Showing Our Love (First John 3:17-24)

If the welfare of our fellow Christians require that we give our lives for them (see verse 16) then certainly we can make smaller sacrifices which only involve "stuff". If we can't handle that then the love of God isn't in us. That's what this passage, particularly verse 17 is telling us. It's so easy to claim we'd die for someone we love. After all, how often will we really be confronted with that possibility? For some reason though, it's harder for us to live for those we love. I think that's the point John is making here.

Verse 18 is a summary of the ideas just talked about. It's John's way of saying just do it. Show your love. Don't talk about it.

If our love is on display in our actions, seen in our deeds and in truth, we know that we're in the truth. That's what verse 19 says. I also think it's putting into action what Peter writes in Second Peter 1:10.

The next two verses tell us that God is greater than our hearts. He forgives us easier than we forgive ourselves. I've covered that in previous posts but isn't that so important? If we're walking in the light as discussed in chapter one and if we believe what's written here than we can take down that spiritual tightrope so many of us have walked on. We have assurance of our forgiveness.

The verbs in verse 22 are all present tense verbs; all emphasizing continuous action. Whatever we keep asking we keep receiving because we keep on keeping His commandments and continue doing the things that please Him.

I think verse 23 could and should be considered one of the cornerstone verses in the New Testament. Too many of us act like we can do the first part of the verse, believing in Jesus without living the second part which is loving each other. This command is singular though meaning we can't have one without the other. It's impossible to separate faith and practice. Our belief MUST be based in love for it to be true belief and not just empty words. (See James 2:20, John 13:34, 15:12 and 15:17.)

Verse 24 is a reference to Christ's own words in John 14:23. This idea is also taught in Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:13-14. John also discussed this fellowship earlier in chapter 1 and verse 3.