11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
In reading through John's epistle I have noticed his harsh tone. But maybe it is just me, reading the words about no murderer has eternal life and thinking no murderer has hope. Maybe it is just me thinking about how I do not walk in the way of the Lord. I may understand how to speak the truth, but not act in the truth. My heart does seem to condemn me.
But even though I am condemned it urges me to turn to Jesus. It urges me to look to the Cross of Christ. My hope is not in me. It is not in my strength or reason. My Hope is not found in myself. I even find the confidence before God a strange thought. St John even seems to turn belief into an action we do in following his commandments.
But there is also no shortage of reminding us that it is in Jesus Christ we are to abide. It is he alone who has laid down his life for you. He has claimed you to be his brother. He is the one who is greater than all which may condemn us. God is the actor who keeps us in his Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. How does God's love abide in you? It abides in you through the Holy Spirit who has called you byt the gospel and enlightened you with his gifts and continues to strengthen you in thought word and yes even deed. So you can do more than just talk, but also act faithful.
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