Bible Reading: Numbers 33; Psalm 78:1-37; Isaiah 25; 1 John 3
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 John 3:14)
Jesus wants you to know that you have eternal life. Many people say they 'hope' they would go to heaven when they die, but they do not know for sure. However, the Bible says:
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)
The Bible gives us some marks of assurance of salvation. Here is one of them – you can know that you have passed from death unto life because you love the brethren. Who are the brethren? These are other believers in Jesus Christ. If Jesus lives in you, he certainly loves his people. The love he has will flow out of you and you will love them as well. The Bible tells us that someone who loves not his brother is abiding in death. In other words, that person is not truly born again.
The example that the Bible gives us is of Cain.
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (1 John 3:12)
Cain was of that wicked one. His works of worship were man-centered and evil. He hated the righteousness of Abel and so he killed him. God's word is clear – to God hatred is murder.
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15)
Do you love the brethren? That is a hard question. There are some of the brethren that you know well enough to know they are hard to love! Some of them are easy to love. It is much easier to say that you love the brethren from a distance than to really get in there and love them in community. This is one reason why the church is so important. It teaches us to love just like a family. In a family, we live so close to each other that we know all the quirks and habits of our brothers and sisters. We learn to love, even though we are different and there are things that we do not like about each other.
You need to be involved in the church. This is where the brethren are. They will surprise you; encourage you; help you; disappoint you; hurt you; and love you. And you will do the same with them. But if you want assurance of your salvation, one of its marks will be the fact that you love the brethren!
In Christ,
Rody
