My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
The verse calls little children to love not by speech and profession only but by sincere practical action in deed and truth. In its setting this means seeing a brother in need and opening the hand wide to share this world's goods and lend sufficient for need, instead of shutting up compassion and hardening the heart. Its pattern is Christ laying down His life, requiring readiness even to lay down life for the brethren in self-sacrificing, tireless work for others. Such deed-love proves belonging to the truth and passing from death unto life, stilling and assuring the heart before God who is greater than the heart and knows all things, and giving confidence to receive what is asked because His commandments are kept. Mere profession without deeds is valueless and cheap, while genuine faith and obedience are shown true by fruits, by believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another and dwelling in Him by the Spirit given.
Words and Immediate Context
The address to little children commands love not in word and tongue only but in deed and in truth, which means sincere practical action rather than mere speech or profession. It calls for putting the Word into daily life and serving others, with the love of God expressed in action as well as words. Among believers this is practical, Christlike love, being true, pure and holy, letting sympathy and love into the heart and being true to one another. It turns from accusing, tearing down, censuring and evil-speaking to thinking well and speaking well, manifesting fruit that is not puffed up, thinks no evil, and believes and hopes all that is pure, good and of good report.
In its immediate setting the verse requires seeing a brother in need and sharing this world's goods with him instead of shutting up compassion. It requires opening the hand wide to a poor brother, lending him sufficient for his need and relieving him when he is waxed poor and fallen into decay. It requires not hardening the heart, not giving grudgingly, but giving freely, doing good, being rich in good works, ready to distribute and willing to communicate. Selfish grasping after this world's goods while professing faith denies the love of God, and profession without such works does not save. Such obedient love belongs to home missionary work and just and merciful dealing, regulating all business transactions in strict accordance with the Word of God and letting light shine through good works so others glorify the Father in heaven.
The chapter joins the law and the gospel as one whole, with genuine faith as more than claim or theory and the love God gives to be shared with others. It expresses the great principles of the law in the two precepts to love God with all the heart and to love neighbor as self, upon which hang all the law and the prophets. These principles are precious as the expression of the love of God in life and character in treatment of fellow men, received through faith to empower receiving grace from Christ's fullness and asking for gifts in order to give to others.
The full breadth of this love was learned only after Christ's sufferings, crucifixion, resurrection, appearance in Galilee, ascension, and the revealing of that love by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The chapter calls attention to dwell more on God's love, goodness, compassion and praise than on gloomy accounts of evil and Satan's power. Speaking of Jesus' goodness, love and compassion and praising God brings encouragement and blessing.
Nature of Genuine Love
Genuine love is a constant impulse from within to help and bless others, not stopping at word and tongue but acting in deed and truth by sharing this world's goods with a brother in need and opening compassion instead of shutting it up. It surrounds the believer like an influence that makes life life-giving, completes Christian character, and enables God to bless the work. Such practical love proves Christ abides within and that the believer has passed from death unto life.
Its pattern is Christ laying down His life, known as the ground of love for God, requiring believers to lay down their lives for the brethren. This means helping a needy brother from one's own goods instead of shutting up compassion, in self-sacrificing action rather than mere talk, opposing dissension and strife that make believers spiritually weak. It is earnest, tireless work for others, especially for fellow Christians, cultivated as zeal instead of exposing differences.
When Christ's love is in the heart its life-giving power works like leaven, bringing mind and soul and strength into harmony with the divine life. It gives sanctification of the soul and the faith which works by love and purifies the soul from selfishness, hardness of heart, moral defilement and spiritual pride. Absence of such love shows truth is not in the heart and lacks that cleansing faith.
Such practical love is the sunshine of heaven filling the heart, and true religion shows in its influence and personal deeds as a life full of goodness, love, and truth. It springs from unconditional surrender to God found by seeking Him in secret prayer, with conversation of heaven while looking for the Saviour and being kept from evil while remaining in the world. Without it a cold, stern, selfish heart abides in death and is destitute of the love of God.
Mere profession without deeds is valueless and cheap, and profession without such works does not save. A cheap professed Christian character with manliness and firmness lacking works more harm in the world than the character of a worldling, because those who profess to represent Christ while lacking true deeds mislead others by the name they assume. People may appear zealous and speak lovingly while their hearts are not right with God and they do not live out that love in truthful action, and selfish grasping after this world's goods while professing faith denies the love of God.
