“We know love by this, that He (Jesus) laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (Christians). But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother or sister in need and closes his heart against him/her, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
— 1 John 3:16-18
Jesus gave up His life so that anyone who believes in Him can be saved. He didn’t die just for people who bathe, or have money, or are pretty in form, or who are adults, or who have jobs, or who are from a specific country, tribe, or clan. Jesus had pity and sympathy for each and every person in the world.
John wrote this letter to Christians, which means he was telling the Christians they must not be prejudiced in thought and action against other Christians, the ones for whom Jesus died and who believed in Him. How can one hate (not love) a brother or sister in faith so much as to withhold earthly relief from a fellow believer in need, especially since Jesus didn’t withhold earthly or spiritual provision from anyone? Jesus went so far as to die so that the spiritual need of the poor could be met.
Fellow believers, John wrote, love your family in Christ impartially with you mouth and in action. Don’t let anything earthly, including your old nature, keep you from enacting the life-giving love of Jesus. Jesus literally gave His life to save people. Believers can give life-sustaining support to other believers in need. Plus, what Christians have God gave. So it’s really God giving to Christians in need through other Christians.
Love fellow Christians impartially by word and action. Jesus had pity on you and loved you impartially in the most supreme way. He died for you. Jesus had pity on you and all other people.
