1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.… I. WHO ARE DESCRIBED BY THIS TITLE — "the children of God." This title, "the children of God," is given upon several accounts. 1. By creation the angels are called "the sons of God," and men His "offspring." The reason of the title is — (1) The manner of their production by His immediate power. (2) In their spiritual, immortal nature, and the intellectual operations flowing from it, there is an image and resemblance of God. 2. By external calling and covenant some are denominated His "children"; for by this evangelical constitution God is pleased to receive believers into a filial relation. 3. There is a sonship that arises from supernatural regeneration. II. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR LOVE TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD. 1. The principle of this love is Divine (1 Peter 1:22). 2. The qualifications of this love are as follows:(1) It is sincere and cordial. A counterfeit, formal affection, set off with artificial colours, is so far from being pleasing to God, that it is infinitely provoking to Him. (2) It is pure. The attractive cause of it is the image of God appearing in them. (3) It is universal, extended to all the saints. (4) It must be fervent. Not only in truth, but in a degree of eminency. "This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12). (5) This love includes all kinds of love. (a) The love of esteem, correspondent to the real worth and special goodness of the saints. (b) The love of desire, of their present and future happiness. (c) The love of delight, in spiritual communion with them. (d) The love of service and beneficence, that declares itself in all outward offices and acts for the good of the saints. If Christians thus loved one another, the Church on earth would be a lively image of the blessed society above. III. THE LOVE OF GOD AND OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS, THE PRODUCT OF IT. 1. The love of God has its rise from the consideration of His amiable excellences, that render Him infinitely worthy of the highest affection; and from the blessed benefits of creation, preservation, redemption, and glorification, that we expect from His pure goodness and mercy. 2. The obedience that springs from love is — (1) Uniform and universal. (2) This is a natural consequence of the former. The Divine law is a rule, not only for our outward conversation, but of our thoughts and affections, of all the interior workings of the soul that are open before God. (3) Chosen and pleasant (1 John 5:3). The sharpest sufferings for religion are sweetened to a saint from the love of God, that is then most sincerely, strongly, and purely acted (2 Corinthians 12:10). (4) The love of God produces persevering obedience. Servile compliance is inconstant. IV. FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, AND WILLING OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS, WE MAY CONVINCINGLY KNOW THE SINCERITY OF OUR LOVE TO HIS CHILDREN. 1. The Divine command requires this love. 2. Spiritual love to the saints arises from the sight of the Divine image appearing in their conversation. As affectionate expressions to the children of God, without the real supply of their wants, are but the shadows of love, so words of esteem and respect to the law of God, without unfeigned and universal obedience, are but an empty pretence. 3. The Divine relation of the saints to God as their Father is the motive of spiritual love to them. (W. Bates, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.WEB: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. |
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