Evidence Assurance and Judgment
Loving in deed and in truth rather than in word and tongue only proves belonging to the truth and stills and assures the heart before God, who is greater than the heart and knows all things. Such practical love is compassion and help given to a brother in need instead of shutting up compassion, and it reveals that God's love is truly in the heart. Living in unity with Christ means loving fellow believers in both speech and conduct, and this active love gives assurance that one can approach God with confidence. The verse is applied as a test of whether conduct and influence reflect genuine love.
A heart that does not condemn gives confidence toward God, so that whatever is asked is received because His commandments are kept and the things pleasing in His sight are done. Keeping His commandments means believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another as commanded, and dwelling in Him and He in them by the Spirit given. This deed-love is keeping God's commandments in personal deeds and in a life full of goodness, love and truth, by opening compassion and sharing this world's goods with a brother seen to be in need instead of shutting the heart against him. Such obedient love requires divesting selfishness, making thorough work for eternity, redeeming the past, letting light shine through good works so others glorify the Father in heaven, standing on the elevated platform of eternal truth, and regulating all business transactions in strict accordance with the Word of God.
Deed-love is the credential that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, showing mutual abiding with God. Without it no one can truly love God, for loving the brother who is seen proves love for God who is unseen. Its pattern is Christ laying down His life, requiring readiness even to lay down life for the brethren in constant impulse from within to help and bless others. Without such practical love a cold, stern, selfish heart abides in death and is destitute of the love of God.
Such love proves passing from death unto life. Doing righteousness and loving the brother in active deed is the mark by which the children of God are manifest and distinguished from the children of the devil, for whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who does not love his brother. Mere profession of being a child of God is valueless, for doing righteousness, not professing to do it, is what makes a person righteous. True faith is an abiding principle in the soul that sanctifies life and character and keeps the soul in Christ under temptation.
The verse is the test and measurement of genuine religious experience and sanctification through the truth. Conduct and influence must withstand the Judgment of all the earth, so the verse is a searching question to be taken to the heart as before the Judge of all the earth. It demands honest self-examination and reformation in every family, in every institution, and in every church, away from selfish, cold lovelessness. Such real conduct in truthful action includes ending contention and making peace rather than deceiving self.
Faith Obedience and Doctrine
The verse commands belief on the name of Jesus Christ the Son and love for one another as commanded, kept in deed and in truth rather than in profession only. Real active love for the brethren, not only spoken, shows true religion in its influence and in personal deeds, in a life full of goodness and love and truth. Such love follows the pattern of laying down life for the brethren, opening compassion and sharing this world's goods with a brother in need instead of shutting the heart against him. This deed-love is keeping God's commandments and doing what pleases Him, and by it believers know they are of the truth, assure their hearts before God, and have confidence toward God in prayer. It is the zeal to be cultivated instead of exposing differences, for without it no one can truly love God, since loving the brother who is seen proves love for God who is unseen. Those who live this way faithfully do the work of proclaiming the truth in all its power, and they will be acknowledged as laborers together with God.
Genuine faith is more than claim or theory or legal religion, for the law and the gospel belong together as one whole, and the love God gives is to be shared with others in practical action and sincerity, not merely in words. True faith is an abiding principle in the soul that sanctifies life and character and keeps the soul in Christ under temptation. God requires servants to be true in deed as well as in word, and their fruits show whether their faith is genuine. Doing righteousness and loving the brother are the marks by which the children of God are manifest and distinguished from the children of the devil, so mere profession of being a child of God is valueless, and whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who does not love his brother. Believers must represent Christ in deed and in truth, reflecting His righteousness, gentleness, forbearance and unselfish love, with His grace replacing harshness and disparagement by practical godliness and help for others. A life that only claims Christianity without living like Christ is pretense and mockery of religion, while living Christianity is evidence of divine grace that can lead others to conversion.
Love for God must be genuine in action, not merely professed in words, and a person's conduct and works reveal whether that love is real. It is proved by true, humble, willing obedience to His requirements and by turning from sin to pursue holiness in reverence for God. Works shaped by selfishness and unrighteousness show a life not renewed by God, and a course of loveless words testifies that works are wrought in selfishness and not in God, that hearts are strangers to renewing grace, and that such persons are not children of light and adoption but of darkness. Those who love in action are children of adoption, recipients of grace and partakers of salvation, with a peculiar holy character distinctly separate from the world and its affections and lusts. As living branches they receive life from Christ and partake of the sap and nourishment of the heavenly vine, experiencing transforming grace to walk as Christ walked, departing from all iniquity and perfecting holiness in the fear of God, flourishing and bearing fruit to the glory of God instead of remaining withered and fruitless. Loving God in deed and in truth in this way identifies those who truly love Him.
