Year B
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2015
Title: Love One Another: Not the Same Old Formula
Cross~Wind UMC
Going deeper
I John
3:16-24
The theme for I John 3:11- 24 is the gospel of loving one
another. The contrast is between love and hate. He shows the importance of love
among the fellowship of believers. The primary contrast is between showing love
on the one hand and hate or apathy on the other. The great pattern is Jesus,
who laid down his life for the believer. Thus, the great command given to
believers is to believe in Jesus and to love each other. People show this love
in actions, especially by giving to those in need. On the other hand, hate, or
apathy, brings death, sin, and evil and shows no mercy to people.
16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us [focusing on the
positive example of Christ. Note that the
death is “for us.” That privilege is the basis for obligation. Christians
receive life from an act of love, so the life in them expresses itself in love.]-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.[One can understand these verses as a reflection on John
15:13-15, where on the night before his crucifixion Jesus is portrayed as
telling his disciples that their relationship to one another is the binding
love between friends, and that “no one has greater love than … to lay down
one’s life for one’s friends.” Certainly within that narrative context, “laying
down one’s life” for another is quite direct and literal, and it is that
self-sacrificial act that the letter refers to when it says simply, “he laid
down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). Does it follow, then, that the recipients
are likewise literally to sacrifice their lives in response to their obligation
to “lay down [their] lives for one another”? Without denying the possibility
that such circumstances might arise, this letter makes it clear that such
literal self-sacrifice is not the primary moral obligation in view. Nor is it
content to permit an abstract “willingness” to act in such a way under extreme
circumstances to suffice. The giving of one’s life for others is defined as the
compassionate offer of oneself and one’s possessions to other members of the
community of faith. So obvious is this obligation to the author of the letter
that he is dumbfounded by the very thought that anyone might claim to have
God’s love within her or himself and fail to meet others’ needs.] 17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's
goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?[The specific concern for the poor is part of the Jewish
heritage. The observation suggests those who left were the wealthy ones. The
secessionists may have wondered if their poverty would drive them to the
secession. The clause translated as “refuses help” would literally be rendered
as “closes off his compassion” (klesh ta splagcna autou), using
the standard Greek idiom of the “bowels” (splagcna) as the seat of the
emotions and acts of compassion (in the way we in English now speak of the
“heart”). Without giving way to the etymological fallacy in such a
well-established idiom, the image nevertheless suggests the idea of hoarding
within oneself the love received from God in the forms of the material things
necessary for life (bion
tou kosmou). If God’s love properly “abides” (menei)
in us it will not remain there closed off from others, but instead, having been
nourished and transformed by God’s love we will act with compassion toward
others in need. One also needs to admit that within the language of the
Johannine literature this obligation is restricted to the ways one is to act
toward other members of the faith community, one’s “brother or sister” (ton adeljon). Similarly limited calls for sharing one’s material
possessions with fellow Christians can be found elsewhere in the New Testament
(cf. Acts 4:34-35; James 2:15-16). Indeed, a proven effective means of
evangelization is compassionate sharing of our possessions with those in need
when it is at the same time made clear that these charitable acts arise not
from ourselves but from the love of God that abides in us.]
Verses 18-22 have the theme of assurance before of God of
those who belong to the truth.18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but
in truth and action. [The point is not just
sincerity versus hypocrisy, but that claiming to belong to the truth manifests
itself in deeds of love, not in hate. Nor is it the case that the only ones who
benefit from such acts of compassion are the recipients of the charity. By
demonstrating love not only by “words” but also by “actions”, we prove to
ourselves as well as to others that our relationship with God has transformed
us. Much more is at stake than just a warm, fuzzy feeling about ourselves and
God’s love for us.] 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and
will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn
us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. [When the text speaks of “reassuring our hearts” (kardian)
or conversely being “condemned” by them, it is using the language of knowledge
and proof. The “heart” in Greek idiom was the seat of the intellect and not the
emotions. That is why the proper parallel with “God is greater than our hearts”
is that “God knows everything”; in each instance, what is at stake is knowledge
about us. Knowledge of the truth can help us in two cases. One in that our
hearts condemn us with some sin, and yet God knows it all and forgives. Two, it
gives assurance where our hearts are free of sin. This thought is similar to
that of 2:2. This may have been necessary because secessionists would have cast
doubts.] 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not
condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him
whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
[Thus, there should be no uncertainty about
our relationship with God if our actions accord with God’s will (“obey his
commandments”) and arise from a loving, mutual relationship with God (“do what
pleases him,”). This knowledge provides not only the “boldness” to ask God for
what we need but also forms the substance of those requests in keeping with
what will be pleasing to God. God is so gracious toward those who struggle with
the sin that God gives whatever they ask. The text does not suggest merit, in
answering prayers. It is part of the covenant relationship.]
