“The three-fold test”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, May 6, 2025
1 John 4: 7-21 (Forward, p. 8) CEV p. 1288
Sometimes brief and to the point are better. Alcoholics Anonymous has numerous rather pithy slogans, such as ‘One day at a time’, to assist its members in their recovery, and Rotary International has a four-fold test, “Is it the truth?” “Is it fair to all concerned?”, “Will it build goodwill and better friendships?” and “Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
Today’s reading from 1 John also suggests something by way of a test, a test of whether we are truly disciples of Jesus Christ:
-are we loving? (an ethical question)
-are we faithful to the truth? (a doctrinal question)
-are we filled with the Spirit? (a devotional or relational question).
Let’s look at the three of these in turn. I have often been puzzled, and even somewhat concerned, with the proposition that anyone or everyone who loves is necessarily a Christian, necessarily a person of God. No doubt each of us can point to people who were loving but were in no way a believer. So, here I would have to pose a couple of questions, were they loving, in the sense of agape love, that is, loving without restrictions or limits, loving unconditionally and without any strings attached, loving everyone regardless of who or what they were and regardless of their opinions and convictions? Were they loving in such a way as to will and want and work for the best of that other person regardless of their own feelings in the matter? In other words, were they loving others in the way that Christ loved us? These are some very pointed but necessarily questions, as it is quite possible to love some people, be very loving towards certain individuals or groups, but then exclude and not act in loving ways towards others.
The second test is doctrinal: that is, do they hold to the truth of who Jesus is, namely that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one of God, and that He truly came in human flesh (see 1 John 2:22-23; 1 John 4:3)?
And the third test is spiritual or relational: did they have God’s Spirit within them and are they motivated, empowered, and directed by that self-same Spirit? Are they allowing the Spirit to be in control? Are they living in that relationship and truly loving and obeying God?
The idea with this three-fold test is that we need all three of them present and working together. In other words, it is quite possible to be doctrinally correct, but not be loving or not be obedient. We need to have all three together if we are to be consistent, faithful followers and disciples of Jesus.
Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (verses 9-10).
“God loves us. It is one of the most basic Sunday School assertions, but it is also one of the hardest things to really believe. We are prone to put conditions on that simple statement. We might say, ‘God loves me but…’ or ‘God loves me, and so I must…’ We put conditions on God’s immense gift of love because it makes it easier to comprehend. Instead of allowing that love to transform our vision of the world, we attempt to tame it.
“God loves us. God’s love has redeemed us. That love is transforming us. And that is enough.”