1 John 3:16-23 (NKJV) By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from 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.
V16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” What is the greatest example of love in history? It is the Cross of Jesus Christ. He the perfect, sinless, holy, Lamb of God, died for those who are imperfect, sinners, and unholy (Romans 5:10, Matthew 9:13, Matthew 5:44, and Colossians 1:21). Jesus is our example. We, if needed, are to die with our brothers and sisters in persecution.
V17 “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” If we can meet a need, then we must. Often times one does not have enough money and so must be careful. Even those who do have ample extra money, etc. must be careful also and be alert for fakes–fake Christians and fake needs. Love is shown by our actions and choices. If we have little, we can always pray. The order of priority is God first, then spouse, then children, then Christian brothers and sisters in the assembly, then Christians not of the assembly, and finally nonChristians for a testimony. Now if all needs be taken care of and the opportunity to help a nonChristian, then we do and do with a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
V18 “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” Words are good, but actions prove our words and desire.
V19 “And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” True giving to help others is a sign of true faith. We can strengthen our assurance.
V20 “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” We may experience a false guilt by being oversensitive and/or falsely accused by the satan’s agents of past sins that are confessed and forgiven. These are false doubts that all experience from time to time. This is reality. We must encourage ourselves and others that if confessed and forgiven, be thankful. It can be difficult at times.
Some comments:
1 John 3:20 (Ryrie Study Bible Notes) We may be either too strict or too lenient in examining our lives; therefore, John’s word of comfort is, God the all-knowing is also the all-loving.
Precept Austin (https://www.preceptaustin.org/1_john_320_commentary): “Certain scholars would repunctuate 1Jn 3:19–20 to make it even clearer that John intended a positive interpretation. Burge (1996:164), following Marshall (1978:198), suggests this format:
- 1 Jn 3:19a: “In this [the love and obedience we exhibit, 1Jn 3:11–18] we will know that we are of the truth.”
- 1 Jn 3:19b-20: “We will reassure our hearts in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us, because (1) God is greater than our hearts, and (2) God knows all things.”
Stedman on Precept Austin (same link): “Stedman: the problem of an accusing heart, i.e., a condemning conscience. What do you do as a Christian when your heart condemns you? As we saw, the usual result of a condemning conscience is a tendency to ignore God, to keep in the shadows and to distrust his love, to criticize his people and in many ways to manifest the fact that we have lost contact with the God who indwells us. The answer, as we saw in First John 3:19, was to reassure our hearts by a deed of self-giving love: ‘Little children, let us not love in word or speech,’ says John, ‘but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us,’ {1 Jn 3:18-19RSV}.We are to give ourselves to someone who is in need or help another in his problem, repay good for evil, or give back kind words instead of caustic, sharp ones. The result, John says, will be a sense of reassurance. If we are really in Christ, rivers of love and peace will begin to flow out from our hearts again, and it will be impossible to remain condemned”
V21 “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.”
The Greek word “if” can usually be one of two words which are related. Word Study Dictionary elaborates: “(G1437) ἐάν eán; conj. formed by combining ei (G1487), a conditional particle meaning if, and án (G302), a particle denoting supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty. What, where, whither, whosoever. Sometimes eán is contracted to án. It differs from ei in that ei expresses a condition which is merely hypothetical, a subjective possibility; eán implies a condition which experience must determine, an objective possibility, and thus refers always to something future.”
The Greek word used in V21 is eán (G1437). Our help is in God who knows all things and loves us. There is hope when we remember the Scriptures and find our comfort in it.
Let us find some comfort in the Scriptures: Psalms 19:7-9 (WEB) Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple. 8 Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.
Some verses on comfort: Romans 15:4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14, and 2 Thessalonians 2:17.
We can have comfort and confidence because of God’s love, our faithfulness in asking for help, and from Scripture and other Christians.
V22 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” If it is God’s will we receive. It is understood here but plain in 1 John 5:14. In the situation we find ourselves in (V20-21), we can ask boldly (Hebrews 4:16), and expect His blessings to strengthen and help us (Psalms 20:2 and Isaiah 41:10). It is assumed that we have an interest, desire, commitment, and action to obey His (Jesus) commandments (the Law of Christ as found in the New Testament).
V23 “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.” Two commandments are listed here: 1) the need to believe and 2) the need to love other believers. Believing here is not for salvation but for hope.
We learn:
- Jesus gave us examples to live by
- We can have assurance of salvation
- We can assist other believers in many ways