Love is known because Christ laid down His life, and believers ought to lay down their lives for the brethren by helping a needy brother from their own goods instead of shutting up compassion. Loving in deed and truth in this way proves belonging to the truth and assures the heart before God, giving confidence toward God so that prayer is answered because His commandments are kept, which means believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another, and dwelling in Him and He in them by the Spirit given. Committing these words to memory brings great blessing and leaves no excuse for continuing in sin. Those who receive Christ are empowered to become sons and daughters of God, receiving grace from Christ's fullness and asking for gifts in order to give to others, becoming partakers of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption through lust. This is possible through the power Christ came to give when He laid aside His royal robe and crown, clothed His divinity with humanity, and stood at the head of humanity to reveal what human beings can become, bringing light and understanding to receptive hearts to receive God's gifts through faith as one complete message of law and gospel, not merely to profess a theory or follow a legal religion.
Practical Applications to Life
In the home love is to be shown in both words and deeds, with tenderness, sympathy, appreciation and encouragement given to a spouse, for such expression is not weakness nor loss of dignity. Parents show it through looks, words and acts that create a cheerful and loving home. A loving, cheerful, courteous atmosphere in the home promotes the mental and physical health of children, and love there is genuine only when expressed in actions as well as words.
Toward the poor and afflicted love must open the hand wide to a poor brother, lend him sufficient for his need, and relieve him when waxed poor and fallen into decay, without hardening the heart, shutting up compassion, or giving grudgingly, but giving freely, doing good, being rich in good works, ready to distribute and willing to communicate. This is home missionary work and just and merciful dealing with brethren in distress, to be carried out by those in responsible positions united together as commanded by Christ Himself, and neglect brings the cry of the needy before the Lord as sin, grieves God, forfeits blessing, endangers prosperity, and keeps prayers from rising as sweet incense. Brethren are to encourage and help a blind, poor, diseased person striving to support himself, not distress him or obstruct his way, and those who wrong him must repent and make the wrong right before their prayers are accepted, while a church allowing the wrong to continue shares the sin until it does what it can to correct it. Love for others is lived out through practical goodness and benevolence, not confined to words or private feeling, for selfishness shuts off sympathy while sharing goodness brings blessing. Followers give evidence of faith by practical care for the sick and suffering while trusting and praying for Christ to help in healing, and unselfish acts of kindness by nurses and helpers can help sufferers believe in Christ's love.
Toward God's cause love must be shown in actions and giving for the spread of truth, not in profession only, and claiming to love while withholding entrusted means violates the command. Making worldly business, farms and increase of earthly treasure first, sacrificing prayer, worship and spiritual advancement for them, is failure to love in action. Putting property into children's hands to avoid responsibility to give, shifting stewardship onto them, putting property beyond personal control, claiming possessions as one's own as if gained by one's own might and wisdom, willing means to children or letting it pass to unbelieving children to squander or hoard, and failing in good works while making high profession, is loving only in profession. Loving in deed and truth recognizes money handled as the Lord's money not one's own, retains personal stewardship, and freely spends it to sustain and forward the work and its enterprises calling for means. Those who have received spiritual benefits must not merely wish others to receive them but help provide papers and tracts for those without access, and Sabbath-keepers who profess love for the cause but are unwilling to sacrifice, share its burdens or help advance it love only in word.
Toward missionaries love requires hearty practical support from the home field rather than professed concern only. The church cannot reach the position God desires until bound up in sympathy with its missionary workers, and the unity for which Christ prayed cannot exist until spirituality is brought into missionary service and the church becomes an agency for the support of missions. Missionary efforts cannot accomplish what they should until home members prove in deed that they realize their obligation, and such active care helps the church attain the unity Christ desires.
In publishing and other connected work being Christian in deed and truth and not in name only means serving from sincere interest in the great and solemn work as part of oneself, not merely for wages. Motives and influence in connection with the work must be such as can bear the test of judgment. Selfishness and pride are contrary to deed and truth and disqualify from connection with the office of publication, and all connected with God's work must show by motives and conduct that hearts are truly in the work.
