Dear Christian friends:

How can we know for sure if we are a Christian? What is the one unmistakeable mark of a true child of God? Some would answer, "If I have pure doctrine and believe in Jesus Christ." But you can have pure doctrine and you can say that you believe in Christ, and still not really be a Christian. Talk is cheap.

In our text St. John tells us that the unmistakeable, bright red mark of a child of God is that he loves his brothers. If you love your brothers, you have proof that you are a genuine child of God and if you don't love your brothers you have proof that you are a phony.

You may have pure doctrine in your little white church and sing all the correct hymns in your little blue book. You may go to Holy Communion twice a month and put $5.00 each Sunday in your offering envelope, but if you don't love your brother, you aren't what you think you are.

We need to be awakened again and again to the fact that

In our text John makes this point very strongly. It is the nature of the unbeliever or worldly man to hate. John says, "Do not wonder, brethen, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren, He who does not love remains in death." (verses 13-14)

As it is the nature of the unbeliever to hate so conversely it is the nature of a Christian to love. God's children, "love the brethen" John tells us. These are our brothers and sisters in the Church, the family of God. These brethren while believers are not yet perfect. In fact, they are often down right insulting and definitely not very loveable.

Yet if we are a child of God we will make some real efforts to love them and to be patient with them, all the while remembering that we ourselves are not so loveable either. If we have somewhat gotten this spirit then we are a child of God for we have taken faltering steps to love as our gracious and merciful God loves. We don't love like the world loves.

The worldling loves his friends and hates his enemies. He helps those that help him, and hates those who don't. He even hates the good people, "hates you" John says. Jesus said they hated Him without a cause.

So when we Christians love one another we know that we are definitely God's children. Of course, this means that we must be in touch with the Source of love.

Its hard to love other people, really love them with all their faults and weaknesses. In fact it's impossible by ourselves. In chapter 4 John tells us, "Love is of God, and he who loves is born of God. He who does not love, does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him." And in our text he writes, "By This we know love, that He laid down His life for us." (verse 16)

If we know our own sins and confess them and accept God's love and forgiveness in Jesus, then we can also love our brothers. John says as "He laid down His life for us, so we ought lay down ours for the brethen" and "If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Now if love is the bright red mark of a Christian, we surely ought to have that as our goal. Paul says, "Make love your aim." And here in our text John urges the Christians to practice loving one another. (verses 17-18)

So often we look upon calamities and problems with fear and distaste when actually we ought to look upon them as opportunities to practice loving as God does. When someone is in distress or need don't feel that this is a meddle some imposition. Look upon it as a golden hour to practice the love of your heavenly Father. When someone gossips or lies about you, don't get uptight or upset. But say, "Hmm isn't this interesting. I wonder why that person did that. What can I do to help her get over her hang up."

We have heard it said that "misfortune is God's opportunity." And this is certainly true. It is also the Christians opportunity. We would all live happier and more satisfying lives if we would love others as God loves. Let our bright red mark show.

Amen.