¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love ^[a]his brother abides in death. ^15 (A)Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that ^(B)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

The Outworking of Love

^16 (C)By this we know love, ^(D)because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But ^(E)whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

¹⁸ My little children, ^(F)let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ And by this we ^[b]know ^(G)that we are of the truth, and shall ^[c]assure our hearts before Him.

Obedience by Faith

^20 (A)If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, ^[a]how can he love God ^(B)whom he has not seen? ²¹ And ^(C)this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.