Teachers show this love by meeting every difficulty in the spirit of Jesus, never answering combativeness with combativeness. Wilfulness, stubbornness, indolence and frivolity are to be met with kindness and love, holding pupils' affection by patience and self-control and confidence in them. Teachers make clear the whole desire is to do pupils good by visiting them at their homes and inviting them into the teacher's own home, so love is seen in what is done.
Among brethren love in deed and truth requires Christlike courtesy, forbearance and kindness even when views differ, without crowding, pushing, discourteous treatment or condemnation from responsibility. It means being true, pure, holy Christians who let sympathy and love into the heart and are true to one another. It turns from accusing, tearing down, censuring and evil-speaking to thinking well and speaking well of brethren and sisters, manifesting fruit that is not puffed up, thinks no evil, and believes and hopes all that is pure, good and of good report. Those moved by Christ's love act like Him, treating others kindly and courteously and valuing faithful service, while failure to be Christian in deed and truth fails to show His love.
In daily life at all times and in all places love must not remain in word or tongue but grow from deeper knowledge of the truth as in Jesus and from contemplation of His life, spirit and love that business activity must not crowd out. Learning from Christ who is meek and lowly reveals the disinterestedness of His love, pure benevolence and unselfishness by not looking only on one's own things but also on the things of others. It means not pleasing self but bearing the infirmities of the weak as Christ pleased not Himself, lifting hands that hang down and feeble knees, making straight paths so the lame are healed rather than turned aside, following peace with all and holiness and guarding against failing of grace and roots of bitterness. Those who love God show lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness to everyone met and care for a brother or sister in need, reflecting Christ's love and the love Christians should show one another.
Youth, students in schools and sanitariums, workers in printing offices, and especially instructors and leaders are to study and practice loving in deed and truth and not in word and tongue only, taking heed to themselves and showing faith in it. They are to learn meekness and lowliness from Christ so His yoke is easy and burden light, and testify in daily life to the keeping power of grace by faithful service done as pleasure not task. They are to put sacred fire in censers and use no common fire, never speak one harsh passionate rash word that could ruin a soul or stir resistance, but speak as Christ spoke with courtesy and respect. Hereditary and cultivated tendencies are to be kept under control while character is daily refined, sanctified and purified, thus showing youth the possibility of becoming sons and daughters of God and walking uprightly in a crooked and perverse generation in contrast between the principles of Christ and Satan, with heart affections and life service devoted to God and knowledge and wisdom used to serve faithfully and lead others by example to glorify Him.
Deed-love is proved by living and doing rather than describing or advocating, for Christ did not merely describe God's love but lived and practiced it, and His practice is to become the practice of all who receive truth by opening mind and heart to its virtues. It is shown by brave daily efforts to overcome selfishness and allowing no opportunity to pass for helping those around, and each day, hour and moment of such helping weaves a bright destiny as designed, while careless indolent self-pleasing mars the pattern and binds life in unchristlike habits. Such love shines as light guiding others to the cross, while walking away in selfish neglect sets an example many follow to never enjoy heaven's glories. Real devotion is manifested in patient persevering work, with Christian women showing belief and sanctification by self-denial and making soul-saving their cherished work with zealous diligence in bringing souls to light, and benevolent work is to be Christlike in both words and actions.
Such living shows holiness as constant agreement with God, striving to be what Christ desires, Christians in deed and truth not profession only, so the world sees a revelation of the saving power of truth. The life must increasingly resemble Christ with Him formed within, displaying His righteousness and the power of divine grace as convincing witness to Bible truth that can lead sinners to conversion, for pretense is not genuine Christianity and has no place in heaven. A life of gentleness, forbearance and unselfish love acknowledges believers as laborers together with God in proclaiming truth.
The verse tests a minister's life, for professed love is contradicted when the life lacks humility and meekness, and love for God must be genuine and active not merely spoken. The Lord's presence with His people when gathered is real and active like deed-love itself, making meetings interesting and encouraging full attendance remaining until the close. Being converted in deed and truth in young men and women produces a decided change seen by all, with frivolity, continual desire for amusement and selfish pleasure, and longing for parties and excursions no longer seen.
All truly converted to the proclamation of the third angel's message are called to present unity not division to the world, to angels and to men, with truth sanctifying the receiver to be a channel and representative of grace. Love must be real in conduct shown by truthful actions including ending contention and making peace. Such conduct must withstand the Judgment, so hearts must be honestly examined and lives set in order rather than deceived.
