1 John 3:23 - Meaning and Application

The apostle has just spoken about keeping God’s commandments and pleasing him as marks of those whose prayers are heard. He now goes on to show what those commandments mainly are, and they come down to two things: believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment (1 John 3:23).

To believe in the name of Jesus Christ means more than saying we agree with facts about him. First, it means to know who he is, according to his name, to see him as the Son of God and the anointed Savior of the world. Jesus said that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life (John 6:40). Second, it means to approve of him in our mind and conscience, knowing he is perfectly fitted for the whole work of saving us for eternity. Third, it means to agree to him and rest in him as our Redeemer, the one who brings us back to God. Fourth, it means to trust him fully and rely on him for the complete fulfillment of his saving work.

This faith is necessary for anyone who wants to pray with power before God, because we come to the Father through the Son. Through his grace and righteousness, we are accepted by the Father (Ephesians 1:6). Through his purchase, all the blessings we ask for come to us. Through his intercession, his helping advocacy for us, our prayers are heard and answered. So this first command must be present in all who worship acceptably.

The second part of the command is that we love one another, as he gave us commandment (1 John 3:23). Christ’s command should always stay before our eyes. Christian love should fill our hearts when we come to God in prayer. For that reason, we must remember that our Lord calls us to forgive those who offend us (Matthew 6:14), and to make peace with those we have offended (Matthew 5:23-24). As God has announced goodwill toward people from heaven, so those who go to God and heaven must carry goodwill in their hearts, especially toward fellow believers.

The apostle also shows the blessed result of obeying these commands. Those who obey enjoy fellowship with God. Whoever keeps his commandments, especially faith and love, lives in God, and God lives in him (1 John 3:24). We live in God through a right relationship with him, through spiritual union with him in his Son, and through holy fellowship with him. God lives in us through his word, through our faith fixed on him, and through the working of his Spirit.

This is also how we can tell that God truly lives in us, by the Spirit he has given us (1 John 3:24). The holy attitude and new frame of heart he gives us, a spirit of faith in God and Christ, and of love to God and people, shows that it comes from God.