Verses 23-24 have the theme of the
commandment to believe and love. 23 And this is his commandment, that
we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another,
just as he has commanded us. [The commandment from God is to believe in the name of the
Son, Jesus Christ, and love each other. People who obey the commandments abide
in God, and God abides in them. Further, we know that God abides in us by the
Spirit that God has given us. The text continues the comment from verse 22 on
John 16:26-27. Belief in the Gospel is a work, shaped in controversy, because
of the necessity of public confession. The double commandment is similar to the
synoptic tradition of the two great
commandments. Although the words usually trip easily off our tongues,
understanding the precise nuance of the command to “believe in the name of his
Son Jesus Christ” is difficult to pin down. The usual meaning of an action done
“in the name of …” in Greek idiom is that of an attendant circumstance (“with
mention of,” “while calling the name of …”). Surely, however, something more is
at stake than just speaking Jesus’ name in a statement of what one believes.
Equally unsatisfying is that it is nothing more than a formulaic means of
identifying the object of one’s belief and trust. Would not direct use of the
name itself (“believe in Jesus Christ”) better express the relational aspect of
that trust? A better possible understanding of the expression would be its use
to indicate an effect accomplished by uttering the name. The ability to believe
is itself a consequence of calling on “the name” of Jesus Christ, who is then in
some sense both the source and the object of that trust. It is precisely this
idea of the mutuality of trust and loving action between the believer and
Christ that forms the conclusion.] 24 All who obey his commandments abide
in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the
Spirit that he has given us. That the
commandment is not legalistic becomes clear in that “abiding” is so intimate.
Commandment and Spirit are together. Note love in John 13:34 and Spirit in
14:15-17, 25-26. The New Testament often has Spirit as a pledge or criterion.
Here, the thought is consistent with 4:2; the Spirit is the one who brings true
public testimony about Jesus. Just as God has made Christ to abide within us
through the gift of the Spirit, so also we abide in Christ as well through the
gift of loving actions toward others in response to God’s command. Barth says
that abiding in John is a way of being, not just an experience we have, nor a
disposition. We have our truest reality in abiding, in which we are to see and
understand ourselves in truth. We are to remain who we are. We are in Him of
whom we have heard. We are really in Him.[1]
Introduction
Not the same old formula.
In recent years, companies have
learned how dangerous it is to change the ingredients of a successful brand.
Exactly 30 years ago, in April 1985, Coca-Cola changed its formula and
introduced a product called "New Coke." The response was
overwhelmingly negative, and within three months, the original formula was back
on the market.
Just how bad was it? The company
hotline received 1,500 calls a day, almost four times what they usually logged.
Psychiatrists listened in on calls and heard people talking as though they were
grieving the death of a family member.
Southerners saw the change through
the lens of the Civil War, describing it as yet another surrender to the
Yankees. Even Fidel Castro despised New Coke, reportedly calling it "a
sign of American capitalist decadence."
Bottom line: Be careful when you
change a successful brand. You might end up breaking something that does not
need fixing.
Oddly enough, Coke has decided to
change its formula once again, offering a new version called "Coca-Cola
Life." It was launched in Argentina before being test-marketed in the
United Kingdom, and came to the United States in September 2014. People are
wondering if it is healthier than regular Coke, since its formula contains a
sweetener from natural sources. "Coca-Cola Life" will get its
sweetness from sugar and stevia, which is derived from a plant in the
chrysanthemum family. Instead of regular Coke's 140 calories per can, Life will
have 89.
It competes with Pepsi True, also
made with stevia.
Coca-Cola has started offering
Life. Here is what one person ponders about the new Coke.
For a moment, imagine the marketing
meeting that must have taken place when they decided on the branding of this
new product. Was there not anybody in that room who thought that naming it
Coca-Cola Life was a terrible idea? What does that make normal Coca-Cola with its
normal amount of sugar — Coca-Cola Death?[2]
Application
One of the
issues facing John is that people claimed to have a form of faith or belief,
but did not have corresponding actions that testified to that belief. I want us
to explore that issue with John for a moment.
First, let
us consider the old formula.
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).
That is what God said to Moses and the people of Israel.
As far as formulas go, it is
terrific. For thousands of years, it has worked well in a variety of forms in
most of the world's religions. Jews believe that "you shall love your
neighbor as yourself." Hindus affirm that "one should not behave
toward others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself." Buddhists say
that you should "hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find
hurtful." Muslims believe that "no one of you is a believer until he
desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." (--Hadith of
an-Nawawi 13)
There is nothing secret about this
formula. Even Jesus endorsed it when he made it a part of his great
commandment. "Love the Lord your God," said Jesus, and "love
your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37, 39).
Surprisingly, in the first of his
New Testament letters, the apostle John offers a new recipe: "this is [God's] commandment, that we should
believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another" (v.
23).
Believe in Jesus. Love one another.
