1 John 3:18-20

¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

While this might be applied to the saints love for God, because of His love for them in Christ Jesus (1 John 4:10), here it is rather applied to any and all who are brethren in Christ (elect, redeemed, justified, and called). What unites God’s children is not mere profession of the Truth, but the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Christ’s blood and righteousness, Ephesians 4:3).

It is not just in Word (the Doctrine) but in deed (acts of kindness and graciousness in providing for the well-being of all of the LORD’s children as the need arises, regardless of race, color, language or culture).

¹⁹ And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

This love is not the condition for being in the Truth (Christ), but it is the fruit, that reassures our own hearts, and that of those who are the objects of such love. For any two sinners to love one another must be the Grace of God, especially when the motivation is first Christ’s love for us, which then we reflect toward those whom He also has bought, and the Father justified by His shed blood.

²⁰ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

The word ‘if’ in the original may also be translated ‘since’ or ‘when.’ Our hearts will condemn us because who can say that they love perfectly as Christ has loved us unconditionally. If one’s heart doesn’t condemn them, and they boast of having a sinless, selfless love for others, then they are deceived and the Truth is not in them, 1 John 1:8.