The book of First John

A Verse by Verse Study
Text 1st John 3:22 - 24

 

A. Introduction

     1.  “V. 22 “because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

          a. Let’s notice the last part of verse 22 “and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” What is pleasing in His sight? Verse 22a “because we keep his commandments”

          b. We find in John 4:19 – 26 our proper worship of Him is pleasing to Him, and that is in spirit and in truth.

          c. Psalms 145:18-19 “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (19) He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.”

      

     2. God will answer our prayers and in responding to them give us all things that is in His will if we keep His commandments.  Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” 1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: “

          a. God has great rewards for those who do His will.

          b. Just as our parents rewarded us for doing their will so will our Heavenly Father.

 

B. V. 23 “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.”

     1. Notice first John says “And this is his commandment,” this is used in a singular form; therefore it shows that our believing in Christ and our love for the brethren are inseparable.

          a. while the two are separate commandments as John noted in verse 22 you cannot have one without the other.

          b. We cannot love the Lord with the same breath we curse our brethren.

     2. This is the Lords commandment and therefore it is a necessity not an option. The reason John is so strong on brotherly love is because it is Christ love that is in our hearts and therefore just as He cannot hate one of us we cannot hate one another.

     3. The first commandment is that we believe in Jesus as our Saviour and the second is since we have Christ in our hearts then love must follow.

          a. Let’s remember the Lord said in 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. “ Bestowed means “to give” that carries the meaning to give for your possession. God loved us with an everlasting love, so this is not what He gave to us; He had love toward us in salvation. This carries the meaning that He installed in us His love.

          b. This is why the great test of salvation is our love for our brethren. Verse 14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” And therefore one that hates his brother cannot be saved. Verse 15 “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

     4. So we conclude that this love is the love of God in us, just as Christ is in us, just as the Holy Spirit is in us, we cannot have Christ in our hearts and not the love of Christ, therefore it is imposable to love Christ and hate a brother, they are inseparable this is why John treats them as one commandment.   

 

C. V. 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.”

     1. “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.”

           a. This is proof positive of salvation, however it also how we are able to keep His commandments. John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
          b. It is imposable to keep His commandments without Christ in our hearts because it takes His power to keep them.

     2. “And hereby we know that he abideth in us,”

          a. It is because we have the power of the Holy Spirit to over come our fleshly desire to hate one another and to love one another.

          b. Lost people will never have the love of Christians; therefore it cannot be faked as believing can be, because we cannot fake Godly love. Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” 

     3. “By the Spirit which he hath given us.”

          a. This is where our faith comes from, this is where our love comes from, and this is where our ability to keep His commandments comes from.

          b. The mark that you are a child of God is that you are indwelt by the Spirit of God, and it is the Holy Spirit who will verify these things and make them real to your heart. Romans 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

          c. If the Holy Spirit is in our heart then Christ is there and it Christ is there then His love is there and this should make it natural to love our brethren and to follow His will.  John 14:15 “ If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” The word “abide” means to stay. We will not leave it just as Christ has not left the Fathers.