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Notes:
You will handle the world around you based upon how you see yourself. If you see yourself as mereflesh, a collection of cravings and lusts, then you'll behave no better than the animals in the field. If
you see yourself as a living spirit in Christ full of the glory of your Heavenly Father, then you'll live
as a child of the King of Kings in the midst of this lost world. Being in Christ is more than mere
perspective, we are talking about what God has created us to be in Christ. - Pastor Jim
1Jn 3:10-16 NKJV
(10)In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice
righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (11) For this is the message that
you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, (12) not as Cain who was of the
wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and
his brother's righteous. (13) Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. (14) We know that
we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother
abides in death. (15) Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has
eternal life abiding in him. (16) By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we
also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1. Is everyone a child of God? Who are the children of the devil? Define in one sentence what it
means to “practice righteousness”. Define in one sentence what it means to “love one another”.
2. Note Cain and Abel. They were natural brothers (probably twins) but not spiritual brothers,
why? God didn't like Cain's offering. Why? Why did Cain murder Abel? How does this relate
to the world hating us?
Genesis 4:1-16 NKJV Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain,...(2) Then she bore
again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (3)
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.
(4) Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected [Hebrew: “to gaze,
consider, look over, have compassion about”] Abel and his offering, (5) but He did not respect [Hebrew:
“no gaze, no consideration, not looked over, without care”] Cain and his offering. And Cain was very
angry, and his countenance fell. (6) So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your
countenance fallen? (7) If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the
door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." (8) Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it
came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. (9) Then
the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
(10) And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the
ground. ...(16) Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.
3. Why is it important for Christians to lay down their lives for other Christians? What
spirit/motivation/character trait defines the Children of God?
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the
feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom
some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Romans 15:2, and works no ill to any, Romans
13:8-10 - (Hogg and Vine)
Love is giving. Love is ever a choice, always unselfish, expecting no payment, and constantly looking out for
the best interests of others.