This coming Sunday, we will complete our look at 1 John 3:16-18 where we find these inspired and challenging words penned by the Apostle John:

“ By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 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 in truth.”

In addition to telling us that our love for each other in the body of Christ should be patterned after our Lord’s death upon the cross, John also calls us to consider the duty we have to love each other in this magnificent way. He says, “ we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” Someone has described this simple statement as a “ devastating” obligation placed upon us by the Lord’s Apostle.

It is most difficult, first of all, because it sets forth something that we all must do if we belong to the Savior. That is, it lays upon every Christian a heavy burden and a solemn responsibility. On initial glance, this word “ ought” seems to stand in opposition to the freeness of our salvation. It appears to suggest that our works are, in fact, intrinsically connected to the authenticity of our redemption (see especially 1 John 3:11-15).

And then, it is also a great challenge given our natural aversion to being told what to do. None of us finds any pleasure in some person, authority, or outside agency imposing their will upon us. We love our personal freedom. And yet John makes it apparent that if we name the name of Christ as our Lord, there is a command that must shape the very direction and attitude of our lives each day.