Love and Hate

Here is today's sermon. The text is 1 John 4:13-21.

1 John 4:13-21



13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.


God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.


19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.



Love and hate .... we are called to love but we find outselves struggling witht eh reality of hate. We try to pretty it up and "christianize" it ... but the reality is that it is there regardless of what we call it. So today we are going to look at some of the characteristics and outcomes of hate.

Characteristics of Hate

1. Turmoil

2. Wishing bad things for them

3. Celebrating their failures

4. Mourning their victories

5. Can’t work with them

6. Feeling of Annoyance when they are around

7. Can’t pray for them

Outcomes of Hate

1. Broken relationships

2. Illness

3. Migraines

4. Bitterness

5. Anger

6. Unhappiness

There is only one solution to the issue of hate. It is Christ. We cannot pretty it up with Christian words… hating people is wrong. We can hate the sin, but we are called to love to the sinner. Am I willing to give up my need to be right, to be victorious, to be apologized to ….. am I willing to give it to God. Give up the illness, bitterness and receive the fullness of restoration in Christ.

Thought for Today

Hate is a choice we make,

Love is the gift God offers us in its place.