SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:21
Carísimos, si nuestro corazn no nos reprende, confianza tenemos en Dios;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:21
Verse 21. If our heart condemn us not] If we be conscious to ourselves of our own sincerity, that we practice not deceit, and use no mask, then have we confidence toward God - we can appeal to him for our sincerity, and we can come with boldness to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. And therefore says the apostle,
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not , &c.] Which must be understood, not of a stupidity of mind, as is in unregenerate men, who have no sense of sin, no sorrow for it, or remorse of conscience on account of it; or as is in them who are past feeling; having their consciences seared as with a red hot iron; such cannot be entitled to the advantages that follow; nor is it of persons the apostle speaks, but of himself, and Christians, the beloved of the Lord, and one another, who had an experience of the grace of God upon their souls, and made a profession of religion: nor does it design such a purity of heart and life in believers, as that their hearts do not smite, reproach, and condemn them for sin at any time, for such a state of perfection is not to be attained to and expected in this life; but rather a conscience purged by the blood of Christ, or an heart sprinkled from an evil conscience by that blood, which speaks peace and pardon, so that there is no more conscience of sin, for the removal of which that is applied; and this gives boldness and confidence at the throne of grace: though it is best of all to confine it to the case of brotherly love; for the sense is not, if our heart condemn us not of anything but of the want of brotherly love, or insincerity in it, [then] have we confidence towards God ; or with him, at the throne of his grace: such can draw nigh to him, and stand before him with an holy and humble confidence, when such as hate the brethren, as Cain did, in whom the apostle instances, and those that go in his way, cannot; whose heart condemned him, his conscience smote him, and he went from the presence of the Lord; but those that love the brethren have confidence of their relation to God; by this they know their regeneration, and by that their adoption, and so that they are the children of God; and can therefore draw nigh to God as their Father, and call him so; they can come with an holy boldness and intrepidity of mind before him, and use a parrhsia , freedom of speech, with him; can tell him all their mind, pour out their souls unto him, and lay before him their case and wants; they have confidence of his power, faithfulness, and willingness to supply their need, and fulfil all his promises to them, and that their prayers will be heard, answered, and regarded by him in his own time.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 shoul love those whom God has loved, and so loved. The Holy Spirit, grieve at selfishness, will leave the selfish heart without comfort, and ful of darkness and terror. By what can it be known that a man has a tru 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 perishing brother? Every instance of this selfishness must weaken the evidences of a man's conversion; when habitual and allowed, it mus 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.
Greek Textus Receptus
αγαπητοι 27 εαν 1437 η 3588 καρδια 2588 ημων 2257 μη 3361 καταγινωσκη 2607 5725 ημων 2257 παρρησιαν 3954 εχομεν 2192 5719 προς 4314 τον 3588 θεον 2316
Vincent's NT Word Studies
21. Beloved. The affectionate address is suggested by the preceding thought of tormenting self-accusation.
Confidence (parrhsian). Rev., boldness. See on ii. 28.
