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19 We love because God first loved us. 20 If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. 21 The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.

Our Victory over the World

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also. This is how we know that we love God's children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands. (A)For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us, because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.

19 We love[a] because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(A) 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Faith Conquers the World

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ[b] has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.(B) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,(C) for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.(D)

Footnotes

  1. 4.19 Other ancient authorities add him or God
  2. 5.1 Or the Messiah

19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.

1-3 Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-born. If we love the One who conceives the child, we’ll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.

The Power That Brings the World to Its Knees

4-5 Every God-born person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.

19 We love because he first loved us.(A) 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(B) is a liar.(C) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(D) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(E) 21 And he has given us this command:(F) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.(G)

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

Everyone who believes(H) that Jesus is the Christ(I) is born of God,(J) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.(K) This is how we know(L) that we love the children of God:(M) by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.(N) And his commands are not burdensome,(O) for everyone born of God(P) overcomes(Q) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.