Who Are You Fighting With?

²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

-First John 4:20 (KJV)

Yesterday, we studied that we must demonstrate the love we claim to have for others. It's not enough for us to just say we love others, it must be proven. Today, we read some more pointed Scripture from the book of First John. 

First John 4:20 says, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is  a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Here is an important principle in our faith. Can we love God and hate others at the same time? The answer is no. John teaches that we are a liar if we say we love God yet hate others. Hate is the opposite of love. It's like salt water and fresh water. You can't have both in the same body of water. You can't have hate and love working together in your life either. 

Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Our fight is not against flesh and blood. In other words, it's not against our brothers and sisters. Our fight is not against our brothers and sisters who are struggling with sin just like you and I are. Our fight is not against our brothers and sisters who are following false religions and cults. Our fight is not against our brothers and sisters who are living a life of sin and calling themselves righteous. Friends, our fight is not with one another. Paul says our fight is "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Our fight is not with each other, but against satan and his army. 

How much hate is there in the world today? A lot. For the Christian, we must not hate our brothers and sisters, but we must hate the power of sin in our lives. Do you have hate for your brothers and sisters, those in the faith and outside our faith? If you do, then you are a liar and don't truly love God. Think About It.