Loving One Another

1 John 2:3–11

In the first letter from John, he shares three ways to know if we truly understand God: by how we behave, how we treat others, and what we believe about Jesus. Today, we’re going to talk about the second way, the relational test, which is all about showing love to one another.

1. Jesus shows us a completely new type of love

The way Jesus sacrificed Himself and followed God’s plan perfectly shows us what real love looks like. As Christians, we learn from His example that love is about responsibility and sacrifice. Even though Jesus’ sacrifice means we’re forgiven, we’re still expected to do our best to follow God’s rules.

2. Being a Christian means living in a world transformed by love

If you’re a true Christian, you live in a world lit up by Jesus’ love. This love changes how we see everything: good times, bad times, right, wrong, and most importantly, other people. The biggest tragedy, living without God’s love, is avoided because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Real faith is shown when we forgive others and show them grace. If we hold onto hate, we’re not truly living in Jesus’ light.

3. How can we tell if our love is real?

Real love doesn’t include hate. Hate can be openly hurting others, wishing bad things for them, or just not caring about them. A Christian who isn’t living in Jesus’ love might be easily upset, complain a lot, and be quick to feel insulted. But when we really understand and feel the happiness of Jesus’ message, any hate or negativity we had will be replaced by His love and light, making it easier for us to let go of grudges and start caring about others.