The Apostle John writes to the believers about the importance of having genuine love for God and one another. He says that from the beginning the message has always been, we should love one another. Last week’s lesson talked about abiding love. Jesus tells His disciples that in order for them to bear fruit, requires them to abide in Him, which means to continue in Him and His word. Because apart from Him, they could do nothing to bear fruit of love and devotion to God. John continues to communicate that love is essential in any relationship and that it should be a natural response to God’s blessing. How have you responded to God’s love and His blessings? God’s love for us is evident because He laid down His life for us, and we should lay down our lives for the brethren. John says that genuine love is demonstrated in both words and deeds, not one or the other.
Our love for God and one another should not be like Cain, who killed his brother Abel because his own works were evil and his brother’s works were righteous. Why did Cain kill his brother? Because Cain’s heart was filled with hatred and evil. John says that whoever hates his brother is a murderer and no murderer has eternal life abiding in him/her.
Church, let us obey God’s commands to love one another and believe on the name of His Son Jesus. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in close fellowship with Him, and He with them. This gives us the assurance that we know Christ lives in us because the Holy Spirit He gave us lives in us. Since Christ laid down His life for us, what should we be doing for Him?