1 John 3:23

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.

Believe in the name ... and love one another ... To believe and love - this is the greatest and most important command that ever issued from the throne of glory."[53] The inclusion here of faith "in the name" of Christ shows that, "the commandments" mentioned in the preceding verse are "not only, or chiefly moral."[54] They include the whole spectrum of Christian duty. It is a gross mistake to consider Christianity as chiefly an ethical code, though it is also that. Belief, or faith, in this passage also "carries an overtone of commitment"[55] and actually means fidelity, or faithfulness, as generally in the New Testament.

These last two verses of the chapter (1 John 3:23,24) carry frequent references to the farewell discourses of Jesus (John 13,15). Obedience to divine commands, continuity in faith and love, promised answer to prayer, abiding in God, and the gift of the Spirit are among these.

His commandment ... Orr pointed out that "believe and love" as used in this verse have the meaning of "trust and obey."[56] Barclay also agreed to this: "When we put these two commandments together, we find the great truth that the Christian life depends on right belief and right conduct combined."[57]

[53] John Wesley, op. cit., p. 913.

[54] Amos N. Wilder, op. cit., p. 270.

[55] Ibid.

[56] R. W. Orr, op. cit., p. 616.

[57] William Barclay, op. cit., p. 88.