What Is Meant? I Must Lay Down My Life For My Neighbor!

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 

We know that we have passed from death

 unto life, because we love the brethren.

 He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: 

and ye know that no murderer hath eternal 

life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we 

the love of God, because He laid down 

His life for us: and we ought to lay down 

our lives for the brethren. But whoso 

hath this world's good, and seeth his brother 

have need, and shutteth up his bowels

 of compassion from him, how 

dwelleth the love of God in him?  

1John 3:13-17 

     The apostle John does not hold back from strong and serious words. John is an apostle of love and speaks much about love but he is not some wishy-washy apostle who "just loves the world." In God there is a great impediment to the salvation of any man for it lies in God Himself, in His inexorable and immutable justice: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). God cannot look upon us who are sinners for sinners are a stench before Him. God cannot stand the odor of sin, and speaking of God: "Thou are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous then He" (Habakkuk 1:13). God does not simply "love" the world for the world is sinful and has an odorous stench that He cannot stand. In Adam's fall, we sinned, all of us and while you may think that this is wrong, it is not for we are all the sons of Adam receiving from him that corruption of his body, his genetics that are so corrupted and have been passed down through all generations and has become even more corrupted that we cannot and will not come to God for our salvation on our own. No man will come to
God and be saved until he or she comes to know that they are sinners and in need of a Savior. Oh, they may come to Church, raise their hands in some sort of worship, sing hymns or spiritual songs, laugh and talk a "good' talk about God and Jesus. Yet, they have not come to realize that they are sinners and until they come to understand this truth, they will only be "nominal" Christians at best or not even believe in Jesus. Some go so far as to make a god of their own making, one that fits their desires and makes them feel godly. 

     Yes, God is Just, a Just God demanding that this debt of sin be paid satisfying that injustice towards Him. Yes, this is true but God is also Merciful, a Merciful that is not simply an attribute but what He is so while He demands justice He also provides Mercy. God provides mercy not because we are so wonderful, so "Christian" or do good works, but He satisfies His Justice through Himself: He pays the debt owed to Him. How does God do this? He comes to earth Himself as the Savior and this means to satisfy the life that became death He had to die sinless while the first man died sinful. God is Love, not an attribute, but is Love. Do not underestimate this love of God that He loves the world, He does not! God loves those who put their faith, their trust, and have converted to Jesus Christ for He see that person through His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God sees Authentic Christians through Jesus and no other way. God came to pay for sin, not sins, but sin. Sin was the debt owed to Him. So then, how does this apply to us? The debt now paid by the cross upon which Jesus died sinless can now be applied to whomever comes to Him and truly believes in Him, in the Savior Jesus Christ.

    God, through His word reveals what it means to be a believer in Him, in His Son Jesus Christ. God gives to man law, and precepts, and commands, so that we will have the knowledge of what God expects from His children. How is this done? When you become a "believer" you are given a new nature, one that can overcome the corruption of your soul so that you no longer desires the things of this world. No, you are not perfect but through your sanctification an ongoing process and by your repentance and turning from the sin that so besets you then you are blessed of God to have eternal life.

     John is telling us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ and if we do not then we may not have truly repented and have made a god(s) of our own: i.e., cars, homes, entertainment, etc... but we forget then, "this world is not our home we are just passing through and the things of this world are just borrowed for awhile." True Authentic Christians do not just come to Church. Authentic Christians love the brethren as God has loved.... He gave Himself to save. Look around, is there anyone in your congregation struggling with life? Are you taking any action to aid that person? Do you see your brother or sister in need and help that person? Or, do you just go to Church, get fed, and then go back to life without one thought as what it means to follow the words that were inspired by the Holy Spirit and written for us by John: love the brethren. 

     True love is more than words, it is action. Did God just speak that He would do something then not do it? NO! God acted to aid those who would come to Him and wills that we do the same... take action for those who have eternal life with us when Jesus comes back on the last day for His bride. This is Authentic Christianity.

These are the things that ye shall do;

    speak ye everyman the truth to his

neighbour; execute the judgment of truth

and peace in your gates: and let none of you

    imagine his neighbour; and love no false 

oath: for all these are things that I hate,

    saith the LORD.

                   Zechariah 8:16-17

You have a new nature: live this nature

Richard L. Crumb