It is interesting to notice in this connection that there is hardly a verse in the New Testament that speaks of God’s love that does not also speak (or the context does not also speak) of the cross. For instance, there is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”; Gal. 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”; Rom. 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”; 1 John 4:10: “Herein is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” In each of these verses the cross of Christ is made the measure of God’s love as well as the primary means by which we become aware of it.
What is it that gives the love of God as seen at the cross its special character? Primarily it is the element of self-sacrifice on behalf of those who are totally undeserving and even undesirous of the sacrifice.
Here the continuing contrast between Cain the murderer and Christ the Savior is seen in sharpest focus. Life is the most precious possession anyone has. Cain showed his hate by killing righteous Abel. Jesus revealed His love by sacrificing His own life for those foul creatures of sin He chose to make His brethren.
But what does this supreme example of self-sacrifice have to do with Christians? It has everything to do with them, for John does not hesitate to point out that it is precisely in this self-sacrifice of Himself that Christ is to be their example. Did He give of Himself? Then “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
It is not often the case, at least today, that a Christian literally has opportunity to die in place of a Christian brother or sister. So John (who knew this even for his own more perilous times) will move on to more common matters in the next verse. Nevertheless, we should not pass over the idea of self-sacrifice on behalf of others so quickly. True, we do not often have opportunities literally to die for others. But we do have opportunities to “die to self” or, as we might also say, “sacrifice our own interests” constantly.
This is true of all forms of Christian work, as involving both time and money. To make the Gospel of Christ known worldwide involves sacrifice on behalf of God’s people. These must live less lavishly than they otherwise might in order that money might be available to send Christian workers to tell others about Christ. They must be willing to let their sons and daughters go, if God should so lead them. They must go themselves if God directs it.