I John 3:18-23

It is not how we feel, but whether or not we are loving.

So, love is not a feeling. Love is an action. Let us get that down, so that it is firmly implanted in our minds. Love is obedience to God. It is that simple. It is an action.

Whether the love is towards God or man, it does not rest on feelings but on practical acts—deeds. So, the first test, then, is not something that is dealt with abstractly. That is, it is not a thing of the mind, but it is good, solid evidence against which we can measure ourselves. Are we keeping the commands of God? We can say, "Yes, I keep this one. I keep this one. I keep this one. I keep this one, and that one, and that one, and so forth. I've done this. I've done that." That is love. You see, we can measure ourselves against something, because God gives us accurate descriptions of exactly what love is.

Now the second test is very interesting. It is more abstract because it rests on faith in the name of Jesus Christ.

The two are tied together. "Believing on the name of Jesus Christ" is the second part of this checklist. Now, when a "name" is used in this way, it does not mean "the word by which a person is called"; but rather, "the whole nature, or character, of the person" as far as we know it, or understand it. This is why the proverb says that a good name is more precious than great riches (Proverbs 22:1).

"Our help is in the name of the Lord." This is what is going to get you out of your depression. Again, this does not mean that our help lies in the fact that God is called Yahweh. There is nothing magic in that name at all. It means that our help is in His love. It is in His mercy. It is in His power. It is in His promises. It is in those things that have been revealed to us as parts of His nature, or His attributes, part of His character—and whether or not we have faith in them.

So then, to "believe in the name of Jesus Christ" means to believe in the nature and the character of Jesus Christ. It means to believe that He is the Son of God. To believe that He stands in relation to the Father in a way that no other person in the universe ever has or ever will. It means that He can perfectly reveal the Father to us. It means that He is the Savior. It means that He is the High Priest. It means that He is the Mediator. It means that He is the Intercessor. It means that He is our soon-coming King. It means that through Him we have entrance into God's presence—not just entrance only, but actually fellowship with Him.

Are these two checklist items beginning to become clear? Number one, when we begin to get into discouragement and despair and self-condemnation, the first thing we need to check is, are we still keeping the commands of God? And, if we are, then the second thing to check is, are we maintaining our fellowship with God? Or, are we, of our own volition, running and hiding from Him?

"By this we know." It means we know by experience. We have lived it, in the past. Now, what do we know? We know we are keeping His commands and that we do have fellowship with Him.

I John 3:18-19

It is not how we feel, but whether or not we are loving.

I am leading to something that is going to be a major portion of the next sermon. The love of God is not feeling. If it was feeling, it would not be a good standard for us to measure ourselves against. We have to have a standard that changes not! Otherwise, the standards are going to be varying from person to person. Love, therefore, cannot be a feeling, because feelings will vary from person to person depending upon the experiences of that person's life. Feelings—emotions—are educated by our experiences. We will act or react—according to feelings—differently.

So, love is not a feeling. Love is an action. Let us get that down, so that it is firmly implanted in our minds. Love is obedience to God. It is that simple. It is an action.

It is one thing to feel compassion for somebody who is in need, but if it does not turn into love, no deed will take place. And so the feeling can be good because it motivates us to take action, but the feeling is not love. The action is love. That is why John can say, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.”

Whether the love is towards God or man, it does not rest on feelings but on practical acts—deeds. So, the first test, then, is not something that is dealt with abstractly. That is, it is not a thing of the mind, but it is good, solid evidence against which we can measure ourselves. Are we keeping the commands of God? We can say, "Yes, I keep this one. I keep this one. I keep this one. I keep this one, and that one, and that one, and so forth. I've done this. I've done that." That is love. You see, we can measure ourselves against something, because God gives us accurate descriptions of exactly what love is.

I John 3:18-20

It is not how we feel, but whether or not we are loving.

I am leading to something that is going to be a major portion of the next sermon. The love of God is not feeling. If it was feeling, it would not be a good standard for us to measure ourselves against. We have to have a standard that changes not! Otherwise, the standards are going to be varying from person to person. Love, therefore, cannot be a feeling, because feelings will vary from person to person depending upon the experiences of that person's life. Feelings—emotions—are educated by our experiences. We will act or react—according to feelings—differently.

So, love is not a feeling. Love is an action. Let us get that down, so that it is firmly implanted in our minds. Love is obedience to God. It is that simple. It is an action.

It is one thing to feel compassion for somebody who is in need, but if it does not turn into love, no deed will take place. And so the feeling can be good because it motivates us to take action, but the feeling is not love. The action is love. That is why John can say, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.”

Whether the love is towards God or man, it does not rest on feelings but on practical acts—deeds. So, the first test, then, is not something that is dealt with abstractly. That is, it is not a thing of the mind, but it is good, solid evidence against which we can measure ourselves. Are we keeping the commands of God? We can say, "Yes, I keep this one. I keep this one. I keep this one. I keep this one, and that one, and that one, and so forth. I've done this. I've done that." That is love. You see, we can measure ourselves against something, because God gives us accurate descriptions of exactly what love is.

I John 3:18-21

Verse 19 says, "By this we know [that is, by applying His way] and shall assure our hearts before Him." The word "assure" means "will be persuaded." It can also mean "We will be set at rest." In other words, our conscience is not bothering us. A modern word is "tranquilized." We will be tranquilized. There will not be agitation in our life if we are doing what we know to do. Is that not the way you want to live? Sure it is.

We have three things that will help conscience grow.

1) Make sure where you stand. Always be questioning yourself, and if you think that such an action might be wrong, the rule of thumb is, "don't do it."

2) Be perceptive. The people in Hebrews became that way through neglect. So think, compare. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Try to clarify things through the experience of others.

3) Put it into practice to keep yourself from feeling condemned.

Those three things, as simple as they are, will cause your conscience to adjust in the right direction. As this becomes a part of your character, discernment, insight, and wisdom will become a part of your mind and your operation, and it will lead you to being free to do what is right.