#10 - Love - 1 John

John concludes the list of characteristics with love:

#10 - "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murder, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." 1 John 3:14

Understanding what love is... what love looks like... is a problem in American culture today. What our culture defines as love in many cases is not truly Biblical love.

In my previous post I used homosexuality as an example, and it works well as an example here. Many in American culture today, in particular young people, think that to exclude a practicing homosexual from the church (for example) church leadership is not loving. The truth is, to include a practicing homosexual as a part of the church is a very hateful thing to do. It shows no love at all.

Our culture is very much oriented toward not hurting any one's feelings or their self-esteem. Notice the word used here: self-esteem. Almost anytime you see the word "self" you can be sure it's not Biblical. The Bible is not about "self" it is ALL about God.

What is the most loving thing someone can do for another person? Think about something that lasts forever.

To include someone in the church is to tell them, and the world, that they are okay. God accepts you. That's not true. Look at Matthew 25:31-40. In these passages Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep and the goats are those people who lived in obedience to God (sheep) and those who rejected God (goats).

1 Corinthians chapter fives describes a situation in which a man who is involved in sexual sin is accepted by the Corinthian church, and the church is proud and boasting about its acceptance of this man. This sounds like the "Christian" churches that call themselves reconciling churches. They accept sexual sin in their membership and not only that, they are proud about it and they boast about it!

What did Paul say to do about this situation? He says to hand the man over to Satan and tells the church their boasting is not good. Paul writes: "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother, but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler." - 1 Corinthians 5:11

This sounds very mean spirited, to kick someone out of the church. But in reality it is the very best thing you can do for them. While they are in the church they are thinking they have no problems. After all, they go to church regularly, so they must be saved. But the truth is they are heading for hell and the lake of fire. Instead of leading them to Christ the church is blinding them.

By "turning them over to Satan", they will then be able to see their sin and their need for a saviour. Yes, their feelings get hurt, but they get eternal life. That truly is love.

I need to be clear that I am not claiming that Christians in church are pure, free of sin and they sit in judgement over others, deciding who to let in and who to keep out of heaven. There is not one person in the church who does not deserve to go to hell. Everyone is a sinner. The difference is that Christians struggle with sin, knowing they are doing wrong and struggling to do what is right. The difference is that Christians are trusting that Christ died to pay their penalty for sin, so that when God looks at them He sees the righteousness of Jesus not the sinfulness of man.

Have you turned away from sin (repented) and trusted that Jesus has truly and fully paid the penalty for your sin?