“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has this world’s good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” (vs16-19)
Do positive actions for the church, not merely loving in word and feeling, but in DEEDS. We must be DOERS of the word, or faith is meaningless, because God’s church has faith that WORKS by love and labors to save sinners / help saints. God’s elect are born of God to make God known unto the world, so that their JOY might be full (1 John 1:3-4). Christ is the atonement preached in all the world, and living that men be SAVED is the heart of Christianity. Anyone that believes and loves God for His grace will also love by CONCRETELY doing good unto the church; let us not be weary. Let us HELP brethren in need, rather than saying, “God is sovereign, and He’ll help”. Let us BE the extension of God, as we are, born of His Spirit, and used by Him to love people. God LOVES you and me THROUGH His elect church, who taught us Christ, and we’re to be zealous to SHOW our love with deeds.
Tolerate NO Christianity that doesn’t make you and me follow Christ in truth (sound, sovereign grace, Christ exalting worship) and deed (actions that show our faith and love by concretely helping others know God and helping the church in time of need) (Acts 11:29). Let our giving be regular, our attendance be motivated by love to others, and our assurance will be full, because we DO His will.
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