I John 3:10-15 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.
Previously, we spoke of how living a life of righteousness shows evidence that we are children of God (not children of the devil), and of course we know that our acceptance before the Father is Christ's righteousness upon us, and not our own righteousness; which is like filthy rags before God. Today, we see that one great evidence that proves that we are children of God is the love we have for our brothers and sisters in Christ. It bears repeating that Jesus told us that the way we love one another is how the world will know we are His. John used Cain as an example of someone who belongs to the devil's family, because he murdered his own brother. Why did he? Because he despised his brother's righteousness; just as the world will despise us when we desire to live a righteous life in Christ. Jesus warned that the world would hate us because it hated Him first. However, we cannot use that as an excuse to hate others, especially those who are members of God's family. In respect to loving each other, Jesus took it a step further and said this in Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire." John makes it clear in today's verses that if we hate our brother or sister in Christ, we are guilty of murder. As far as the church is concerned, we are Christ's bride. So, that should cause us to stop and carefully consider that when we hate our brothers or sisters in Christ, we are saying that we hate Jesus' bride, and just maybe we are still living in darkness. If that is so, then we must step back and ask ourselves, are we really in God's family or the devil's?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
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