1 John 3:11-18

1 John 3:11-18 … Love is a characteristic, an outward evidence of an inward regeneration. We’re not talking about love toward a loved one, but sacrificial love for all. The Scriptures have a great deal to say about love and Jesus repeatedly taught about love, yet we still struggle a bit with the concept. It’s clarified here for us. Using Cain and Abel as an example, we find that Abel was righteous and Cain was not. Righteousness and evil are like oil and water, there is no blend of the two, and as a result, there will typically be resentment and hatred by the evil directed at the righteous. We shouldn’t be surprised by the animosity, but our response ought to be love (Luke 6:27), not just for those who reciprocate and not just for fellow believers, but for all because our model is Christ who gave His life for sinners (Romans 5:8).