11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:11–17)
The first murder was driven by contempt for righteousness, as was the murder of Jesus, who was righteousness personified. By definition, Christians love one another and others despite their stripes. It is a clear sign that we possess eternal life.
Loving those who hate us is impossible without the power of the cross. It is the advanced expression of Christianity and is rarely seen in the wild. Our visceral reaction to evil is to destroy it, not to “embrace” it. Dropping down a notch is the love of the brethren. Even helping those in need is a challenge for us, because we do not want to part with what we have. If we miraculously do respond in such circumstances we know God abides in us.
The act of giving to others (all or a portion of) that which cost us time, effort, and sacrifice requires the extraordinary power generated by God’s love for us. A closed heart in such circumstances questions the existence of the love of God in our hearts. We’ve all passed on being generous at one time or another, and we are acquainted with the sinking feeling of failing to exude the love of God in a tangible way in that moment.
On the other hand, if our motivation to withhold is born out of contempt, and no such feelings are present, the textbook says the love of God is not in us. We need to listen closely to God’s spirit in us, resisting the influences of the world or our natural tendencies to withhold love to teach a lesson, or worse, to exact vengeance on evil in our own power, as did Peter with his sword in the garden.
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