Expressing True Love
I John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
My little children. God is again reminding the saints that they are little children in God’s sight. Saints need to be growing, but we never become independent of God’s direction and care. Here we are reminded of the importance of genuine love. Biblical love is more than just words. It is words and actions.
God demonstrated His love for man by Jesus declaring that love in John 3:16. God also demonstrated that love by Jesus laying down His life for the sheep. His love was not just with words. It was words combined with actions. The Pharisees and their followers could not make that claim. They might talk of love, but they could not show true love. They attacked Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. They attacked Him for professing to be one with His Father. They certainly did not love the people, nor did they love God.
John was directed to write this letter to teach saints how they can know their faith is genuine. This is important. There are many people who talk of having faith. However, their heart does not assure them that their faith is genuine.
In verse 20 we see that our heart is not the final decider on who we are. Jeremiah wrote:
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The heart of man is very fickle. Our heart may tell us something, but it is far better to listen to what God has to say. He is greater than our heart. He never deceives. Only those who are saved have the privilege and blessing of having God work in our hearts and lives to direct us. We need to take time to pray and consider carefully the choice we are considering. We need to listen carefully to what people are saying and not just go with some feelings. We need God’s discernment in order to make wise choices.
No one slips anything by God. He knows all things. He sees what we try to keep secret. He desires to bless His children. He cannot bless those who want to disobey Him.
In verse 21 we see the opposite side. We did what we should have done. Our heart does not condemn us. If we know a brother has a need and we know we can help him with that need and we obey God on this matter, there is no reason for our heart to condemn us. Thus not only do we not bear guilt because we obeyed God, but we also have confidence toward God. It is good to be able to walk into God’s presence at any time. When a child of God is obedient to God, he has the confidence to come before Him at all times. God does not want us to be hesitant to come before Him.
In verse 22 we see further that because we, the true saints, have been obedient to God in showing true love to our brother, then we can also have confidence that we can ask anything of God according to His will, and He will hear us. We can know if we are truly right with God. It is not based on our feelings. It is based on God’s truth. If we, those who are saved, keep His commandments, then we know we are right with Him. If we do those things which are pleasing in His sight, we know we are right with God. Again, it is not based on feelings. It is based on Biblical facts.
In verse 23 we see that the basis of all commandments is found in believing on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love for one another. We cannot claim to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, if we do not love one another. That is what this chapter has been about. Genuine faith will be evident through actions that agree with God’s Word.
In verse 24 we see again that the saint that keeps His commandments dwells in God and God dwells in that person through the Holy Spirit. Again, this is not suggesting works salvation. It is speaking of the fruit of salvation. God, the Holy Spirit, is living inside every true child of God. He is there to direct the true saint to walk in obedience to God’s Word. We see that in this verse.
The Holy Spirit is given to every saved person at the moment of salvation. This again refutes the false teaching of the Charismatics who claim we need to pray and seek for the Holy Spirit. The fact is that He is already in the heart and life of the true child of God. The true saint needs to be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit. He needs to be careful not to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. The work of the Holy Spirit will be according to what is written in God’s Word. The excesses of the Charismatic movement are not written in the Bible. Just because a person has an experience, does not mean that he knows God. Is he living according to God’s commandments? There is so much confusion today regarding Christianity. The reason for this confusion is due to the fact that most professing Christians do not believe the Word of God. They have accepted the lie that all the English Bibles are inspired and yet they have different messages. It is left to the individual to decide which perversion he likes. Of course the one true English Bible is rejected by many as being too old and outdated.
There are many pseudo Christians who claim to be saved. God tells us here that we can tell those who are abiding in Christ by the testimony of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Word of God. He never speaks of Himself.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
True Christianity is identifiable by the Word of God. There is no allowance for human opinion in God’s Word. God has declared the truth and it is up to His children to humbly submit to His Word. That is the way of blessing. It removes the confusion and it grants God’s peace to those who will submit to His Word.
Pastor Bartel
