1 John 3:23

And this is what God tells us to do. We have to believe in God’s son Jesus Christ, and we have to love each other, just like he told us to do.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

In Context

22We know that we are doing the things that God tells us to do, and we are living in a way that makes him happy. So we can be sure that God will hear us when we pray, and he will give us whatever we ask for.

24If anyone does those things, they are joined up with God, and God is joined up with them. Yes, God put his spirit in us, so we know for sure that God is joined up with us.

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Cross References

John 6:29Jesus said, “This is the work that God wants you to do, he wants you to believe in the man he sent to the world.”

John 14:1Jesus said to his followers, “Don’t let anything upset you. You believe in God, and you have to believe in me too.

John 17:3Yes, if people know you, and if they know that you are the only real God, and if they know me, and if they know that I am the Christ that you sent to them, those people will live with us for ever.

Ephesians 5:2Always love other people, just like Jesus Christ loves us. He loved us so much that he took our payback, and he died instead of us. You know how people used to kill animals and burn them, to give them to God, for the good smell to make him happy. Well, just like those animals, Jesus died. When Jesus died, he gave himself to God. Jesus did that because he loved you. So you have to love other people too.

Matthew Henry on 1 John 3:21-23

The Testimony of Conscience. ( a. d. 80.) 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. The apostle, having intimated that there may be, even among us, such a privilege as an assurance or sound persuasion of heart towards God, proceeds here, I. To establish the court of… Read the whole commentary →

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