For an explanation of this layout and the key to the books referenced, read here.
What Love Is Bible Knowl Comm NT
v. 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.
(Bible Knowl Comm NT) “So far is it from the spirit of murder that its essence lies in giving one’s life for others rather than taking lives. This was exemplified in Jesus Christ.”
(Moody) “3:16-19. A common way of demonstrating affection is assisting the needy materially.”
(Life) “How can we lay down our lives? By serving others with no thought of receiving anything in return.” (ESV) “Jesus’ path to the cross marks the selfless, self-giving way of life to which his followers are called.”
(Cultural) “At least some believers … had to face martyrdom (Rev 2:10, 13). … some Christians might have to pay a tremendous price to avoid betraying their fellow Christians to death.”
v. 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?
v. 18, Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
(Bible Knowl Comm NT) “3:17-18 … material possessions (as food and clothes) help sustain life and, if a Christian’s love is real, he cannot see his brother in need without having pity on him. … The true test of love is … his willingness to help and thus to love . . . with actions and in truth.”
(Vincent’s II) “This world’s good. … means that by which life is sustained, resources, wealth.”
(Life) “3:17-18 These verses give an example of how to lay down our lives for others—to help those in need. This is strikingly similar to James’s teaching (James 2:14-17)”
FIRST JOHN 3 MEDITATION vv. 16-18.
We want our Bible knowledge to go from head to practice to wisdom. How do we know it is happening? We need to see what the Lord’s goals are and compare ourselves to that. The greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourself. When we give to ourselves freely, but hoard it all from others, then God, who is love, does not live in us. John’s goal isn’t to help us know if we are saved or not, but if God lives through us or not. Are we in the place where the Father and the Son have taken up residence in us, and we are enjoying knowing this abiding fellowship with God?
If we are selfish with our resources, then the Lord is not loving through us yet. When we see a person in need and help him without thinking of ourselves, then God, who helps us without thinking of any shrinking resources of His own, works through us.
Love ceases being theoretical when we willingly meet the needs of others. Do we think of how we can help our kids, spouse, fellow Christian, neighbor? The Lord wants to use us to do so. This is the sphere of labor in which He placed us and in which He wants to train us in love. It’s not about how many good deeds we do, but having the spirit of life where God meets the needs of others by His spiritual gifts through you. We work with what God provides, and His yoke will be easy under His training (Matt. 11:28-30).
