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"This is the message that you heard from the beginning..."

Text: 1 John 3:11

GENTLE REMINDERS

The Apostle John showed much love in the way he sought to gently remind his readers of the word that they had learned right at the beginning of their journey of faith.

“For this is the message that you heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another.”
1 John 3:11

1. “From the beginning”

a) This phrase was used again and again.

b) Phrases employed: –

i) That which was from the beginning (1 John 1:1).

ii) Which you have had from the beginning (1 John 2:7).

iii) You have known Him who is from the beginning (1 John 2:13).

iv) Who is from the beginning (1 John 2:14).

v) What you heard from the beginning (1 John 2:24).

vi) The message that you heard from the beginning (1 John 3:11).

2. “This is the message”

a) The gospel message is very full and complete.

b) It centres in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

i) His life

ii) His ministry

iii) His purpose in coming to earth

3. A specific application: “that we should love one another”

a) The message of love essentially had two closely related ideas:-

i) God’s love manifested (1 John 3:1).

ii) God’s command to love one another (1 John 3:11).

b) The emphasis on loving one another.

i) To distinguish the genuine children of God from pretenders who profess knowledge of God but do not display the reality of God’s love in their life.

ii) To challenge believers to manifest God’s love practically.

iii) To challenge believers to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ.