morality of the new birth.

III.  The moral support given by fellow believers.  (1 John 3:11-12)