27 Sep 2012
I John 3:14-15
I John 3:14: “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
This is another recurring theme: we should love one another. If we love fellow believers then that is a sign that our salvation is genuine. If we hate Christians then that is a very strong sign that we are not saved. You cannot hate God’s children and love God: it doesn’t work that way.
Verse 15 is not saying that murderers cannot be saved. If that were the case then Saul could never have become the apostle Paul, as he actually presided over the murder of Christians and did everything in his power to hunt them down. What it is saying is that people who do not repent of their hatred and choose to continue in it do not know God. If you repent of your murders then God will forgive you and you will be saved. The same goes for other sins. Homosexuals can be saved, as long as they repent of their homosexuality. Homosexuals who refuse to repent will not be saved, as repentance is required for salvation. Adulterers can be saved, as long as they repent of their adultery. Thieves can be saved, as long as they repent of their thieving – and on it goes.
To sum it up, one of the evidences of genuine salvation is a heartfelt love of other believers. If this is missing then salvation is probably missing too. There is no salvation that leads a person to hate God’s people.