We can be assured of the genuineness of a person’s love if that person truly loves God by obeying his commands. In today’s multi-religious context, people from other religions also claim to have true religion because they demonstrate works of love and charity. Indeed, they go to great lengths to show these acts of love. But 1 John warns us that if they do not love God the Father and do not have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, they are not genuine brothers, no matter how well-meaning they may be.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.