By This We Know Love

This morning we continue in our study through the first letter of John as we consider 1 John 3:11-24. In the text we see how we know we've passed out of death into life (vv. 11-15). There’s a reminder to love in considering the opposite of love. Secondly, we see how we know love (vv. 16-18).  There’s a reason to love in considering why we ought to love. Thirdly, we see how we know we've received God's love (vv. 19-24). There’s the reassurance of love in considering how we know that we are of the truth and reassure our hearts before Him. True and living faith produces genuine love for others. Faith is the root; love is the fruit. We grow as loving people, not by looking within, but by cultivating a deeper belief and trust in God’s love displayed to us in Jesus. Since God has loved us and we know His love in Jesus, we love others in a way that reflects the self-giving love of God, that's not mere talk, but is love in deed and in truth. Jesus laid down his life for us so we lay down our lives for others. We know love by this, that Christ gave himself in love and laid down His life for us.