The verse calls little children to love not by speech and profession only but by sincere practical action in deed and truth. In its setting this means seeing a brother in need and opening the hand wide to share this world's goods and lend sufficient for need, instead of shutting up compassion and hardening the heart. Its pattern is Christ laying down His life, requiring readiness even to lay down life for the brethren in self-sacrificing, tireless work for others. Such deed-love proves belonging to the truth and passing from death unto life, stilling and assuring the heart before God who is greater than the heart and knows all things, and giving confidence to receive what is asked because His commandments are kept. Mere profession without deeds is valueless and cheap, while genuine faith and obedience are shown true by fruits, by believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another and dwelling in Him by the Spirit given.
Words and Immediate Context
The address to little children commands love not in word and tongue only but in deed and in truth, which means sincere practical action rather than mere speech or profession. It calls for putting the Word into daily life and serving others, with the love of God expressed in action as well as words. Among believers this is practical, Christlike love, being true, pure and holy, letting sympathy and love into the heart and being true to one another. It turns from accusing, tearing down, censuring and evil-speaking to thinking well and speaking well, manifesting fruit that is not puffed up, thinks no evil, and believes and hopes all that is pure, good and of good report.
In its immediate setting the verse requires seeing a brother in need and sharing this world's goods with him instead of shutting up compassion. It requires opening the hand wide to a poor brother, lending him sufficient for his need and relieving him when he is waxed poor and fallen into decay. It requires not hardening the heart, not giving grudgingly, but giving freely, doing good, being rich in good works, ready to distribute and willing to communicate. Selfish grasping after this world's goods while professing faith denies the love of God, and profession without such works does not save. Such obedient love belongs to home missionary work and just and merciful dealing, regulating all business transactions in strict accordance with the Word of God and letting light shine through good works so others glorify the Father in heaven.
The chapter joins the law and the gospel as one whole, with genuine faith as more than claim or theory and the love God gives to be shared with others. It expresses the great principles of the law in the two precepts to love God with all the heart and to love neighbor as self, upon which hang all the law and the prophets. These principles are precious as the expression of the love of God in life and character in treatment of fellow men, received through faith to empower receiving grace from Christ's fullness and asking for gifts in order to give to others.
The full breadth of this love was learned only after Christ's sufferings, crucifixion, resurrection, appearance in Galilee, ascension, and the revealing of that love by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The chapter calls attention to dwell more on God's love, goodness, compassion and praise than on gloomy accounts of evil and Satan's power. Speaking of Jesus' goodness, love and compassion and praising God brings encouragement and blessing.
Nature of Genuine Love
Genuine love is a constant impulse from within to help and bless others, not stopping at word and tongue but acting in deed and truth by sharing this world's goods with a brother in need and opening compassion instead of shutting it up. It surrounds the believer like an influence that makes life life-giving, completes Christian character, and enables God to bless the work. Such practical love proves Christ abides within and that the believer has passed from death unto life.
Its pattern is Christ laying down His life, known as the ground of love for God, requiring believers to lay down their lives for the brethren. This means helping a needy brother from one's own goods instead of shutting up compassion, in self-sacrificing action rather than mere talk, opposing dissension and strife that make believers spiritually weak. It is earnest, tireless work for others, especially for fellow Christians, cultivated as zeal instead of exposing differences.
When Christ's love is in the heart its life-giving power works like leaven, bringing mind and soul and strength into harmony with the divine life. It gives sanctification of the soul and the faith which works by love and purifies the soul from selfishness, hardness of heart, moral defilement and spiritual pride. Absence of such love shows truth is not in the heart and lacks that cleansing faith.
Such practical love is the sunshine of heaven filling the heart, and true religion shows in its influence and personal deeds as a life full of goodness, love, and truth. It springs from unconditional surrender to God found by seeking Him in secret prayer, with conversation of heaven while looking for the Saviour and being kept from evil while remaining in the world. Without it a cold, stern, selfish heart abides in death and is destitute of the love of God.
Mere profession without deeds is valueless and cheap, and profession without such works does not save. A cheap professed Christian character with manliness and firmness lacking works more harm in the world than the character of a worldling, because those who profess to represent Christ while lacking true deeds mislead others by the name they assume. People may appear zealous and speak lovingly while their hearts are not right with God and they do not live out that love in truthful action, and selfish grasping after this world's goods while professing faith denies the love of God.
