Hereby perceive we the love of God - This sixteenth verse of this third chapter of John's first epistle is, in the main, an exact counterpart of the sixteenth verse of the third chapter of St. John's gospel: God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, etc. Here the apostle says, We perceive, εγνωκαμεν, we have known, the love of God, because he laid down his life for us. Of God is not in the text, but it is preserved in one MS., and in two or three of the versions; but though this does not establish its authenticity, yet του Θεου, of God, is necessarily understood, or του Χριστου, of Christ, as Erpen's Arabic has it; or αυτου εις ἡμας, his love to us, as is found in the Syriac. A higher proof than this of his love Christ could not have possibly given to the children of men.

We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren - We should risk our life to save the lives of others; and we should be ready to lay down our lives to redeem their souls when this may appear to be a means of leading them to God.

perceive.

1 John 4:9,10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world...

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish...

John 10:15 As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 15:13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers...

Romans 5:8 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 5:2,25 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us...

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

1 Peter 1:18 For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness...

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh...

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth...

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain...

and we.

1 John 2:6 He that said he stays in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 15:12,13 This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you...

Romans 16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Philippians 2:17,30 Yes, and if I be offered on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all...

The Love that Calls us Sons
'Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God....'--1 John iii. 1. One or two points of an expository character will serve to introduce what else I have to say on these words. The text is, I suppose, generally understood as if it pointed to the fact that we are called the sons of God as the great exemplification of the wonderfulness of His love. That is a perfectly possible view of the connection and meaning of the text. But if we are to …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The End of Christ's Coming
"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8. 1. Many eminent writers, heathen as well as Christian, both in earlier and later ages, have employed their utmost labour and art in painting the beauty of virtue. And the same pains they have taken to describe, in the liveliest colours, the deformity of vice; both of vice in general, and of those particular vices which were most prevalent in their respective ages and countries. With equal care …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." 1 John 3:9. 1. It has been frequently supposed, that the being born of God was all one with the being justified; that the new birth and justification were only different expressions, denoting the same thing: It being certain, on the one hand, that whoever is justified is also born of God; and, on the other, that whoever is born of God is also justified; yea, that both these gifts of God are given to every believer in one and the same moment. In one …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions