“For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” (1 John 3:11-12 NASB1995)

Cain and Abel

The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, were no longer in the Garden of Eden with God, for God had judged them for their sins of disobedience. Their first two sons were Cain and Abel (see Genesis 3:1-24; Genesis 4:1-16).

Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. They each offered a sacrifice to God, but God had no regard for Cain’s offering, but he did for Abel’s offering, through which Abel obtained the testimony that he was righteous. So Cain became very angry, and even though God spoke with him about his anger, and what he needed to do about it, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and he killed him. And God told Cain that he was now cursed from the ground that received his brother’s blood from his hand.

Not as Cain

Now, these things were written down for us so that we might learn from this to not desire evil as Cain did. And this reminds me of the teaching in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 where we are taught about the things that so many of the Israelites did during their time in the wilderness and how God was not pleased with them because of their idolatries, adulteries, immorality, revelry, drunkenness, discontent, grumblings against God, and them putting God to the test. So, they were put to death, and they did not enter into God’s eternal rest (eternity with God) because of their disobedience (unbelief).

All throughout the Scriptures we are given examples of what to do and of what not to do, and of what God regards as sinful, and of what he considers to be righteous. We are taught plenty of what to put off and what to put on, and what to embrace, and what to resist. And we are frequently warned of the consequences of rebellion, disobedience, and of continuing in deliberate and habitual sin against God, that if we do not repent of our sins, and if we do not obey God and his commands (New Covenant), that we will not have eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess as truth.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

What is Love?

So, what can we ascertain as the meaning of the word “love” just from this passage of Scripture alone? Love is the opposite of what Cain did. And Cain was guilty of pride, of self-importance, and of hate and jealously against his brother because of his brother’s approval from God which he did not also receive from God. Cain was so jealous of his brother that it turned into rage and then into murder. And murder does not have to be ending someone’s life, but it can be any act against another which deliberately defames, discredits, and mars the character of another to destroy their reputations.

Love is kindness, generosity, compassion and caring, and it is not jealousy, cruelty, or abuse. Love is truth, and not lies, and it speaks the truth which people need to hear and not the lies which tickle “itching ears.” For this kind of love is based in what is morally pure, upright, godly, honest, faithful, and obedient to our Lord and to his commands. For this is not of the flesh and determined by how we “feel,” but this love is of God, and it prefers all that God prefers, which is that we deny self, die to sin, and follow our Lord in obedience to his commands, by the Spirit, in holy living. Glory to God!

[Matthew 7:13-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 8:51; John 14:15-24; John 15:10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 5:9; James 1:21-25; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-15; 1 John 3:1-24; 1 John 4:19-20; 1 John 5:2-3; 2 John 1:6]

So, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be those who love others, not as the world does in the compromise of truth and righteousness so that others will like us, but as the Scriptures teach what love is, which is all that is of God and is holy and righteous and morally pure and upright and obedient to our Lord and to his commands. We need to love others like Jesus loves us and be willing to tell people the truth of what God’s Word teaches rather than lying to people so they will like us. For belief in Jesus requires that we deny self, die to sin, and obey our Lord’s commands, in life practice.

Love Must Be Genuine

Based off Romans 12:9-21
An Original Work / October 22, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Love must be genuine.
Hate what’s evil; cling to good.
Love each other with affection.
Show respect for ev’ryone.
Never lack in your zeal.
Serve the Lord with diligence.

Rejoice in steadfast hope.
In affliction, patient be.
Keep on praying; share with others.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute.
Feel with others sympathy.

Be not filled with conceit.
Daily sit at Jesus’ feet.
Live in harmony with others.
Live at peace with ev’ryone.
Repay not to someone
With the evil he begot.

Do not take your revenge;
Leave it to the wrath of God.
If your enemy is thirsty,
Give to him something to drink.
Do what’s right for mankind.
Evil: overcome with good.

Love Others in Truth
An Original Work / February 16, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love