1 John 3:11-18 – What Real Love Looks Like

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. —1 John 3:11

1. Real love cares for

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. —John 13:34-35

12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. —1 John 3:12-13

6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. —Genesis 4:6-8

They repay me evil for good and oppose me for pursuing good. —Psalm 38:20

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. —Matthew 5:10-12

If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. —John 15:18

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. —1 John 3:14-15

2. Real love is

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. —1 John 3:16

Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another… —1 John 4:11a

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. —1 John 3:17-18

Love is

Love is

Love takes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. —James 1:22