The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 3:16-24
Geneva Bible Translation Ed. 1599
16 Hereby have we perceived love, that he laid down his life for us: therefore we ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 And whosoever hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue only, but in deed and in truth. (a)
19 For thereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall before him assure our hearts.
20 For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we boldness toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.
23 This is then his commandment, that we believe in the Name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment.
24 For he that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, even by that Spirit which he hath given us
(a) Read James 1:21-25, 2:14-26
It is a mark of our evangelical justification, of our transition into a state of life: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren, 1 John 3:14. We are by nature children of wrath and heirs of death. By the gospel (the gospel-covenant or promise) our state towards another world is altered and changed. We pass from death to life, from the guilt of death to the right of life; and this transition is made upon our believing in the Lord Jesus: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not hath the wrath of God abiding on him, John 3:36. Now this happy change of state we may come to be assured of: We know that we have passed from death to life; we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which this love to our brethren is one, which leads us to characterize this love that is such a mark of our justified state. It is not a zeal for a party in the common religion, or an affection for, or an affectation of, those who are of the same denomination and subordinate sentiments with ourselves. The whole race of mankind—the gens humana, should be considered as being, in distinction from fallen angels, a redeemed nation; as having a divine Redeemer designed, prepared, and given for them. So God loved the world, even this world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John 3:16. A world so beloved of God should accordingly be loved by us. And this love will exert itself in earnest desires, and prayers, and attempts, for the conversion and salvation of the yet uncalled blinded world. - Source: Matthew Henry’s Commentary (Edited by RPW Sr.)
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