BIG IDEA:
TRANSITION: A LIFESTYLE OF PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS INVOLVES LOVING THE BRETHREN
I. (:10b) FAILURE TO LOVE MARKS YOU AS A CHILD OF THE DEVIL
“anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”
Westcott: “This clause is not a mere explanation of that which precedes but the expression of it in its highest Christian form.”
II. (:11) GOD’S STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOVE
“For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
III. (:12) NEGATIVE EXAMPLE = FAILURE OF CAIN TO LOVE ABEL
A. Cain’s Hatred Exposed His Satanic Source
“Not as Cain, who was of the evil one”
– Where are you coming from?
– Whose family are you in?
Both Cain and Abel came from the same set of physical parents and same environment; yet they turned out radically different.
B. Cain’s Hatred Found its Ultimate Expression = Murdered His Brother
“and slew his brother”
Murder would be terrible enough; but to murder your brother …
Ryrie: Re Slew — “Originally the Greek word (used here and in Rev 5:6,9,12; 6:4,9; 13:3,8; 18:24 only) meant ‘to cut the throat,’ and later it meant ‘to slay with violence.'”
(Brings back memories of the O. J. Simpson murder case)
C. Cain’s Hatred was Motivated by Evil Ambition (Envy)
“And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.”
IV. (:13) EXPECT HATRED (NOT LOVE) FROM THE WORLD
”Do not marvel brethren, if the world hates you.”