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(Photo by Silas Baisch on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible.)

Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.

In Lesson 94, we are going to study the last part of 1 John 3:10.

Let’s read this part of the verse:

1 John 3:10 ...nor is anyone who does not love their brother or sister.

Let’s go over the definitions of the words.

Nor is (2532. kai) anyone who (3588. ho, hé, to) — means neither is the one who.

Does not love (25. agapaó) — means to not have or demonstrate a deliberate, selfless love that seeks the good of others, following the example of Christ.

Their (846. autos) brother and sister (80. adelphos) — means their fellow believer or fellow Christian.

In other words, the person who does not demonstrate a deliberate, selfless love toward their fellow believers gives evidence that they do not belong to God.

In Lesson 93, we learned that there are two spiritual families: the family of God and the family of the devil. If someone does not practice righteousness as a pattern of their life, they are not a child of God. In the same way, if someone does not demonstrate a deliberate, selfless love toward their fellow believers, this gives evidence that they do not belong to God.

This does not mean believers are perfectly sinless. Rather, those who belong to God should increasingly reflect His character through a life marked by righteousness and love.

In this part of the verse, John teaches that love for our brothers and sisters in Christ should characterize those who belong to the family of God. Those who continually refuse to love their fellow believers are demonstrating a pattern of life that is inconsistent with belonging to God.

It is important to understand that loving others does not cause or earn our salvation. We are saved by placing our faith in Jesus Christ and trusting in His finished work on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

Through faith in Christ, we are born again and become part of the family of God. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and our love for others becomes evidence that God is transforming our lives.

In 1 John 4:8, we read that God is love. As children of God, we should reflect the character of our Father. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us, God’s love should increasingly be reflected in the way we live and love others.

1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Your faith in Christ should produce a growing, Christlike love for fellow believers. As you mature in Christ, your love for others should increasingly grow.

In John 13:34-35, Jesus commands His followers to love one another as He has loved us. He teaches that our love for one another is evidence that we are His disciples.

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give y