1 John 3:11-24: Hate is Murder, So Love One Another

The apostle John confronts us with a startling truth: hatred equals murder in God's eyes. Through the story of Cain and Abel, John exposes the deadly nature of hatred while revealing how Christ's sacrificial love transforms God's children from murderers into bearers of divine love. God’s Word cuts through our comfortable assumptions about what it means to be Christian, showing us there is no middle ground between love and hate.

The Rev. Delwyn Campbell pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lansing, MI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 John 3:11-24.

In these epistles, John defends the truth of Jesus Christ against false teachings, calling believers to remain steadfast in their faith and grounded in the apostolic witness. He emphasizes the essential connection between truth, love, and fellowship, urging Christians to walk in the light, love one another, and reject anything that denies the person and work of Jesus.

Through 1 John, we explore the assurance of salvation, the battle between light and darkness, and the call to abide in Christ. In 2 John, we are reminded of the importance of holding fast to the truth while guarding against deceivers. Finally, in 3 John, we see a personal glimpse into the challenges of church leadership, hospitality, and Christian unity.

Together, these letters challenge us to live faithfully as God’s children in a world that opposes His truth.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.