Recognizing the Children of God by Their Love 藉着愛來分辨(認清)神的兒女 約壹 1 John 3:10-18 約 John 13:34-35

I. There are two groups of people in the world according to John

II. Some characteristics of the children of God according to John 神的兒女所俱有的一些特質 Abiding (住在主裡) Fellowship (与主相交) Walking in the Light (行在光中) Resisting spiritual adversaries (抵擋属灵仇敵) The world (世界) The antichrists (敵基督) Sins (罪) The Devil (魔鬼) Keeping His commandments (遵守主道) Practicing righteousness (行義) Practicing true Christian love (活出愛) …..

約壹 1 John 3:10 (NIV) 從此就顯出誰是 神的兒女，誰是魔鬼的兒女‧凡不行義的，就不屬 神‧不愛弟兄的也是如此‧ 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 從此就顯出誰是 神的兒女，誰是魔鬼的兒女‧凡不行義的，就不屬 神‧不愛弟兄的也是如此‧

約壹 1 John 3:11–14 (NIV) 11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 11我們應當彼此相愛‧這就是你們從起初所聽見的命令‧12不可像該隱‧他是屬那惡者，殺了他的兄弟‧為什麼殺了他呢‧因自己的行為是惡的，兄弟的行為是善的‧13弟兄們，世人若恨你們，不要以為希奇‧14我們因為愛弟兄，就曉得是已經出死入生了‧沒有愛心的，仍住在死中‧

約壹 1 John 3:15–18 (NIV) 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 15凡恨他弟兄的，就是殺人的‧你們曉得凡殺人的，沒有永生存在他裡面‧16主為我們捨命，我們從此就知道何為愛‧我們也當為弟兄捨命‧17凡有世上財物的，看見弟兄窮乏，卻塞住憐恤的心，愛 神的心怎能存在他裡面呢‧18小子們哪，我們相愛，不要只在言語和舌頭上‧總要在行為和誠實上‧

III. We can recognize the children of God by their love III. We can recognize the children of God by their love. 藉着愛我们能分辨(認清)神的兒女. (約壹 1 John 3:10-18; 約 John 13:34-35) 約 John 13:34–35 (NIV) 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 34 我賜給你們一條新命令，乃是叫你們彼此相愛‧我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛‧ 35 你們若有彼此相愛的心，眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了‧

IV. Different kinds of love and Characteristics of true Christian love 不同的愛及真正基督徒之愛的特質

4 kinds of love in Greek 希腊文有四種愛 Eros: Erotic, Sexual love (愛情,性愛) Storge: Family affection (家人之愛) Phileo: Fondness of others (友愛) Agape: Profound, spiritual, unselfish love, rooted in our Lord (聖愛,或簡称’愛’)

Words for “Love” in the Bible NT (NASB) 新約聖經所用的”愛”字 Eros - 0 Storge – 0 Phileo - 25 Agape - 315 Agape (n) - Love - 116 Agapao (v) - To Love - 137 Agapeetos (adj) - Beloved - 62

Sacrificial love (自我牺牲) Love that demands no return (不求回報) V. The children of God practice true Christian love. 神的兒女会實踐(活出)真正基督徒之愛. (約壹 1 John 3:10-18, 23; 4:7, 21; 約 John 13:34-35; 15:12-13; 利 Lev 19:18; Deut 6:5; Matt 22:37-40; Mark 12:30; 罗 Rom 13:10; 12:10; 加 Gal 6:10) It’s God’s love (神的愛) Sacrificial love (自我牺牲) Love that demands no return (不求回報) Love that increases the value of the loved (增加被愛者的價值)

我們應當彼此相愛‧這就是你們從起初所聽見的命令‧ A. This is Christ’s message from the beginning. 這是神從起初的命令. (約壹 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 21; 約 二 2 John 5; 約 John 13:34-35; 15:12-13; 利 Lev 19:18; 申 Deut 6:5; 罗 Rom 13:10; 12:10; 太 Matt 22:37-40; 可 Mark 12:30) 11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 我們應當彼此相愛‧這就是你們從起初所聽見的命令‧

可 Mark 12:30–31 (NIV) 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 30 你要盡心，盡性，盡意，盡力，愛主你的 神‧ 31 其次，就是說，要愛人如己‧再沒有比這兩條誡命更大的了‧

約 John 13:34–35 (NIV) 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 34 我賜給你們一條新命令，乃是叫你們彼此相愛‧我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛‧ 35 你們若有彼此相愛的心，眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了‧

B. True Christian love is a testimony that we have passed out death into life. 真正基督徒之愛乃是我們已出死入生的見証. (約壹 1 John 3:14-15) 約壹 1 John 3:14-15 (NIV) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 14我們因為愛弟兄，就曉得是已經出死入生了‧沒有愛心的，仍住在死中‧15凡恨他弟兄的，就是殺人的‧你們曉得凡殺人的，沒有永生存在他裡面‧

12不可像該隱‧他是屬那惡者，殺了他的兄弟‧為什麼殺了他呢‧因自己的行為是惡的，兄弟的行為是善的‧13弟兄們，世人若恨你們，不要以為希奇‧ C. Children of God are hated by Satan and the world. 神的兒女是撒但与世界所憎恨的. (約壹 1 John 3:12-13) 約壹 1 John 3:12–13 (NIV) 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 12不可像該隱‧他是屬那惡者，殺了他的兄弟‧為什麼殺了他呢‧因自己的行為是惡的，兄弟的行為是善的‧13弟兄們，世人若恨你們，不要以為希奇‧

主為我們捨命，我們從此就知道何為愛‧我們也當為弟兄捨命‧ D. Jesus Christ has set the perfect example of true Christian love. 耶穌基督已為真正基督徒之愛立下完美的榜樣. (約壹 1 John 3:16) 約壹 1 John 3:16 (NIV84) 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 主為我們捨命，我們從此就知道何為愛‧我們也當為弟兄捨命‧

E. True Christian love must be expressed in deed and truth E. True Christian love must be expressed in deed and truth. 真正的基督徒之愛必須藉行為 和誠實來表達. (約壹 1 John 3:17-18; 加 Gal 6:10; 雅 James 2:26; 1:27) 約壹 1 John 3:17-18 (NIV) 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 17凡有世上財物的，看見弟兄窮乏，卻塞住憐恤的心，愛 神的心怎能存在他裡面呢‧18小子們哪，我們相愛，不要只在言語和舌頭上‧總要在行為和誠實上‧

加 Galatians 6:10 (NIV) 所以有了機會，就當向眾人行善‧向信徒一家的人更當這樣‧ 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 所以有了機會，就當向眾人行善‧向信徒一家的人更當這樣‧

雅 James 2:26 (NIV) As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. 身體沒有靈魂是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的‧

雅 James 1:27 (NIV) 在 神我們的父面前，那清潔沒有玷污的虔誠，就是看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦，並且保守自己不沾染世俗‧ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 在 神我們的父面前，那清潔沒有玷污的虔誠，就是看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦，並且保守自己不沾染世俗‧

VI. Personal response 個人回应