I John 3:11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
As John wrote to these early believers, he reminded them of one of the most basic principles of the Church: our love for one another distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Cain is the earliest and clearest example of hate for one's brother; Christ, Who laid down His life for us, is the clearest and eternal example of One Who loves his brothers, those who have been adopted into the family of God. In the second paragraph above, it is very clear that a lack of love is not only seen in action against a brother, but also in a failure to act when needed and possible. Love looks for opportunities to help a brother, while also refusing to do him any wrong.
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