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17 If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?(A) 18 Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.(B)

Confidence Before God.[a] 19 [Now] this is how we shall know that we[b] belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him

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Footnotes

  1. 3:19–24 Living a life of faith in Jesus and of Christian love assures us of abiding in God no matter what our feelings may at times tell us. Our obedience gives us confidence in prayer and trust in God’s judgment. This obedience includes our belief in Christ and love for one another.
  2. 3:19b–20 This difficult passage may also be translated “we shall be at peace before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for…” or “and before God we shall convince our hearts, if our hearts condemn us, that God is greater than our hearts.”

17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister[a] in need and yet refuses help?

18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:17 Gk brother

17 If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God? 18 My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.

Courage before God

19 This, then, is how we will know that we belong to the truth; this is how we will be confident in God's presence.

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17 But (A)whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and (B)closes his [a]heart [b]against him, (C)how does the love of God remain in him? 18 (D)Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and (E)truth. 19 We will know by this that we are (F)of the truth, and will set our heart at ease before Him,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:17 Lit inward parts
  2. 1 John 3:17 Lit from

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,(A) how can the love of God be in that person?(B) 18 Dear children,(C) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.(D)

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:

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