1. 1 John 5:2 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the function of this statement?

1 John 5:2 (ESV)

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

This statement appears to be a safeguard against those who pretend to love the brothers through mere outward activity, yet are not genuine in their hearts and have other agendas. John therefore says that a true test of one’s love for the children of God is whether he loves God and obeys God’s commands.1

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