1 John 3:16-24 - Love In Action

¹⁶ We have learned to know what love is from this--that Christ laid down his life on our behalf. Therefore we also ought to lay down our lives on behalf of our Brothers. ¹⁷ But, if any one has worldly possessions, and yet looks on while his Brother is in want, and steels his heart against him, how can it be said that the love of God is within him?

¹⁸ My children, do not let our love be mere words, or end in talk; let it be true and show itself in acts. ¹⁹ By that we shall know that we are on the side of the Truth; and we shall satisfy ourselves in God's sight, ²⁰ that if our conscience condemns us, yet God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.

²¹ Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, then we approach God with confidence, ²² and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we are laying his commands to heart, and are doing what is pleasing in his sight. ²³ His Command is this--that we should put our trust in the Name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, in accordance with the Command that he gave us. ²⁴ And he who lays his commands to heart maintains union with Christ, and Christ with him. And by this we know that Christ maintains union with us--by our possession of the Spirit which he gave us.