The Commandments of Jesus: 1 John 3:23-24

Continuing from the thoughts in 1 John 3:22, John says:

This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

John often emphasizes commandments in his writings, but it’s crucial to understand them in context. It’s surprising how quickly some believers jump onto the “let’s-follow-the-law” bandwagon without fully grasping the New Testament perspective. Many interpret “keeping His commandments” as adhering strictly to the Old Testament Law, but the Bible’s broader context refutes this.

But what are these commandments? They are simple yet profound: believe in Him and love others as He has loved us. For believers, the first part is already fulfilled—we believe in Jesus. But what about the second part—love?

Love as the Innate Fruit of a Believer

In the previous blog, we explored how love is the most basic fruit of a believer. Every true believer loves because love is a causal effect of being born again. If someone doesn’t show love, it’s a sign they are not truly born of God. As simple as that. John underscores this by stating that those who keep His commandments—to love—abide in Christ, and Christ abides in them. And those who abide in Christ has the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit: The Source of Love

In other words, John is saying that the presence of love is the evidence of Holy Spirit abiding in us. It makes sense because the Spirit is not a passive presence but an active force working in us to produce fruit. The first fruit of the Spirit, according to Galatians 5:22-23, is love. Love is the foremost mark of the Spirit’s activity. If the Spirit resides in someone, love will inevitably manifest.

Can Believers Not Love, and Unbelievers Love?

So, it is impossible for someone who genuinely possesses the Spirit to persist in a state of lovelessness. Believers may struggle with moments of selfishness or conflict, but the Spirit continually works to convict, guide, and transform them toward love. A Spirit-filled life cannot remain indifferent or hostile toward others because the very nature of the Spirit is love.

• 1 John 4:8 reinforces this truth: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
• Romans 5:5 reminds us: “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

For believers, love is not merely a human effort or emotion; it flows from God Himself.

• 1 John 4:19 states: “We love because He first loved us.” The love believers show is a response to the overwhelming and unconditional love they have received from God through Jesus Christ.
• This divine love empowers believers to love others in ways that transcend natural human inclinations.

While unbelievers are capable of love, they lack this divine source. Their love is often shaped by personal feelings, societal expectations, or self-interest, limiting its depth and endurance. In contrast, believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who transforms their hearts and enables them to love as God commands. The Spirit helps them:

• Overcome selfishness, bitterness, and pride—barriers to genuine love.
• Produce the fruit of love as a natural outflow of their faith.
• Teach and convict them to love even in challenging circumstances.

Evidence of Salvation through Love

The Apostle John ties love directly to the evidence of salvation:

• 1 John 3:14-15: “We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
• Persistent hatred is a sign of spiritual death, while love is a sign of life in Christ. A Spirit-filled believer cannot continuously exist in a state of hate because it contradicts their new nature.

At salvation, believers are given a new heart and become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new heart is softened toward God and others, and hatred, which stems from the sinful nature, is replaced by a growing love:

• 1 John 2:9-11 clearly states: “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.” Persistent hatred suggests a lack of fellowship with God, as walking in His light naturally results in love.

This is the New Commandment

What is His commandment? to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and to love one another. That’s it. All the Law is summed up in these two commands (Matthew 22:36-40).

The New Testament law of love is radically different from the Old Testament Law. The Old Testament Law controlled people’s actions from the outside, while the New Testament law of love controls people’s actions from the inside. Jesus’ statement, “as I have loved you,” is profound and revolutionary. Jesus loved in ways no one had ever loved before—selflessly, sacrificially, and unconditionally. Believers are called to love as He did.

This is not something we can do on our own. We can’t give what we haven’t received. We must first receive this love from God before we can let it flow through us to others. The Old Testament commandments, such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17), were about how to love God and how He would respond to us. The New Testament commandment is about how we are to respond to the love God has already shown us (1 John 4:10).

The Law’s commandments were done to obtain God’s love. The New Testament law of love is a response to God’s love. What a difference! The Old Testament commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18) is often quoted in the New Testament (Matthew 22:37-40, Romans 13:9-10, Galatians 5:14, and James 2:8). However, it has been fulfilled and elevated by the New Testament command to love others as Christ has loved us. Jesus loved us more than Himself, and this superior command encompasses all the Old Testament laws and much more.

Conclusion

The New Testament law of love is about responding to God’s love through faith in Christ and loving others as He loved us. It’s not about legalistic adherence to rules but about a transformed heart. When we abide in Christ, love becomes the natural outflow of our lives. The Holy Spirit empowers us to love deeply, selflessly, and sacrificially, reflecting the character of God in all we do. This is the evidence of true salvation and the hallmark of a Spirit-filled life.