1 John 3:18

1 John 3:18 says, My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  John again referred to those he was writing to as little children, and sometimes we need to have a childlike faith.  He said they should show their love by their actions and the truth of God and not just by what they said.  Empty words, those not spoken with the love of God behind them, mean nothing to those we speak to nor to the person speaking them.  

Verse nineteen adds, And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.   John said if we live our lives by doing what we know God would have us do and not just speaking empty words that have no effect on those around us or on us, then we can know that we live by the truth of God.  When we do, our hearts can be assured before God.  

Verse twenty continues, For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  John said if our heart condemns us that God is greater than our heart. He added that God knows all things.  We may fool the world with a false faith, but we will never fool God.  

Verse twenty-one concludes, Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  John then stated if our heart, or our thoughts, do not condemn us, then then we can have confidence before God.  If we are a follower of Christ, I believe we will always know when  we are not living in accordance with His will.  

Verse twenty-two states, And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.  John said that whatever we ask from God we will receive because we keep God's commandments.  I believe this means anything we need to in accordance with our calling from God and not just anything we desire in the world; though many people profess that God will give us anything we desire.  

Verse twenty-three adds, And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  John then states that the commandment we should believe is that we believe on the name of Jesus Christ and love one another.  I believe this means that we are to have a Godlike love for everyone, even people that we do not like.  

Verse twenty-four continues, And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.  John said when we keep God's commandments and dwell in His love that we can know that God lives in us as well.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and we need to live by His direction.  If we do, we can know that we are saved.

1 John 3:14

1 John 3:14 says, We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  John tells us if we can know that we have passed from death to life by loving our brother, which means all other people I believe.  He adds if we don't love our brother, that death still abides in us.  We cannot proclaim to have the life of Christ in us and still have hatred toward other people.  

Verse fifteen adds, Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  John then tells us that hating our brother is the same as murdering him.  He then adds that no murderer can have eternal life living in him.  I believe this means that anyone who is led by the Holy Spirit can never be guilty of murdering someone, and if they are a follower of Christ, they should be led by the Holy Spirit.  He did not say killing someone, but murdering, or choosing to kill someone deliberately.   

Verse sixteen continues, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  John said we can know that we love God if we are willing to lay down our life for our brothers, just as Jesus laid down His life for all people.  Jesus did not just die for some people, but for all people, even those who were crucifying Him.  This is the same type of love that we should have for everyone.  

Verse seventeen concludes, But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  John expands this thought of not murdering our brother to leaving someone in need if we have the ability to help them.  We should never put material things above showing the love of God to the world. 

1 John 3:10

1 John 3:10 says, In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.  John said we could tell who was of God and who was of the Devil by the way they lived in the world.  He said that those who did not live righteously and didn't love their brother were of the Devil and not of God.  Our faith in Jesus Christ should set us apart from non-believers, even if we occasionally fail.  

Verse eleven adds, For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  John once again emphasizes that as Christians, we should love one another.  This means all people and not just the ones we like and who are like us.  We may not like their actions, but we should still love them and want them to be redeemed.  

Verse twelve continues, Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.  John then gave the example of Cain, who he said was of the evil one, and killed his brother Abel, who was righteous.  As followers of Christ, we should be like Abel and not like Cain. 

Verse thirteen concludes, Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  John said we should not be amazed if the people of the world, those who are not Christians, hate us.  They hated and killed Jesus Christ, but He still loved them and died for them as well.  We need to have the same love for all people. 

1 John 3:5

1 John 3:5 says, And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.  Speaking of Jesus Christ, John said that we, those who put their faith in Him, know that He came to take away our sins since He was the perfect sacrifice, having no sin Himself.  Though being made like us in all ways, Jesus Christ is the only One to live a perfect life.  Some people say He was incapable of sinning, but if that were the case, He would not be like all other people.  

Verse six adds, Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.  I believe that this means that after we accept Jesus Christ, we cannot continually live a sinful life and not that we will never sin again.  I believe that those who have not seen Him refers to lost people of all ages and not just to those who physically saw Jesus.  

Verse seven continues, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  John said that we should not be deceived, but that those who live righteously are made righteous by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for all our sins.  We can only be made righteous by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, the only righteous One. 

Verse eight states, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  John then says that those who continue to live in sin are of the devil, who was the first of God's creation to sin.  This made it necessary for Jesus Christ to come and die for our sins, and this has been true from the beginning.  I don't believe it means that God knew that mankind was going to sin, but that He gave them freewill, and knew that they could sin.  

Verse nine adds, Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  I don't believe this means that Christians can never sin, but that they will not continue to live by the sinful standards of the world but will live by faith and ask God's forgiveness once more if they do sin.  Even though all our sins are forgiven if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we still must acknowledge it if we do sin after that.