1 John 3:21–24 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

“Can it really be that simple? It sounds too easy!” That is a common objection from those who are outside the body of Christ, the wisdom of the world saying, “It sounds too good to be true.” I heard those sentiments many times over the years from “seekers.” They were searching for spiritual truth, and they would come and talk to me. They would ask the question similar to the one asked by the jailer in Philippi:

Acts 16:30 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

In that instance Paul and Silas replied:

Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

The message of Scripture is consistent. John uses different terminology by saying we must obey His commands. Some will understand this to mean “I have to do my part,” and start listing rules and regulations to follow in order to be saved. But that is the opposite of what John says here:

“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

Faith in all Jesus did with His perfect life, willing death, and victorious resurrection gives of the confidence of forgiveness for our shortcomings and sin and guarantees life with God now and forever. We love each other because we know what He has already done for us.