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.