1 John Chapter 3 Pt. 6 Love In Word And Actions, Not By Mere Words

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John began this chapter with these words "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us."   

Many books could be written about this subject, without exhausting our contemplation of the love of God to man. 

John does not attempt to describe it for us. Rather, he calls on the world and the Church to behold it, to look upon it, to contemplate it, and wonder at it.


Love by tangible acts of kindness that show God's truth in us. 

1 John 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 

John gave us a practical example of Christian love, that meets the needs of brothers and sisters, who face challenging circumstances. 

Therefore, he urges us to do more than expressing our love for our brothers and sister in Christ, with words only. 

"Love one another by your actions that are based upon what God's Word says to us."

A Christian who has ample resources and does not help a Christian in need, is the opposite of loving in deed and truth. 

Genuine love fills us with assurance but feigned love with condemnation. 

1 John 3:19-21  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20)  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21)  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  

John gives us yet another litmus test concerning our profession of faith in Christ. If we truly love in deed and truth, then our hearts are assured that we are in Christ.

Our heart bears witness with our new man in Christ, that we do love one another. We love them not just with words, but with tangible acts of kindness that meet their needs. 

Those who profess faith in Christ, but who do not love other Christians enough to help them, do not have the love of God in them.

If we are conscious that our love is feigned, we shall feel inwardly condemned, in professing to have Christian love when we do not have it.

God knows our inner thoughts. We can say the right words to others, but we cannot hide the true state of our heart from Him. 

If we say we love one another but really do not love them, this is a false profession of faith. The heart will condemn those who make an empty profession of Christian love.

John laid down a strong and infallible test to determine the sincerity of our faith. He that loves one another, knows that he does love them. The believer who feels in his heart that he loves God and man, has true religion, as James calls it.

A believer is one that manifests the fruits of this love, by obeying God and acting charitably to others, gives full proof that he (or she) has the loving mind of Christ in them.

The Father grants prayers that are in accord with His will.

1 John 3:22   And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 

The love of God shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Ghost, impacts all aspects of our Christian life and walk with the lord.

When we pray, whatsoever we ask of the Father, He will grant. Believers will make their requests know to the Father, seeking to pray according to His will. 

The Father will give us every good and perfect gift from above, but He will not grant our prayer requests if they are not in accord with His will. 

Thus, we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing to Him, as we interact with others, as we worship, as we study His word and as we walk through this life. 

Believe on Jesus, keep His commands, abide in Him.

1 John 3:23-24  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. 24)  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 

This is why we preach the gospel. This is why we teach it and share it with other people who do not know the Lord. 

God commands every person in all nations to repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Se2 Acts 17:30-31). 

Faith and love are not separate commandments, but are indissolubly united. We cannot truly love one another without faith in Christ, nor can we truly believe in Him without love.

We know by the Spirit which He has given us that we dwell in God, and God in us.  Christians of old, knew they were in the favor of God, by the testimony of God’s own Spirit in their hearts. 

This testimony was constant and abiding while they continued under the influence of that faith that worketh by love. 

Every born again believer in Christ, is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and wherever he is, he is both light and power. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

The Spirit of God keeps bringing John back to contrasting a true profession of faith in Christ with a false profession. 

One loves by helping those in need, while the other loves by words only. 

One abides in Christ and keeps His commands, while the other disregards His commands and lives for self. 

These are vivid reminders about our need to be born again. It is a new birth from above, through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in our heart. 

If any who are reading this post are not born again, I pray that today will be the day you repent of your sins, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God will grant eternal life and a fresh start, to all who call upon His Son with repentant faith.

Let us not love in word only, but let us love by meeting the needs of Christians around us who need help.

Let us love one another by our acts of kindness. 

Let us pray with full assurance of faith, knowing that we are in Christ, united to Him by the Spirit of God.

Bob




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