| Geneva Study Bible {16} 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. (16) Now he shows how far Christian charity extends, even so far, that according to the example of Christ every man forgets himself, to provide for and help his brethren. People's New Testament 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us. The love of God in Christ is meant. His love is shown on the cross. Christ is love. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. If we love as he loved, we must be willing even to die for each other. Wesley's Notes 3:16 The word God is not in the original. It was omitted by the apostle just as the particular name is omitted by Mary, when she says to the gardener, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence; and by the church, when she says, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, So 1:2; in both which places there is a language, a very emphatical language, even in silence. It declares how totally the thoughts were possessed by the blessed and glorious subject. It expresses also the superlative dignity and amiableness of the person meant, as though He, and He alone, was, or deserved to be, both known and admired by all. Because he laid down his life - Not merely for sinners, but for us in particular. From this truth believed, from this blessing enjoyed, the love of our brethren takes its rise, which may very justly be admitted as an evidence that our faith is no delusion. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 16. What true love to the brethren is, illustrated by the love of Christ to us. Hereby-Greek, "Herein." the love of God-The words "of God" are not in the original. Translate, "We arrive at the knowledge of love"; we apprehend what true love is. he-Christ. and we-on our part, if absolutely needed for the glory of God, the good of the Church, or the salvation of a brother. lives-Christ alone laid down His one life for us all; we ought to lay down our lives severally for the lives of the brethren; if not actually, at least virtually, by giving our time, care, labors, prayers, substance: Non nobis, sed omnibus. Our life ought not to be dearer to us than God's own Son was to Him. The apostles and martyrs acted on this principle. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 3:16-21 Here is the condescension, the miracle, the mystery of Divine love, that God would redeem the church with his own blood. Surely we should love those whom God has loved, and so loved. The Holy Spirit, grieved at selfishness, will leave the selfish heart without comfort, and full of darkness and terror. By what can it be known that a man has a true sense of the love of Christ for perishing sinners, or that the love of God has been planted in his heart by the Holy Spirit, if the love of the world and its good overcomes the feelings of compassion to a perishing brother? Every instance of this selfishness must weaken the evidences of a man's conversion; when habitual and allowed, it must decide against him. If conscience condemn us in known sin, or the neglect of known duty, God does so too. Let conscience therefore be well-informed, be heard, and diligently attended to. | 
