Signs of Life: Loving the Brethren

“Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” (1^st John 3:13)

Jesus warned His disciples to anticipate this response from the world in John 15:18-25.

 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19

We should not be amazed when we see the unrighteous hating the Christian. However, it should be a terrible shock to us when those within the body of Christ, who have been born again, hate one another.

Reality in the world as opposed to the Body of Christ are drastically different. As Christians we often struggle in our relationships because we approach them from a worldly mind rather than a kingdom one. As a new creation in Christ, old things have passed away behold all things have become new. 2^nd Corinthians 5:17

While hatred from the world is to be expected, like Cain who hated his brother and murdered him, because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous, 1^st John 3:12, it should be shocking when hatred exist among those within the body of Christ.

Why?  1^st John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren….” As kingdom thinkers we should respond differently than those who are of the world. For one who has passed from death to life, there will be evidence and assurance that our relationship with GOD is good. We can know, because we love the brethren. John writes, “…he who does not love his brother abides in death..”  1^st John 3:14

If we do not love the family we have in Christ, we have serious cause to be concerned about our relationship with GOD.