²³This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

Scripture conveys various summary statements that give us our priorities as believers. Each is worthy of a place on our lifetime to-do list. But which of the biblical priorities is the greatest? When Jesus was asked this question, He responded,

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matt. 22:37–39)

Later, when speaking to the hungry crowds who wanted to know how to earn their way to eternal life, He clarified this priority: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29). To love God above all is to love Jesus, His beloved Son (17:5). John captures the Christocentric thrust of God’s priority for all His image bearers, namely to “believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.” He is God’s Son (eternally one with the Father); He is God’s Messiah (the ultimate solution for our sins). In Christ, God’s command comes into laser focus. Jesus, the human man, is the Christ, the Son of God. This is our absolute top priority in life.

Notice that our text puts this on the same level with what Jesus said: love God above all else. To love God is the commandment that frames the context of all other commands God has given. Even the OT Law of Moses was an expression of God’s love. To obey God comes from a heart of love for God. He commands all people to believe in Christ, so therefore obeying that commandment is to love God. To do otherwise would be a failure of the greatest commandment to love God absolutely.

But notice that while the OT focuses generically on obeying and loving God, the NT, here in John’s words, focuses on trusting in Jesus Christ. There is no place for generic faith in God, but all depends on our faith in Jesus Christ. This is part of the essential Trinitarian belief that sees Christ as central to our devotion and commitment and not just a general belief in God, as many religions profess. Jesus is God’s all in all (see Heb. 1:3, Col. 1:15–17).

Faith in Christ, then, is irrevocably connected with the love of one another. We are not permitted to believe in Christ but neglect the second part of the commandment. Both are required; both are needed. If we are believers in Jesus Christ, we must be lovers of others, proving we are beloved of God.

Lord, help me prove my faith as one beloved by God by loving others.