1 John 3:14-24

14: We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who 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: We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17: But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18: Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
19: We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him
20: in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
21: Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
22: and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

23: This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
24: The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

*** 

John continued his discussion about distinguishing the righteous from the sinner through their behavior. He said the way to know we have passed from death into life--from being a sinner to a righteous one in Christ--is by our love for the brethren (John 13:35). He made it clear that hating your brother was equivalent to murder, and no murderer has eternal life in him. Without love, we are still in death.

The way we know love is to look at Jesus, who laid down His life for us. Because He gave up His life for us, we ought to do the same for our brothers and sisters in Christ. John asked, if we hold back from our brother in need, when we have the ability to meet that need, how can the love of God be in us? The same love which motivated Jesus to die on the cross for us, taking the penalty for all of our sin on Himself, is the same love that now lives in us. The evidence of it will be if we follow Jesus' example, taking up our own cross daily and following Him (Luke 9:23).

John encouraged his readers to do more than just "love" with words, but in deed and in truth. Be willing to give of yourself for the benefit of others. Walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

By our love in action, we assure before God that we are of the truth. This is a reassurance and a confidence for us. With this assurance, we receive what we ask for from Him because the evidence of our love is being proven by our actions. This love--the keeping of His commands to believe in His Son Jesus Christ, and to love one another--pleases Him. It brings us into fellowship with Him. By this, we abide in Him, and He in us. We know this is true--that He abides in us--by the Spirit He's given to us.



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