1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. THIS IS - the love of God consists in this. NOT GRIEVOUS - as many think them. It is 'the way of the transgressor' that "is hard" (). What makes them to the regenerate "not grievous" is faith (). In proportion as faith is strong, the grievousness of God's commandments to the rebellious flesh is 'overcome.' The reason why believers feel any irksomeness in God's commandments is, they do not realize fully by faith their spiritual privileges....

3_His commandments are not grievous _This has been added, lest difficulties, as it is usually the case, should damp or lessen our zeal. For they who with a cheerful mind and great ardor have pursued a godly and holy life, afterwards grow weary, finding their strength inadequate. Therefore John, in order to rouse our efforts, says that God’s commandments are not grievous. But it may, on the other hand, be objected and said that we have found it far otherwise by experience, and that Scripture testifies that the yoke of the law is insupportable. (Acts 15:2.) The reason also is evident, for as the denial of self is, as it were, a prelude to the keeping of the law, can we say that it is easy for a man to deny himself? nay, since the law is spiritual, as Paul, in Romans 7:14, teaches us, and we are nothing but flesh, there mu

1-5 True love for the people of God, may be distinguished from natural kindness or party attachments, by its being united with the love of God, and obedience to his commands. The same Holy Spirit that taught the love, will have taught obedience also; and that man cannot truly love the children of God, who, by habit, commits sin or neglects known duty. As God's commands are holy, just, and good rules of liberty and happiness, so those who are born of God and love him, do not count them grievous, but lament that they cannot serve him more perfectly. Self-denial is required, but true Christians have a principle which carries them above all hinderances. Though the conflict often is sharp, and the regenerate may be cast down, yet he will rise up and renew his combat with resolution. But all, except believers in Christ, are enslaved in some respect or other, to the customs, opinions, or inter...

Verse 1 John 5:3. _FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD_] This the love of God necessarily produces. It is vain to pretend love to God while we live in opposition to his will. _HIS COMMANDMENTS_] To love him with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves, _are not grievous_-are not burdensome; for no man is burdened with the duties which his own _love_ imposes. The old proverb explains the meaning of the apostle's words, _Love_ _feels no loads_. Love to God brings _strength_ from God; through his _love_ and his _strength_, all his commandments are not only easy and light, but pleasant and delightful. On the love of God, as being the foundation of all religious worship, there is a good saying in _Sohar Exod_., fol. 23, col. 91: "Rabbi Jesa said, how necessary is it that a man should love the holy blessed God!

FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS - This constitutes true love; this furnishes the evidence of it. AND HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS - Greek, “heavy” - βαρεῖαι bareiai; that is, difficult to be borne as a burden. See Matthew 11:30. The meaning is, that his laws are not unreasonable; the duties which he requires are not beyond our ability; his government is not oppressive. It is easy to obey God when the heart is right; and those who endeavor in sincerity to keep his commandments do not complain that they are hard. All complaints of this kind come from those who are not disposed to keep his commandments. Indeed, they object that his laws are unreasonable; that they impose improper restraints; that they are not easily complied with; a

EXPOSITION 1 JOHN 5:1 Faith is the source of love. 1 JOHN 5:1 The verse is a sorites. To believe in the Incarnation involves birth from God. To be born of God involves loving God. To love God involves loving his children. Therefore to believe in the Incarnation involves loving God's children. Τὸν γεγεννημένον ἐχ αὐτοῦ_ _is not to be understood as meaning Christ to the exclusion of Christians; it means any son of God, as the next verse shows. 1 JOHN 5:2 Another mark by which we can test our love towards the brethren. In 1 John 5:1_ faith _in the

FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS,.... Keeping of the commandments of God is an evidence of love to God; this shows that love is not in word and tongue, in profession only, but in deed and in truth; and that such persons have a sense of the love of God upon their souls, under the influence of which they act; and such shall have, and may expect to have, greater manifestations of the love of God unto them: AND HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS; heavy, burdensome, and disagreeable; by which are meant, not so much the precepts of the moral law, which through the weakness of the flesh are hard to be kept, and cannot be perfectly fulfilled; though believers indeed, being freed from the rigorous exaction, curse, and condemnation of the law, delight in it after the inward man, and serve it cheerfully with their spirit; and still less the commands of the ceremonial law,...

1 John 5:1. _Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:_ These are very simple words, but they contain a great depth of meaning. The teaching conveyed by this Epistle is very profound, though the language is such as even a child can understand. There must be faith in Jesus Christ as the anointed Son of God; otherwise, there is no new birth, no regeneration of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:1. _And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him._ If we love the Father, we love the Son. If we love God, we love all his people; all who are born into the divine family are the objects of our affection. 1 John 5:2. By this we know that we love th

V. HEREBY WE KNOW Chapter S 3:19-5:13 _ 1. Hereby we know that we are of the truth (1 John 3:19)_ 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God (1 John 4:1) 3. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth and of error (1 John 4:5) 4. The Love manifested toward us (1 John 4:7) 5. The final tests as to the possession of eternal life (1 John 4:20; 1 John 5:1) 1 John 3:19 .

The marks of true children of God are a correct view of Christ's person, love to God and one another, obedience to God's commandment, and faith, this being the victorious principle by which the world is overcome in its efforts to tempt us not to obey God. 1 JOHN 5:1_ a_. See 1 John 4:2 *. The full belief in Jesus as a Divine-human being is meant, as also in 1 John 5:5. 1 John 5:2. when we love God: the argument seems the opposite of 1 John 4:20, but the problem is being approached from a new point of view, and John is arguing that love of the parent involv