3:231 John 3:23

God's command is that people put true and substantial trust in Jesus Christ as God's Son and love one another as He directed.Ms 9, 1898, par. 28+3 Genuine faith is not mere profession or theory but receives what God gives through Christ and shares it with others, so the law and the gospel meet in a perfect whole.SPBC 152.2–3+1 The love commanded is not in word only but in deed and truth, laying down life for fellow believers, giving to a brother in need instead of shutting up compassion, and refusing hatred, strife, selfishness and pride.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+4 Those who so believe and love dwell in Him and He in them by the Spirit He has given, having passed from death to life with assured hearts before God.Ms 9, 1898, par. 28+4 Keeping His commandments and doing what pleases Him gives confidence toward God so that what is asked is received, and makes escape from sin and partaking of the divine nature possible through the power Christ came to give.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+3

God's commandment is to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another as He gave commandment.Ms 9, 1898, par. 28+4 Belief in Jesus Christ and love for one another are joined together as one commandment, bringing the law and the gospel together in a perfect whole.SPBC 152.2–3+1 Keeping His commandments is dwelling in Him with Him dwelling in the keeper, and this abiding is known by the Spirit He has given.Ms 9, 1898, par. 28+2

The verse belongs to the chapter's teaching about God's great gift to the world, which is Christ.Ms 90, 1904, par. 4–6+1 It expresses the great principles of the law in the two precepts to love the Lord God with all the heart and to love the neighbor as self, on which hang all the law and the prophets.Ms 1, 1897, par. 33+1 This New Testament teaching agrees perfectly with Old Testament history, so after light has come through Scripture there is no excuse for not walking in the light.Ms 1, 1897, par. 33

Obedience to God's commandments is not a yoke of bondage or severe restriction, and there is nothing to be ashamed of in obedience, for shame belongs to disobedience.ST Oct 15, 1894+1 Obedience brings liberty and delight and meditation in His precepts, and God withholds nothing that is for good.ST Oct 22, 1912 Teaching must be proved by Scripture alone, to the law and to the testimony, which is the safe path and test of truth, rather than by human inferences, fallacies, customs and traditions, which have no light in them and no power to sanctify the soul.ST Oct 15, 1894+1

Believers must not believe every spirit but must try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.Ms 9, 1898, par. 28 The commanded belief is true, substantial faith in God's Son Jesus Christ, claiming the saving knowledge He has to give.Lt 148, 1903, par. 9–10

The commandment joins law and gospel together in a perfect whole, with believing on Jesus Christ and loving one another as one divine requirement.SPBC 152.2–3+1 Genuine faith is not mere profession or theory but receives Christ and appropriates God's gifts through Him so they can be shared with others, while love for one another reflects God's love manifested in sending His Son and shows that God dwells in believers.SPBC 152.2–3+1

The love commanded is not in word or in tongue only but in deed and in truth.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+4 It is shown by laying down life for the brethren and by laying down self for them, and by giving of this world's goods to a brother in need instead of shutting up compassion against him.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+4 It is shown by cultivating love instead of exposing differences, and by unity among believers.Lt 77, 1893, par. 21–25 Such love refuses hatred, dissension, strife, selfishness, hardness of heart, moral defilement, and spiritual pride.Ms 89, 1898, par. 9–11 Those who so love the brethren have passed from death unto life and are of the truth with assured hearts before God, while he who loves not his brother abides in death and hatred is murder with no eternal life abiding in him.Ms 89, 1898, par. 9–11

The love commanded follows the pattern of God's love in giving His Son and Christ's love in laying down His life, and is modeled on Christ's love.15MR 299.2–300.2+1 It is the proof that believers are of the truth with assured hearts before God, the sign by which all know Christ's disciples, and the evidence that God dwells in believers and His love is perfected in them through His Spirit.Lt 77, 1893, par. 21–25 It is impossible to love God without loving one's brother, and love for a brother is necessary to genuine love for God.15MR 299.2–300.2+1 Failure to cherish Christlike love for one another brings a person's case against him in heaven and will condemn in the courts of heaven.15MR 299.2–300.2+1

