The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 162

ehips, o. new spirit. He bas tbo filial spirit, "the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Fnther.' 3. Every child of God should be loved by the children rf God. " Who- soever loveth him that begll.t lovoth him also that is begoUen of him." (1) It is taken for granted that the child of God loves hie Divine Parent. In whomsoever the new life beats thero is love to God. In the spiritual realm love is life. "Every one that lovcth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.'' The highest life is that of supreme love to God; nnd, where this is, love to the brotherhood will not be absent. "If a. man say, I love God, and hateth bis brother, he is a liar," etc. (er.. iv. 20, 21). (2) From the fact that the child of God loves his Divine Parent, St. John makes this deduction, that be will love the children of God. It is natural and right tba.t he who loves the Father should also love his children, or that the children of the one Father should love each other. Here, then, is the reason of the obligation to love our Christian brethren. ,ve believe in one Lord and Saviour; we a.re children of the one Divine Father; we are members of one spiritual family; we are characterized by some measure of. moral resemblance to each other, for each is to some extent like unto the Father of all; we are animated by the same exalted and invigorating hope; and we are looking forward to the same bright and blessed home. That we should love each other is in the highest degree natural and reasonable. II. THE EVIDENCE OF THE GENUINENESS OF BROTHERLY LOVE. "Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God," etc. (vers. 2, 3). Two remarks, we think, will help us to apprehend the meaning of St. John. 1. Our love to the brethren i8 genuine when we love God. "Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and do his commandments." We may love our Christian brethren for other and inferior reasons than that of their relation to the heavenly Father ; we may love them because they a.re rich in worldly goods, or because they are gifted and clever, or because they a.re amiable and attractive, or because they hold the same political principles, or believe the same theological opinions, or belong to the same ecclesiastical party, a.s we. do. But love for any of these reasons is not necessarily and essentially Christian love. The genuine Christian affection towards the brethren is to love them because they believe that Jesus is the Christ, and they a.re the children of God. In the consciousness of our love to God we have evidence that we love our Christian brethren as his children. 2. Our love to God is genuine when we cheerfully keep his commandments. " For this is the love of God, that we keep his command- ments; and his commandments are not grievous." (1) The divinely appointed test of love to God is obedience to his commandments. " If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. . . . He that bath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me," etc. (John xiv. 15, 21, 23); "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love," etc. (John xv. 10); "Thi:;i is love, that we should walk after his commandments" (2 John 6). Genuino love is not a merely sentimental, but a practical thing. (2) 'l'be obedience which springs from love is cheerful. '' His com- mandments a.re not grievous" to them that love him. Love is not only life, but inspiration, courage, and strength; therefore, a.s love to God increases, obedience to his commands becomes easier and more delightful. " I confess," says Watson, " to him that ha.th no love to God, religion must needs be a. burden; and I wonder not to hear him say, 'What a weariness is it to serve the Lord!' It is like rowing against the tide. But love oils the wheels; it makes duty a pleasure. Why are the angels so swift and winged in God's service, but because they love him? Jacob thought seven years but little for the love he did bear to Rachel. Love is never weary; he who loves money is not weary of toiling for it; and he who loves God is not weary of serving him." Says Miss Austin, "Where love is there is no labour ; and if there be bbour, that labour is loved.'' Will our love to God bear this test of cheerful obedience to his commands? Then do we love him truly; and so loving him, we shall love a.11 his children.-W. J. Vere. 4, 5.-The victorious life. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world," etc. St. John here presents the victorious life in four aspects. I. IN ITS ORIGIN. "Whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world." The true Christi&n is" born anew;'' he is "born ef the Spirit;" he "is begotten of God." 'l'his relationship involves: 1. Parlicipation in the life of God, especially the life ol  160 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. [orr. v, 1-21,