By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Please explain 1 John 3:15?
(1 John 3:15) Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Answer:
This verse has been a stumbling block for many christians.
Due to LACK of good bible teaching 1 John 3:15 has been the favorite for many that hold to the FALSE TEACHING that a christian could and can lose their salvation based upon their actions if done or serious enough.
This verse is in REFLECTION of the words that the Lord Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:21,22
(Matthew 5:21,22) Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Hatred CAN DO a lot of damage ESPECIALLY to the hater, hatred if left to consume one’s every thought can and has lead to murder.
To KNOW what 1 John 3:15 is saying to is to know what it is not saying.
#1… 1 John 3:15 is WRITTEN to christians so losing one’s salvation IS NOT the issue, the verse DOES NOT say if you commit murder you lose your salvation, BECAUSE if that were true then that would mean that our salvation would be dependant upon us, our actions, and works. which is NOT SO for the scriptures DECLARE:
(1 Peter 1:5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We are KEPT SAVED by God’s POWER not ours!!!
#2… If you harbor HATRED for another christian (brother), As I stated before if left unchecked and ALLOWED to fester in one’s mind to consume or occupy the majority of that persons thoughts, it could and has lead to murder, BECAUSE if given enough time you will want to see that person dead, even if it is ONLY played out in your mind, and as far as God is concern you have ALREADY commited the act.
To use as a EXAMPLE of this principle I refer to scripture where Jesus says if you LUST after a woman in thought, then as far as Christ is concern that ACT OF SEX has already been commited.
(Matthew 5:28) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Mind).
#3… 1 John 3:15 is STATING a truth that NO MURDERERS (Lost, Unsaved people) have eternal life and that is a fact.
Those that have NEVER placed their TRUST in Christ ALONE as their Saviour DO NOT have eternal life and being a murderer is just being described as one of those TYPE of people that DO NOT have eternal life provided that this person has NEVER trusted Christ ALONE as their Saviour.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH