lost world say that he loves the Lord, and yet does not seek by every means possible to make known to the un saved the unsearchable riches of Christ? This Book of I John is a book of intimate fellowship and it is no won der that so often the expression “we know” occurs. Here in verse 19 John says: “Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” We not only can know truth in the mind but also have assurance of it in the heart. How ever, regardless of our feelings or prejudices with reference to any truth, we must believe God for what He says. Verse 20 adds: “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” The subject here is one of assurance. It is assurance to the heart or, as the word is used here, possibly the con science is meant. The conscience is not always a safe guide. A matter may not be right even though our conscience has failed to condemn us for it, but God is greater than our conscience. He may say to us through the Word very directly that we are not living in a manner pleasing to Him. The last three verses in this chap ter are very important, and read: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his com mandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 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. And he that keepeth his commandment dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” Does the Scripture tell us that God will answer our prayers if we live sinlessly perfect? If we take this portion by itself and do not compare it with other Scriptures on the sub ject of prayer, it is possible we 31
mental love but the strong word that describes God Himself. It is the kind of love that recognizes a need and responds to that need. Webb, “An illustration of this contrast is seen in the case of Cain who was of the Wicked One and slew his brother (3:12). The reason he did so was that his own works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Cain did not have love in his heart because he was not a child of God. He had hate, and for that reason he murdered Abel.” We read further on in this same portion: “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no mur derer hath eternal life abiding in him.” A mark of the Christian then is that he loves his own brethren in the faith (all born-again ones—not just those in his denomination). This is a much-needed reminder for us in this day. Because the Scripture says that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him, we need not conclude that a murderer cannot be saved. He can if he will come to Christ and receive Him as Saviour. Verse 16 carries this thought fur ther in connection with love for the brethren and shows us that true love is climaxed in our being willing to lay down our lives for our breth ren. This is the very opposite of being willing to take up slanders and evil reports concerning God’s chil dren. This all has a very practical side in regard to love, for John says: “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” God expects us to share with our brethren in the temporal provision that He makes for us. The need can be a spiritual need also. How can anyone looking out on this
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