阅读经文 

约翰在这里说，我们需要定期地检查一下现实。 我们说自己是神的孩子吗？要表现出来！ 我们是否说的都是对的，而做的却是错的？我们是否在谈论爱，行出来的却是愤怒和苦毒？

可悲的是，我们所做的才是现实，我们所说的却不是。

我们是神儿女的证据是什么？就在于此：我们是否以爱的方式对待我们的兄弟姐妹？哎，我承认有几个人我很少想起，更不用说爱他们了。这段经文甚至会让我怀疑自己是否真的是神的孩子。

所以面对这个问题，我必须呼求神的恩典。“是的，主啊，我做事不一定都对，也不一定爱我的弟兄姐妹。请赦免我。赐给我从基督而来的公义和爱。”

而这正是约翰信中的内容。在这封信的前面，他说：“我小子们哪，我将这些话写给你们，是要叫你们不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那里我们有一位中保，就是那义者耶稣基督。他为我们的罪作了挽回祭，不是单为我们的罪，也是为普天下人的罪。”（约一 2:1-2）

John is saying here that we need a reality check—regularly.

Do we say we are children of God? Show it!

Are we saying what is right but doing what is wrong? Are we talking about love but acting out in anger and bitterness?

Sadly, what we do is the reality, not what we say.

What is the proof that we are children of God? It is this: Do we act in love toward our brothers and sisters? Ouch. I admit there are a few people I don’t think much of, not to mention loving them. This text can even make me question whether I am truly God’s child.

So in the face of this question, I must cry out for grace: “No, Lord, I do not always do what is right, nor do I always love my brother or sister. Please forgive me. Give me Christ’s righteousness and love.”

And this is what John is writing about. Earlier in this letter he says: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).