John Calvin Commentary 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." — 1 John 3:23 (ASV)

And this is his commandment. He again adapts a general truth to his own purpose. The meaning is that such is the discord between us and God, that we are kept from accessing him, unless we are united by love to one another. At the same time, he does not here commend love alone, as before, but joins it as the companion and attendant of faith.

The Sophists, with their interpretations, distort these words, as if the freedom to pray were obtained by us partly by faith and partly by works. Since John requires us to keep God’s commandments so that we may pray properly, and afterwards teaches us that this keeping refers to faith and love, they conclude that we should derive confidence in prayer from these two things. But I have already reminded you several times that the subject here is not how or by what means people may prepare themselves to have confidence to pray to God, for he is not speaking here of the cause of merit or of any worthiness. John only shows that God favors no one with the honor and privilege of communion with himself except his own children, that is, those who have been regenerated by his Spirit. The meaning, then, of what is said is this: where the fear and love of God do not prevail, God will not hear prayer.

But if it is our purpose to obey his commandments, let us see what he commands. He does not, however, separate faith from love; rather, he requires both together from us. And this is the reason why he uses the word commandment in the singular number.

But this is a remarkable passage, for he defines briefly as well as lucidly what the whole perfection of a holy life consists in. There is then no reason for us to allege any difficulty, since God by no means leads us about through long labyrinths, but simply and concisely sets before us what is right and what he approves. Besides, in this brevity there is no obscurity, for he shows us clearly the beginning and the end of a life rightly formed. But as for why only brotherly love is mentioned here, while the love of God is omitted, the reason is, as we have said elsewhere, that since brotherly love flows from the love of God, it is a sure and real evidence of it.

On the name of his Son. The name refers to preaching, and this connection deserves to be noticed, for few understand what it is to believe on Christ. But from this way of speaking, we may easily conclude that the only right faith is that which embraces Christ as he is set forth in the Gospel. This is also why there is no faith without teaching, as Paul also shows us in Romans 10:14. We must at the same time observe that the Apostle includes faith in the knowledge of Christ, for he is the living image of the Father, and in him are laid up all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. As soon, then, as we turn aside from him, we can do nothing else but wander in error.