And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
21 And this commandment This is a stronger argument, drawn from the authority and doctrine of Christ; for he not only gave a commandment respecting the love of God, but bade us also to love our brethren. We must therefore so begin with God, as that there may be at the same time a transition made to men. CHAPTER 5 1 John 5:1-5 1.
Love to God gives us boldness in the day of judgment. When we love Him truly, we know ourselves loved by Him in return; we can lift our heads before the Judge knowing He is our friend. This assurance comes only from lovers of God.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 John 4:17-21
Verse 21. And this commandment have we from him. That is, the command to love a brother is as obligatory as that to love God. If one is obeyed, the other ought to be also; if a man feels that one is binding on him, he should feel that the other is also; and he can never have evidence that he is a true Christian...