Evidence Assurance and Judgment
Loving in deed and in truth rather than in word and tongue only proves belonging to the truth and stills and assures the heart before God, who is greater than the heart and knows all things. Such practical love is compassion and help given to a brother in need instead of shutting up compassion, and it reveals that God's love is truly in the heart. Living in unity with Christ means loving fellow believers in both speech and conduct, and this active love gives assurance that one can approach God with confidence. The verse is applied as a test of whether conduct and influence reflect genuine love.
A heart that does not condemn gives confidence toward God, so that whatever is asked is received because His commandments are kept and the things pleasing in His sight are done. Keeping His commandments means believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another as commanded, and dwelling in Him and He in them by the Spirit given. This deed-love is keeping God's commandments in personal deeds and in a life full of goodness, love and truth, by opening compassion and sharing this world's goods with a brother seen to be in need instead of shutting the heart against him. Such obedient love requires divesting selfishness, making thorough work for eternity, redeeming the past, letting light shine through good works so others glorify the Father in heaven, standing on the elevated platform of eternal truth, and regulating all business transactions in strict accordance with the Word of God.
Deed-love is the credential that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, showing mutual abiding with God. Without it no one can truly love God, for loving the brother who is seen proves love for God who is unseen. Its pattern is Christ laying down His life, requiring readiness even to lay down life for the brethren in constant impulse from within to help and bless others. Without such practical love a cold, stern, selfish heart abides in death and is destitute of the love of God.
Such love proves passing from death unto life. Doing righteousness and loving the brother in active deed is the mark by which the children of God are manifest and distinguished from the children of the devil, for whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who does not love his brother. Mere profession of being a child of God is valueless, for doing righteousness, not professing to do it, is what makes a person righteous. True faith is an abiding principle in the soul that sanctifies life and character and keeps the soul in Christ under temptation.
The verse is the test and measurement of genuine religious experience and sanctification through the truth. Conduct and influence must withstand the Judgment of all the earth, so the verse is a searching question to be taken to the heart as before the Judge of all the earth. It demands honest self-examination and reformation in every family, in every institution, and in every church, away from selfish, cold lovelessness. Such real conduct in truthful action includes ending contention and making peace rather than deceiving self.
Faith Obedience and Doctrine
The verse commands belief on the name of Jesus Christ the Son and love for one another as commanded, kept in deed and in truth rather than in profession only. Real active love for the brethren, not only spoken, shows true religion in its influence and in personal deeds, in a life full of goodness and love and truth. Such love follows the pattern of laying down life for the brethren, opening compassion and sharing this world's goods with a brother in need instead of shutting the heart against him. This deed-love is keeping God's commandments and doing what pleases Him, and by it believers know they are of the truth, assure their hearts before God, and have confidence toward God in prayer. It is the zeal to be cultivated instead of exposing differences, for without it no one can truly love God, since loving the brother who is seen proves love for God who is unseen. Those who live this way faithfully do the work of proclaiming the truth in all its power, and they will be acknowledged as laborers together with God.
Genuine faith is more than claim or theory or legal religion, for the law and the gospel belong together as one whole, and the love God gives is to be shared with others in practical action and sincerity, not merely in words. True faith is an abiding principle in the soul that sanctifies life and character and keeps the soul in Christ under temptation. God requires servants to be true in deed as well as in word, and their fruits show whether their faith is genuine. Doing righteousness and loving the brother are the marks by which the children of God are manifest and distinguished from the children of the devil, so mere profession of being a child of God is valueless, and whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who does not love his brother. Believers must represent Christ in deed and in truth, reflecting His righteousness, gentleness, forbearance and unselfish love, with His grace replacing harshness and disparagement by practical godliness and help for others. A life that only claims Christianity without living like Christ is pretense and mockery of religion, while living Christianity is evidence of divine grace that can lead others to conversion.
Love for God must be genuine in action, not merely professed in words, and a person's conduct and works reveal whether that love is real. It is proved by true, humble, willing obedience to His requirements and by turning from sin to pursue holiness in reverence for God. Works shaped by selfishness and unrighteousness show a life not renewed by God, and a course of loveless words testifies that works are wrought in selfishness and not in God, that hearts are strangers to renewing grace, and that such persons are not children of light and adoption but of darkness. Those who love in action are children of adoption, recipients of grace and partakers of salvation, with a peculiar holy character distinctly separate from the world and its affections and lusts. As living branches they receive life from Christ and partake of the sap and nourishment of the heavenly vine, experiencing transforming grace to walk as Christ walked, departing from all iniquity and perfecting holiness in the fear of God, flourishing and bearing fruit to the glory of God instead of remaining withered and fruitless. Loving God in deed and in truth in this way identifies those who truly love Him.
