Love for One Another. 1 John 3:16-24

Notes

II. Confidence toward God. Verses 19-24.

Notes

1. Verses 16-18.—The Revised Version renders the first clause of verse 16 thus: "Hereby know we love, because," etc. The cross of Calvary is the grandest display of love which the universe has ever seen (John 3:16). "Jesus died because God loved the world. The channel had to be made whereby the love of God should be recognized by man and flow into the sinner's heart in perfect harmony with truth and justice." "The resources of infinite love have been exhausted in devising and executing the plan of redemption for man." It is love which draws man to God (Jer. 31:3) and leads him to repentance (Rom. 2:4), and "the Lord has no reserve power with which to influence men. He can give no greater manifestation of His love than that which He has given." "Oh, what a God have we! What a benefactor! What claims has He upon our love! Having collected all the riches of the universe and laid open all the resources of infinite power, He gave all the heavenly treasure into the hands of Christ, and said: 'All these are for man. Use them to convince him that there is no love greater than Mine in earth or heaven. His greatest happiness consists in loving me, and giving his heart to Me, who hath loved him with an infinite love.'" "He who has shared in the grace of Christ is thereby placed under obligation to others (Rom. 1:14), and this grace is more sacred to him than life" (Acts 20:24). "This plan of salvation was laid by a sacrifice, a gift" (2 Cor. 8:9), and the same spirit should characterize all Christians (Matt. 10:8) as was shown by the Macedonians (2 Cor. 8:3-5). "Thus while our gifts can not recommend us to God, or earn His favor, they are an evidence that we have received the grace of Christ. They are a test of the sincerity of our profession of love." "He tests the love of His professed followers by committing to their tender mercies the afflicted and bereaved ones, the poor, and the orphan." Deeds should accompany words in order to make them effective (James 2:15, 16).

2. ⟦Verses 19-24.?⟧—A clear conscience is a good thing (2 Cor. 1:12), but God is the final judge (⟦Rom. 2:16?⟧), and the life record determines the result (⟦Rev. 20:12?⟧). "Believers, as such, ask only what is in accordance with God's will; or if they ask what God wills not, they bow their will to God's will, so God grants them either their request or something better than it."—Fausset.

God can bestow special blessings upon only those who will use them to His glory, which is always for their good (Deut. 6:24). The obedience of faith is evidence of such a purpose. As Christ pleased not Himself (Rom. 15:3) but the Father (John 8:29), so we are to do; but this is not natural to man (Rom. 8:8), and is accomplished only through faith (Heb. 11:6). Belief in Christ insures salvation (Acts 16:31), and is the work of God (John 6:29). Love to man is the outgrowth of this experience. Christ dwells in genuine Christians (2 Cor. 13:5), as in Paul (Gal. 2:20), and works in us through His power (Phil. 2:13) to obedience (Rom. 5:19).