By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to think loving God's children is a separate, perhaps even easier, task than loving God Himself. But John flips it, showing that our love for fellow believers is actually the evidence we're seeing correctly, the clear sign that our love for God is real and our obedience is genuine. This isn't about checking off a list; it's about the overflow of a transformed heart.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
English Standard Version (ESV)
John is building an argument that true belief in Jesus naturally leads to a life of love for God and obedience. He's just explained that believing in Jesus means you are born of God, and he wants to show what that looks like in practice. This verse offers the litmus test: if we truly love God and are following his commands, then we'll also demonstrate that love by loving other believers.
Do you ever wonder if your love for God is real? This verse gives us a surprisingly practical way to check. It connects two things we might keep separate: loving God and loving His people.
1 John 5:2 offers a powerful insight: authentic love for God isn't just an internal feeling; it's demonstrated through our love for His children. The verse says, 'By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.'
Two Sides of the Same Coin
The writer, John, is showing us that loving God and loving His people (the "children of God") are not separate commands but are intimately connected. If we claim to love God but show no love or care for those who belong to Him, something is off. True love for the Creator naturally overflows into love for His creation, especially those who share in His life.
The Commandment Connection
The verse doesn't stop there. It adds that this love for God's children is known when we love God and obey His commands. This implies that our obedience isn't a burden but a pathway to experiencing and expressing genuine love. It's like saying the proof of our love for the source (God) is seen in how we treat His beloved (His children) and how we live out His instructions.
We often think of obeying commandments as duty or obligation. But what if God designed His commands to be expressions of love, both ours for Him and His for us?
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1 John 5:2 links loving God with obeying His commandments. This isn't about earning God's favor through perfect performance. Instead, it highlights that obedience is a natural outflow and evidence of a heart that truly loves God.
Obedience: Not a Chore, But a Connection
When we love someone deeply, we naturally want to please them. We listen to them, follow their advice, and do what makes them happy. This is true in our human relationships, and it's also true in our relationship with God. Obeying His commandments becomes less about strict rules and more about aligning our lives with His perfect will because we trust Him and cherish our connection with Him.
The 'Knowing' Factor
The verse says, 'By this we know...' This suggests that obedience is a tangible way we can discern the reality of our love for God. It's not just a feeling; it's a way of life that confirms the inward truth. When our actions line up with God's Word, it brings a deep assurance of our love for Him and strengthens our faith.
Understand the original words
entolē · Greek Noun
The divine laws or instructions given by God for His people to follow, serving as a reflection of His moral character and a standard for righteous living for those in relationship with Him.
Jesus says that genuine love for one another will be the sign that we are his disciples, directly linking outward love to our identity in Christ.
1 John 4:20-21This passage directly states that loving God necessitates loving our brothers and sisters, reinforcing the inseparable connection between our love for God and our love for others.
John 14:15Jesus emphasizes that loving Him means obeying His commands, echoing the sentiment in 1 John that genuine love is demonstrated through obedience.
1 John 2:3-4John explains that claiming to know God but not keeping His commandments makes us a liar, highlighting obedience as the true test of our relationship with Him.
It's easy to think loving God's children is a separate, perhaps even easier, task than loving God Himself. But John flips it, showing that our love for fellow believers is actually the evidence we're seeing correctly, the clear sign that our love for God is real and our obedience is genuine. This isn't about checking off a list; it's about the overflow of a transformed heart.
John is building an argument that true belief in Jesus naturally leads to a life of love for God and obedience. He's just explained that believing in Jesus means you are born of God, and he wants to show what that looks like in practice. This verse offers the litmus test: if we truly love God and are following his commands, then we'll also demonstrate that love by loving other believers.
John is building an argument that true belief in Jesus naturally leads to a life of love for God and obedience. He's just explained that believing in Jesus means you are born of God, and he wants to show what that looks like in practice. This verse offers the litmus test: if we truly love God and are following his commands, then we'll also demonstrate that love by loving other believers.
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." — It's easy to think loving God's children is a separate, perhaps even easier, task than loving God Himself. But John flips it, showing that our love for fellow believers is actually the evidence we'…
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Last reviewed October 2026