The life of grace is the start and first standard in the heart of a Believer. Those who have disdain in their hearts for their brother must be deprived of love. Jesus taught that hate is the same as murder. The life of Jesus, eternal life, cannot abide in us if we hate others. Do we detest any of our fellow Christians, or for that matter, anyone?
In verses 15-16:
• John repeats Jesus' words that one who loathes someone else is a killer in his heart
• Christianity is in the heart, outward consistence alone isn't sufficient
• Harshness against somebody who has wronged you is an insidious disease inside you and will in the long run annihilate you
• Try not to let a base of harshness develop in you or your congregation
• Genuine love is an activity, not an inclination
• A sacrificial and selfless giving is what love creates in us
• The best demonstration of love anybody can do is to give himself for other people
• How might we lay our lives down for another?
• At times it may be simpler to state we'll give our lives for others than to genuinely live for them, which includes putting others' wants first
• Jesus instructed this rule of love in
• Matthew 5:21
• John 8:44
• Hebrews 12:15
• John 15:13
• John 3:16
• Romans 5:8
• Ephesians 5:2
In verses 17-18:
• These verses give a case of how to set out our lives for other people
• Christians must show their love, and one approach to do that is to give cash or material belongings to help address others' issues
• This is strikingly like James' lessons
• How obviously do your activities state you truly love others?
• Is it true that you are as liberal as you ought to be with your cash, assets, and time?
• Offer what you have with the individuals who need it
• James 2:14-17
• Luke 3:11
• 1 John 4:20
• Romans 12:9
In verses 19-20:
• Many are apprehensive that they don't love others as they ought to
• They feel regretful on the grounds that they think they are not doing what's needed to demonstrate legitimate love to Christ
• So, their conscience begins to irritate them
• John had these individuals as a primary concern when he composed this letter
• How would we get away from the biting allegations of our own conscience?
• We should not disregard them or justify our conduct; we should set our hearts to rest in God's affection
• If we feel regretful, we ought to advise ourselves that God sees our hearts and our activities
• Our conscience is not as strong as God's voice of assurance
• If we keep ourselves in Christ, He won't denounce us
• If we are living for the Lord yet feel we are sufficiently bad, we should advise ourselves that God is greater
• Romans 8:1
• Hebrews 9:14
• Romans 12:9
In verses 21-22:
• You can come to God unafraid, sure that your requests will be heard, if your conscience is clear
• John reaffirms Jesus' guarantee, 'Ask and it will be given you'
• If we obey, we will receive
• When we obey, we ask in accordance with God's will
• This doesn't imply that we can have anything we want
• If we are genuinely looking for God's will, there are a few solicitations we won't make
• Matthew 7:7
• Matthew 21:22
• John 9:31
• James 5:16
In verses 23-24:
• We believe on the name of Jesus and in His person as the Son of God
• Believing 'on the name' signifies we design our lives after Jesus, to be more similar to Him by joining ourselves with Him
• Dwelling in Him is a fundamental relationship that shows itself in Christians who keep three basic orders (Belief in Christ, Love the brethren, Live a moral life)
• The presence of the Spirit is not only spiritual but practical
• His presence is verified in our conduct
• Romans 8:9
• 1 John 2:3
• 1 John 2:5
• 1 John 2:27