Not the same old formula.
Second, let
us consider the new formula.
So what is the apostle John up to?
For starters, he wants to put a
human face on the commandment to love one another — the face of Jesus Christ.
"We know love by this, that he laid
down his life for us" (v. 16). John knows that the problem with the
love commandment is that it can easily become sickeningly sweet, with people
enjoying the pleasant taste of tender emotions and charitable thoughts. So he
changes the formula to include the bitter sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Such a change of ingredients can
actually change our behavior. "We
ought to lay down our lives for one another," (v. 16) insists John,
following the example of Jesus. Under this new formula, sacrificial giving
becomes a central part of the Christian life, one that simply cannot be denied.
John asks his followers, "How does
God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or
sister in need and yet refuses to help?" (v. 17).
Good question. Where do you see
God's love in such a person? You do not. It is just not there. Love is seen in
action, not in words.
We love in action when we give our
time. One of the greatest gifts we give to each other is time. When you give a
spouse, a parent, a child, a friend, or a stranger, your time, you have given
something you cannot get back. That time is gone. We need to treasure the gift
of time as those who receive this gift from others. In fact, we see it around
here, in funeral dinners, in people who set up this room, in people who
volunteer for Upward Soccer. We see people willingly sacrificing time for others,
setting aside time they could have used on themselves.
We see love in action as people
give generously of their treasure. People enable this congregation to make
disciples for Jesus Christ to transform the world when they regularly give to
the ministries of this congregation. People help us fulfill the vision of
helping people believe in Christ, grow in their faith, and go into the world to
love as Jesus loved, as we give of our treasure.
John summarizes his new formula
with the words "Believe in the name
of [God's] Son Jesus Christ and love one another" (v. 23). He links
belief in Jesus with love for one another, knowing that the clearest example of
love is the sacrificial life and death of Christ. The result of this new
formula is a close connection to God, one in which "all who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them"
(v. 24). John says that we will know that God lives in us "by the Spirit that he has given us"
(v. 24).
The new link between belief and
love create a new kind of life for us.
Christ Life.
Third, Jesus Christ has been
offering Life for quite some time.
Throughout the gospel of John, we
hear the promise of life. In fact, the gospel was written "so that you may come to believe that Jesus
is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life"
(John 20:31). The gospel begins with the Word of God taking the human form of
Jesus, and we're promised that "what
has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people"
(John 1:3-4).
Belief. Life. Light. Put these
ingredients together, and you can see that a new formula is beginning to
emerge.
John goes on to tell us that "God so loved the world that he gave his only
Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life" (John 3:16).
So now love is in the mix. As well
a kind of life that extends beyond the grave — eternal life.
Describing himself, Jesus says,
"I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life"
(John 8:12). "I came that they may
have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
- Life in his name.
- Eternal life.
- The light of life.
- Abundant life.
- The way, the truth and the life.
- Life, life, life.
Conclusion
Christ Life is what you want.
Coca-Cola Life, not so much.
You can have that life as you
believe in the Son and love one another, all of which will lead to the close
connection with God. You will have nothing to lose, and a new life to gain.
Sermon to go
Key points
First, let
us consider the old formula.
"You shall love
your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18)
Hindus affirm that "one should
not behave toward others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself."
Buddhists say that you should "hurt not others in ways that you yourself
would find hurtful." And Muslims believe that "no one of you is a
believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for
himself." (--Hadith of an-Nawawi 13)
"this is [God's] commandment, that we should believe in the name of his
Son Jesus Christ and love one another" (I John 3: 23).
Second, let
us consider the new formula.
"We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us" (v.
16)
"We ought to lay down our lives for one another," (v. 16)
"How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees
a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help?" (v. 17)
"Believe in the name of [God's] Son Jesus Christ and love one another"
(v. 23)
"all who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them"
(v. 24)
"by the Spirit that he has given us" (v. 24)
Third, Jesus Christ has been
offering Life for quite some time.
the gospel was written "so that you may come to believe that Jesus
is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life"
(John 20:31)
we're promised that "what has come into being in him was life,
and the life was the light of all people" (John 1:3-4).
"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John
8:12). "I came that they may have
life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me" (John 14:6).
Ideas for exploration
1. In Acts 4:5-12 we have the story of Peter, in which he
stresses that there is salvation in no one else but in Jesus Christ, who God
raised from the dead.
2. Note the new formula of “love one another” shifts in I
John 3:16-24.
3. John 10:11-18, where Jesus is the good shepherd who lays
down his life for the sheep.
Let’s Live It!
Psalm 23:2-3a
2 He makes me lie down
in green pastures;
he leads me beside still
waters;
3 he restores my soul.
This week,
stay in touch with the source of our love for each other, namely, the love of
God for us. Let awareness of that love restore your soul. Let the restoration
flow into your relationships with other people.
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