1 John 3:16-21

16 By this we know love, that ¹he laid down his life for us, and ²we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

17 But ³if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet ⁴closes his heart against him, ⁵how does God’s love abide in him?

18 Little children, let us not ⁶love in word or talk but in deed and ⁷in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

21 Beloved, ⁸if our heart does not condemn us, ⁹we have confidence before God;

Cross References

• 1. 3:16 See John 15:13
• 2. 3:16 [Phil. 2:17]
• 3. 3:17 James 2:15, 16
• 4. 3:17 Deut. 15:7
• 5. 3:17 [ch. 4:20]
• 6. 3:18 Ezek. 33:31; Eph. 4:15
• 7. 3:18 2 John 1; 3 John 1
• 8. 3:21 [1 Cor. 4:4]
• 9. 3:21 ch. 5:14; [Job 11:15; 22:26; Rom. 14:22]