Love one another

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous (1 John 3:11-12)

For this is the message …

1. A specific message is being pinpointed
2. What is this message?
   1. A message they have heard from the beginning
   2. A message they have been taught
   3. A message they have been passed on to
3. This is the message John and the other apostles have proclaimed
4. This message must be heard and heeded well

That we should love one another

1. The particular message handed down from the apostles Is none other than the message of love
2. We are to love one another
3. How should we love one another?
   1. We should love one another as Christ loved us
   2. We should love one another as God in Christ loved us

Not as Cain who was of the wicked one…

1. We must not love one another as Cain did
2. Cain ended up killing his brother Abel on account of their worship of the Lord (Genesis 4)
3. This pattern of Cain is that which we must not follow
4. The manner of love we must seek to cultivate is that of Christ Jesus
   1. He loved us and lay down His life for us
   2. He loved us and showed us how much He loved us by His death on the Cross (Romans 8)

And why did he murder…because his works were evil…

1. The conjunction “because” says more than enough
   1. Not only Cain was wicked
   2. But his works also were evil
2. Cain killed Abel because the former had always been the wicked one, and all his works were evil
3. The wicked (Cain) ended up doing what was evil
4. Whereas the righteous (Abel) remains righteous