v. 3:16 – We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
God demonstrates what it is to love – He gave us Christ – the ultimate example of love (compare this to the ultimate example of hate – Cain.) As He gave, so also should we.
| by this…know love Gave his life for us |
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v. 3:17-18 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? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
How do we demonstrate that God’s love is in us? We help those in need.Don’t just talk about doing it! See also the letter from James 1:27, 2:5 - a very practical book – for practical Christian living. Don't think that this is a New Testament (NT) teaching only. The Lord has been a champion of the underdog - widows, orphans, poor, strangers - from the Old Testament (OT) until now. The Jews were to take care of these people. They were instructed to leave some for gleaners when harvesting the crops from their fields. Ruth, one of Jesus' ancestors gleaned from the field of the man who eventually became her husband. The Jews were instructed to share (Isa. 58:7,10); were considered righteous if they shared with the needy (Ezek, 18:7); instructed to not oppress the poor (Zech. 7:9,10). Jesus instructed his disciples that caring for the needy was the same as caring for Him (Matt. 25:35-40) - that is an impressive command! Besides, we will always have the poor (Mark 14:7) so we won't run out of people to serve.
| love of God abides love…in word and deed |
v. 3:19-21 - We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things -
If our heart or conscience condemns and convicts us – God has pointed out our sins by the Holy Spirit. Don’t deny the Holy Spirit pointing out the sin (because God knows everything). We can see this in a couple of verses - Eccl. 12:13-14 and Heb. 4:12,13 - in both verses God will judge all things, because He knows everything, even things done in the dark, hidden, or secret. It is with him 'with whom we have to do'. (Wonderful turn of phrase!) This ties into verse 18, if you aren’t living your faith, you will know. So live the love.
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;See also 1 Jn1:9 – confess your sins as identified. And when your conscience is clear, clean, (i.e., not condemned) then you can ask God. See also James – the reason you don’t get what you ask for, is that you are asking with ‘evil motives’. How do you know (can be confident) you live in truth? By keeping the commandments, and doing the things that are pleasing to Jesus. Practicing righteousness is keeping commandments (for example: loving one another).
This is an If…Then statement: If you keep the commandments, Then you will pray and receive your requests.
This not "If you just believe hard enough..." (I have heard this said in a church service - a lady wanted to know why she had not been healed of her malady. She was told she didn't believe enough! That was cruel, and wrong headed.) If you are keeping His commandments; if you are living in the power of the Holy Spirit, the prayers you bring to Jesus will be in His will. You will not ask for frivilous, selfish things. I do not count praying for salvation for our children or grandchildren as selfish. Praying for safety during travel is not frivilous. Asking to win the lottery - selfish. Praying for a team to win a football game - frivilous.
| Heart confirms or condemns |