Obeying God's commandments gives emancipation from sin, so that no one who knows this need continue in sin.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+2 It is possible to escape the corruption in the world through lust and to partake of the divine nature as sons and daughters of God.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7 This is possible because Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and high command, clothed His divinity with humanity, and stood at the head of humanity to reveal what human beings can become by receiving the power He came to give to all who receive Him and believe on His name.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin because His seed remains in him, for Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.Ms 1, 1897, par. 33

Keeping His commandments means dwelling in Him with Him dwelling in the keeper, and this abiding is known by the Spirit He has given.Ms 9, 1898, par. 28+4 It requires a new departure from the old life of sin so that the record in the books in heaven shows the character of Christ revealed in humanity and is read by the heavenly host with joy and thanksgiving.Ms 9, 1898, par. 28+4 Keeping His commandments and doing those things that are pleasing in His sight are connected with dwelling in God, while the Spirit given by God confirms that He abides in believers.Lt 227, 1905, par. 12–14

Keeping the commandments and doing the things that please God gives assurance of heart before Him and confidence toward Him, so that whatever is asked is received from Him.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+4 This answered prayer comes from actually keeping, not from merely claiming to keep, and teachers especially need to learn this.Ms 108, 1898, par. 7–10 Such keeping means dwelling in Him with Him dwelling in the keeper, and this mutual abiding is known by the Spirit He has given.Ms 31, 1903, par. 6–7+4

This keeping, shown in belief and love and works of righteousness with Christ revealed in actions, is the genuine evidence of true conversion, without which any profession amounts to nothing.Ms 108, 1898, par. 7–10 The commandment is therefore to be studied by youth, students, and workers and by their instructors, with faith in it shown by practicing its teachings.Ms 31, 1903, par. 9 Its message with the whole third chapter is fitting instruction for Sabbath worship, including those keeping their first Sabbath, and for preparing candidates for baptism.Lt 11, 1900, par. 27

The commandment calls for reformation in every church and every institution, and calls each heart to answer as if before the Judge of all the earth.Ms 108, 1899, par. 22–25 Believing on the name of Jesus Christ and loving one another requires manliness and firmness in the Christian character by truly representing Him whose name is assumed.Lt 2, 1895, par. 1–4 A cheap Christian character misleads others by professing to represent Him and works more harm in the world than the character of a worldling.Lt 2, 1895, par. 1–4

The commanded love requires unity and not division before the world, angels, and men.4MR 297.1+1 All who are truly converted to the proclamation of the third angel's message must present this unity, and the truth sanctifies the receiver to be a channel and representative of grace.4MR 297.1 This means being true, pure, holy Christians who let sympathy and love into the heart, think well and speak well of brethren and sisters, cultivate love instead of exposing differences, manifest Christlike fruit, and build up instead of accusing, tearing down, censuring, and speaking evil like Satan the accuser.Lt 77, 1893, par. 21–25+1

This life means learning meekness and lowliness from Christ so His yoke is easy and His burden light, being witnesses by testifying in daily life to the power of grace and to the Saviour's moment-by-moment keeping power through service done as a pleasure and not a task.Ms 31, 1903, par. 9 It means placing God's own sacred fire in the censer and not common fire, speaking as Christ spoke with no harsh, passionate, rash, ill-advised word that could ruin a soul, but speaking courteously and respectfully while keeping hereditary and cultivated tendencies under control and the character daily refined, sanctified, and purified.Ms 31, 1903, par. 9 Without God's helping power no one can glorify His name, but God will be a present help in every time of need, giving a rich experience to those who draw near to Him with wholehearted faith rather than a half-and-half experience, because the end of all things is at hand.Lt 148, 1903, par. 9–10