I John 3:23-24

This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)

Yesterday's post summarized I John 3:19-22. Here is the summary:

John is beginning to bring this Feedback Loop to a conclusion.

John referenced being bold before Him as the conclusion for HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth.

Previously, John was beginning his explanation for love and told us to love in DEED and TRUTH. Today's post showed us HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth...which would allow us to KNOW THAT we are TRULY LOVING.

Today, we will see HOW John concludes this Feedback Loop which added LOVE and doing His commandments to the foundation of abiding in Him through His Spirit...


I JOHN 3:23-24
Yesterday's post concluded with the following verses...

"21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight."


We saw that we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth if our heart does NOT condemn us.

We saw that we can receive whatsoever we ask of Him BECAUSE we are being led of His Spirit, which would lead us to keep His commandments. So, keeping His commandments is HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth.

The concluding verses of I John 3 deal SPECIFICALLY with His commandment:

"23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us."


Verse 23 is the First Command AND the Second Command!

First Command: Love the Lord thy God...is PROVEN by believing in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.

Second Command: Love your neighbor...is PROVEN by loving one another.

Verse 24 is the conclusion of this Feedback Loop:

People who do the First and Second Command KNOW THAT they abide in Him...AND He abides in these people. Then John BLATANTLY states HOW we KNOW THAT He abides in us: through the Holy Spirit!


SUMMARY
John has PROVEN that doing His commandments, which BOTH involve LOVE, is HOW we KNOW THAT we abide in Him and He abides in us through the Holy Spirit. This completes this Feedback Loop.

This PROOF COMPLETELY depends on John's definition for LOVE.

John began his explanation for LOVE towards the end of this Feedback Loop. It is now time for John to SPECIFICALLY gives his explanation for LOVE. John will PROVE his definition for LOVE by using (what else?) a Feedback Loop.

On Monday, we will begin looking at John's next Feedback Loop...

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