“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 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 ESV)
How does someone truly know that he or she is saved? Is it possible to have assurance that Christ has paid for your sins and made you new, even though you continue to struggle with sin every day of your life?
Assurance of salvation is something that many, if not most, Christians struggle with at some point in their lives. The question, “Am I really saved?” may seem hard to answer. While the solution to this problem is not as simple as just deciding to have assurance of salvation, Scripture does give clear, direct, and practical help to believers who struggle with doubt. We are commanded to “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), but that does not mean we are left wholly to our own devices to find certainty of our justification.
John highlights one specific aspect of the Christian life as incontrovertible evidence of new spiritual life. He says, “We know we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.” Truly loving one another, as the body of Christ, can have no other explanation than that we have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. People may maintain some semblance of social niceties with one another or even sacrifice time or money to serve one another without true spiritual life. But the love of which John is speaking goes beyond any simple benevolent action or self-serving motivation; it is a genuine love for fellow members of the body of Christ with whom, by faith, we are united to Christ.
There is a general love for mankind which abides within the believer, but there is a special love he or she has for those of the faith.
Matthew Henry says of this love,
It includes a peculiar love to the Christian society, to the catholic [universal] church, and that for the sake of her head, as being his body, as being redeemed, justified, and sanctified in and by him; and this love particularly acts and operates towards those of the catholic church that we have opportunity of being personally acquainted with or credibly informed of. They are not so much loved for their own sakes as for the sake of God and Christ, who have loved them. And it is God and Christ, or, if you will, the love of God and grace of Christ, that are beloved and valued in them and towards them.
Christians love their brothers, not because they have gone through some sort of self-improvement plan to become better people, but because they have Christ in them, which drives them to love others who have that same indwelling Spirit. The love Christians have for one another is so powerful because it arises from a common Savior.
John is drawing a sharp contrast between Cain, a murderer who hated his brother, and the believer who loves his brother. Hatred comes naturally to us, as is clear from Cain’s life and his identity-defining sin of murdering his brother. He is the paradigm of what unregenerate human relationships look like—serving and elevating one’s self even at the expense of others. Conversely, the true love of brother is one of the clearest evidences that one no longer abides in death but in Christ.
Of course, even Christians will never love their brothers perfectly, but they will love them truly. They will still fight against their self-centered natures, but they will win some of those battles. They will still often put themselves above others, but they will also put others over themselves. None of this is because believers are just better people than unbelievers. It is all and only because believers are new people in Christ. If you truly love your brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter how weak that love may feel, you can be assured that you have passed from death to life. What a blessing to see the Lord at work in you, and what a comfort to know you are his.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for bringing us out of death and into life in Christ. May we love one another out of the heart of flesh you have given us that we may prove to ourselves and others that we abide in Christ.
In his name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for the safety and effective ministry of missionaries serving in international security and crisis management as they provide critical care and support around the world.
- Wednesday: Pray for missionaries working to open New Zealand as a new ministry field for ABWE.
- Thursday: Pray for missionaries in Moldova as they minister to the physical and spiritual needs of refugees.
- Friday: Pray for missionaries in Toronto who are reaching Tibetans and Punjabi Sikhs with the gospel.
- Saturday: Pray for the Chiang Rai International Christian School, that the students and staff would excel in all they do for the glory of God.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries in Bangladesh to be encouraged in difficult ministry.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving in sports ministry and community outreach.
Featured Opportunity to Serve:
Obstetrician Gynecologist
Location: Togo
Are you interested in caring for women, delivering their babies, supervising nurses in prenatal care, and consulting for gynecology cases? Do you have a desire to use medicine as a tool for evangelizing and discipling the women of Togo? Our hospital in southern Togo is looking for someone like you!