Love is known because Christ laid down His life, and believers ought to lay down their lives for the brethren by helping a needy brother from their own goods instead of shutting up compassion. Loving in deed and truth in this way proves belonging to the truth and assures the heart before God, giving confidence toward God so that prayer is answered because His commandments are kept, which means believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another, and dwelling in Him and He in them by the Spirit given. Committing these words to memory brings great blessing and leaves no excuse for continuing in sin. Those who receive Christ are empowered to become sons and daughters of God, receiving grace from Christ's fullness and asking for gifts in order to give to others, becoming partakers of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption through lust. This is possible through the power Christ came to give when He laid aside His royal robe and crown, clothed His divinity with humanity, and stood at the head of humanity to reveal what human beings can become, bringing light and understanding to receptive hearts to receive God's gifts through faith as one complete message of law and gospel, not merely to profess a theory or follow a legal religion.
Practical Applications to Life
In the home love is to be shown in both words and deeds, with tenderness, sympathy, appreciation and encouragement given to a spouse, for such expression is not weakness nor loss of dignity. Parents show it through looks, words and acts that create a cheerful and loving home. A loving, cheerful, courteous atmosphere in the home promotes the mental and physical health of children, and love there is genuine only when expressed in actions as well as words.
Toward the poor and afflicted love must open the hand wide to a poor brother, lend him sufficient for his need, and relieve him when waxed poor and fallen into decay, without hardening the heart, shutting up compassion, or giving grudgingly, but giving freely, doing good, being rich in good works, ready to distribute and willing to communicate. This is home missionary work and just and merciful dealing with brethren in distress, to be carried out by those in responsible positions united together as commanded by Christ Himself, and neglect brings the cry of the needy before the Lord as sin, grieves God, forfeits blessing, endangers prosperity, and keeps prayers from rising as sweet incense. Brethren are to encourage and help a blind, poor, diseased person striving to support himself, not distress him or obstruct his way, and those who wrong him must repent and make the wrong right before their prayers are accepted, while a church allowing the wrong to continue shares the sin until it does what it can to correct it. Love for others is lived out through practical goodness and benevolence, not confined to words or private feeling, for selfishness shuts off sympathy while sharing goodness brings blessing. Followers give evidence of faith by practical care for the sick and suffering while trusting and praying for Christ to help in healing, and unselfish acts of kindness by nurses and helpers can help sufferers believe in Christ's love.
Toward God's cause love must be shown in actions and giving for the spread of truth, not in profession only, and claiming to love while withholding entrusted means violates the command. Making worldly business, farms and increase of earthly treasure first, sacrificing prayer, worship and spiritual advancement for them, is failure to love in action. Putting property into children's hands to avoid responsibility to give, shifting stewardship onto them, putting property beyond personal control, claiming possessions as one's own as if gained by one's own might and wisdom, willing means to children or letting it pass to unbelieving children to squander or hoard, and failing in good works while making high profession, is loving only in profession. Loving in deed and truth recognizes money handled as the Lord's money not one's own, retains personal stewardship, and freely spends it to sustain and forward the work and its enterprises calling for means. Those who have received spiritual benefits must not merely wish others to receive them but help provide papers and tracts for those without access, and Sabbath-keepers who profess love for the cause but are unwilling to sacrifice, share its burdens or help advance it love only in word.
Toward missionaries love requires hearty practical support from the home field rather than professed concern only. The church cannot reach the position God desires until bound up in sympathy with its missionary workers, and the unity for which Christ prayed cannot exist until spirituality is brought into missionary service and the church becomes an agency for the support of missions. Missionary efforts cannot accomplish what they should until home members prove in deed that they realize their obligation, and such active care helps the church attain the unity Christ desires.
In publishing and other connected work being Christian in deed and truth and not in name only means serving from sincere interest in the great and solemn work as part of oneself, not merely for wages. Motives and influence in connection with the work must be such as can bear the test of judgment. Selfishness and pride are contrary to deed and truth and disqualify from connection with the office of publication, and all connected with God's work must show by motives and conduct that hearts are truly in the work.
