1 John 3:13-24_The world hates you

1/6/25

Scripture

1 John 3:13-24

Questions

¹¹ For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another, ¹² not as Cain, who was of the evil one and violently murdered his brother. And for what reason did he violently murder him? Because his deeds were evil and the deeds of his brother were righteous. ¹³ Do not marvel, brothers, if the world hates you.

1. We have included vv11-12 to provide some context. 3. What Old Testament story does John reference to illustrate hatred and its consequences?¹

2. What does John mean when he says, “do not marvel, brothers, if the world hates you”?²

¹⁴ We know that we have passed over from death to life because we love the brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.

3. According to the passage, how do we know we have “passed from death to life”?³

¹⁵ Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that every murderer does not have eternal life residing in him.

4. What does John say about those who hate their brothers?⁴

¹⁶ We have come to know love by this: that he laid down his life on behalf of us, and we ought to lay down our lives on behalf of the brothers.

5. How does John define true love in this passage?⁵

¹⁷ But whoever has the world’s material possessions and observes his brother in need and shuts his heart against him, how does the love of God reside in him?

6. What is the significance of helping a brother in need according to John?⁶

¹⁸ Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. ¹⁹ By this we know that we are of the truth and will convince our heart before him, ²⁰ that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart and knows all things. ²¹ Dear friends, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God, ²² and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what is pleasing in his sight.

7. Why does John emphasize loving “in deed and truth” rather than just “word or tongue”?⁷

²³ And this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.

8 . According to John, what is the “commandment” believers must keep?⁸

²⁴ And the one who keeps his commandments resides in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he resides in us: by the Spirit whom he has given to us.

9. How do believers know that God resides in them?⁹

10. How are you being challenged by John’s teachings?

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BibleProject Guide: The Books of 1-3 John

1. John references the story of Cain and Abel from Genesis 4. Cain hated and killed his brother Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God, while Cain’s was not. This story demonstrates that hatred leads to spiritual death and separation from God.

2. John is warning believers not to be surprised if the world hates them because the world, being opposed to God, cannot understand or accept those who belong to God. This hatred is rooted in the world’s rejection of God and His values, similar to how Cain hated Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God.

3. We know we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. Love for others is the evidence that we have received eternal life through Jesus.

4. John says that anyone who hates their brother is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life residing in them. Hatred is equated with spiritual death and separation from God.

5. True love is defined by Jesus’ example: He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Love is sacrificial and self-giving.

6. John teaches that if someone has material possessions and sees a brother in need but does not help, the love of God does not reside in that person. Genuine love must be demonstrated through action, not just words.

7. John emphasizes that love must be practical and sincere, shown through actions and truth, not just empty words. If we do not have love for our brothers and sisters then our heart will condemn us. We are weighed down by sin and doubt. If believers’ hearts do not condemn them, they have confidence before God. This assurance comes from living in the light, confessing sin, and loving others.

8. The commandment is to believe in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded.

9. Believers know that God resides in them by the Spirit He has given them. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the evidence of God’s indwelling.