Apr. 13, 2025

“JESUS IS ALIVE”

“JESUS LIVES FOR US”

1 JOHN 3:13-22

Jesus’ resurrection assures us of His, and ultimately our, victory over death. Simply put, Jesus died so we would not have to experience eternal death. He rose again so that we could experience eternal life.

This concept of passing from death unto life is the backdrop for what John is saying.

1 John 3:13-22: Notice four things in our text:

1.   Contempt Because Of The New Life - v. 13

1 John 3:13 “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.”

Belonging to Jesus means you are no longer of the world. You may be in the world, but you are no longer of the world, and thus you will ever be at odds with the world.

John 15:18-20 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

The world hates us because our new life in Christ is such a contrast with the life they live. When we are surrendered to the point that the life of Jesus is seen through us, our lives serve to convict the world around us of their sin. So, don't be startled if the world hates you. In fact, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says:

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

2.   Characteristics Of The New Life - vv. 14-18

• The evidence of life is love - vv. 14-15 

1 John 3:14-15 “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. 15Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

Many people who think they are headed to heaven are not. How do we know we have eternal life?

Listen to what verse 14 says: "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.”

The word "know" is used 27 times in 22 verses in this book.

John says the evidence of the life of God in us is the love that flows through us. 

And how do we know what love is? How do we define it? What kind of love is Scripture talking about here?

• The knowledge of love is Christ- vs.16

1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

We know what love is because Jesus demonstrated it to us when He laid down His life for us.

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

"Here is how we know that we have passed from death unto life: we love one another just like Jesus loves us, we put that love into practice.”

• The practice of love is ... - vv. 17-18

John says two things about the practice of love.

* It is Sacrificial

1 John 3:17 “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

The love of Christ is not stingy, it is not selfish, it is not cold and uncaring, it does not seek its own. It always looks out for others.

Matthew 5:46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”

• Tangible

1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

James 2:15 “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food.”

3.   Confidence in the new life - vv. 19-22

There are two areas where we are assured of confidence.

• Confidence that He knows us.

1 John 3:19 “And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”

1 John 3:19-22 “Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.” (New Living Translation)

• Confidence that He hears us.

1 John 3:20 “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

A word of caution is needed here. Notice two things about verse 22:

1 John 3:22 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

First, notice the context. We can be certain of our relationship with God because of the evidence of His love in our lives, which necessitates walking in fellowship with Him.

John 14:13  "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Secondly, notice the last phrase of verse 22: "because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.”

What condition is that? That we keep or obey His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

4.   Commandments For The New Life - v. 23

1 John 3:23 “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”

It's really rather simple: He asks us to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another. Two things then: Trust and obey:

• Trust - In the Name of the Son of God:

• Obey - Living out the love of Christ.

Do you know Him? Is the evidence of His love visible in your life? Have you ever trusted Him?