Teachers show this love by meeting every difficulty in the spirit of Jesus, never answering combativeness with combativeness. Wilfulness, stubbornness, indolence and frivolity are to be met with kindness and love, holding pupils' affection by patience and self-control and confidence in them. Teachers make clear the whole desire is to do pupils good by visiting them at their homes and inviting them into the teacher's own home, so love is seen in what is done.
Among brethren love in deed and truth requires Christlike courtesy, forbearance and kindness even when views differ, without crowding, pushing, discourteous treatment or condemnation from responsibility. It means being true, pure, holy Christians who let sympathy and love into the heart and are true to one another. It turns from accusing, tearing down, censuring and evil-speaking to thinking well and speaking well of brethren and sisters, manifesting fruit that is not puffed up, thinks no evil, and believes and hopes all that is pure, good and of good report. Those moved by Christ's love act like Him, treating others kindly and courteously and valuing faithful service, while failure to be Christian in deed and truth fails to show His love.
In daily life at all times and in all places love must not remain in word or tongue but grow from deeper knowledge of the truth as in Jesus and from contemplation of His life, spirit and love that business activity must not crowd out. Learning from Christ who is meek and lowly reveals the disinterestedness of His love, pure benevolence and unselfishness by not looking only on one's own things but also on the things of others. It means not pleasing self but bearing the infirmities of the weak as Christ pleased not Himself, lifting hands that hang down and feeble knees, making straight paths so the lame are healed rather than turned aside, following peace with all and holiness and guarding against failing of grace and roots of bitterness. Those who love God show lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness to everyone met and care for a brother or sister in need, reflecting Christ's love and the love Christians should show one another.
Youth, students in schools and sanitariums, workers in printing offices, and especially instructors and leaders are to study and practice loving in deed and truth and not in word and tongue only, taking heed to themselves and showing faith in it. They are to learn meekness and lowliness from Christ so His yoke is easy and burden light, and testify in daily life to the keeping power of grace by faithful service done as pleasure not task. They are to put sacred fire in censers and use no common fire, never speak one harsh passionate rash word that could ruin a soul or stir resistance, but speak as Christ spoke with courtesy and respect. Hereditary and cultivated tendencies are to be kept under control while character is daily refined, sanctified and purified, thus showing youth the possibility of becoming sons and daughters of God and walking uprightly in a crooked and perverse generation in contrast between the principles of Christ and Satan, with heart affections and life service devoted to God and knowledge and wisdom used to serve faithfully and lead others by example to glorify Him.
Deed-love is proved by living and doing rather than describing or advocating, for Christ did not merely describe God's love but lived and practiced it, and His practice is to become the practice of all who receive truth by opening mind and heart to its virtues. It is shown by brave daily efforts to overcome selfishness and allowing no opportunity to pass for helping those around, and each day, hour and moment of such helping weaves a bright destiny as designed, while careless indolent self-pleasing mars the pattern and binds life in unchristlike habits. Such love shines as light guiding others to the cross, while walking away in selfish neglect sets an example many follow to never enjoy heaven's glories. Real devotion is manifested in patient persevering work, with Christian women showing belief and sanctification by self-denial and making soul-saving their cherished work with zealous diligence in bringing souls to light, and benevolent work is to be Christlike in both words and actions.
Such living shows holiness as constant agreement with God, striving to be what Christ desires, Christians in deed and truth not profession only, so the world sees a revelation of the saving power of truth. The life must increasingly resemble Christ with Him formed within, displaying His righteousness and the power of divine grace as convincing witness to Bible truth that can lead sinners to conversion, for pretense is not genuine Christianity and has no place in heaven. A life of gentleness, forbearance and unselfish love acknowledges believers as laborers together with God in proclaiming truth.
The verse tests a minister's life, for professed love is contradicted when the life lacks humility and meekness, and love for God must be genuine and active not merely spoken. The Lord's presence with His people when gathered is real and active like deed-love itself, making meetings interesting and encouraging full attendance remaining until the close. Being converted in deed and truth in young men and women produces a decided change seen by all, with frivolity, continual desire for amusement and selfish pleasure, and longing for parties and excursions no longer seen.
All truly converted to the proclamation of the third angel's message are called to present unity not division to the world, to angels and to men, with truth sanctifying the receiver to be a channel and representative of grace. Love must be real in conduct shown by truthful actions including ending contention and making peace. Such conduct must withstand the Judgment, so hearts must be honestly examined and lives set in order rather than deceived.