Do What You're Supposed to Do: The Power of Love vs. Sin

Do what you're supposed to do so you don't do what you're not supposed to do. This simple yet profound statement captures the essence of how love and obedience work together in the Christian life.

In 1 John 3:11-18, we find a powerful message about the connection between love and avoiding sin. John writes to believers who were facing pushback from their culture and confusion from false teachers. His solution? Focus on love.

What Does It Mean to Love One Another?

"For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." (1 John 3:11)

Notice that John presents this not as a harsh command but as a good announcement. He's saying, "There's a better way!" Even when facing opposition for your faith, the path forward is love.

John contrasts this with the story of Cain and Abel: "We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous." (1 John 3:12)

Cain's heart wasn't aligned with God or God's love. If he had done what he was supposed to do—obey God out of love—he wouldn't have done what he wasn't supposed to do—murder his brother.

Why Does the World Hate Christians?

"Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." (1 John 3:13)

The early Christians in Ephesus were coming out of intense lifestyles and following Jesus, which brought pushback from their culture. When we become new creations in Christ, we no longer identify with our old decisions, lifestyles, or relationships. This change causes others to reevaluate themselves, which can be frustrating for them.

Jesus Himself warned His followers about this. John, who was with Jesus until the cross, is simply repeating what he heard from the Master.

How Do We Know We've Passed from Death to Life?

"We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brothers and sisters. Whoever does not love abides in death." (1 John 3:14)

Our theology—what we believe about God—shapes our actions. If love isn't part of your understanding of God, it's not biblical theology. One way we guard against sin is by making love for God and love for people a priority in our lives.

Is Hatred Really as Serious as Murder?

"Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:15)

Jesus taught that hatred in the heart is equivalent to murder (Matthew 5:21-22). If you have unresolved contempt for someone and make no effort to reconcile, it's as if you've murdered them in your heart. This shows how seriously God takes our relationships with others.

What Does Real Love Look Like?

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." (1 John 3:16)

To understand love, we look at Jesus—the divine expression of God Himself. Jesus displayed self-sacrificial love even for His enemies, the complete opposite of Cain's reaction. One took life; the other gave His life.

Imagine if Cain had said, "I messed up, God. I'm sorry. Abel, I love you. I'm glad your sacrifice was accepted. How can I serve better?" Instead, without love, he did what he shouldn't have done.

How Can We Put Love into Action?

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and truth." (1 John 3:17-18)

John provides a practical example of doing what we're supposed to do—walking in self-sacrificial love for God and others. This isn't about earning salvation; it's about the natural outflow of following Jesus.

There's a proactive element to our walk with God. When we posture our hearts to walk in love for God and people, something shifts in us.

Life Application

Take a moment for introspection. Ask the Lord if there's anything in your life that you shouldn't be doing, and ask Him to help you replace it with what you should be doing. Whatever it is, it's connected to love—love for God, love for people, or even love for yourself.

Are you harboring unforgiveness? God may be asking you to switch to forgiveness and self-sacrificial love.

Do you struggle with addiction? That too is connected to love—not only love for God and others but love for yourself.

The Lord speaks in a gentle, still small voice. He's already spoken to you about that thing. Are you listening?

Ask yourself these questions this week:

1. What am I doing that I shouldn't be doing?

2. What am I not doing that I should be doing?

3. How can love for God and others replace my sinful patterns?

4. In what practical ways can I demonstrate self-sacrificial love this week?

Remember: Do what you're supposed to do so you don't do what you're not supposed to do. And what you're supposed to do is love.