As I claimed in my previous study, John was offering a kind of proof text in 1John 3:19 for how we would know we are of the Truth. That is, truth with a capital “T” meaning how would we know we are of Christ (viz. John 14:6). The proof text, of course, is the previous two verses, which say the one who is of the Truth shares what he or she has with the one in need. He doesn’t merely love in word, only, but in deed, and the deed, or compassionate act is objective evidence that shows he is of the Truth, or, in other words, he is a Christ imitator.
However, John also points out or at least implies that there would be those who, for the sake of avoiding persecution by the antichrists (cp. 1John 2:18-22; 2John 1:7), have this world’s good, but don’t share with their needy brethren. They may even tell him they’d pray for him and hoped he would be fed and be warm (cp. James 2:15-16). Nevertheless, they hold back what they have that their brethren need. If anyone of these believers repented of his lack of compassion, how would he know that the Lord would forgive him? Well, first of all, 1John 1:9 tells him that, if a brother did sin in this way, the Lord would forgive him, if he confessed his sin. Nevertheless, if the repentant brother is overly guilt-ridden, John tells him that God is greater than his own condemning heart (1John 3:20).
On the other hand, if the repentant one’s conscience is clear, this is by no means evidence of someone who lacks the depth of soul to understand the gravity of his sin. Rather, it is simply evidence of his faith that God is greater than his heart, greater than his sin (1John 3:21) and is true to his promise to forgive him of every wrongdoing (1John 1:9). Moreover, John even provided evidence that a ‘clear conscience’ doesn’t necessarily point to a conscience that lacks depth. He told his readers that evidence that their sins are forgiven is understood in the fact that, if they ask for the things they need, perhaps, to withstand the pressure and persecution that would result in their giving to needy brethren, God would answer that prayer, because it is according to his will. We know that it is according to the Lord’s will, because the Lord actually commands that his children obey and share what they have with those in need, and this would be evidence to all that they were his disciples (John 15:12-13; cp. 13:34-35).
Much has been said about the commandments John pointed to in 1John 3:22 (cp. 1John 3:2-3, 7-8). He isn’t speaking of the Mosaic Covenant, here, or at any other time in his epistle. The Mosaic Covenant, as we are able to understand from Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians, was the ministry of condemnation and death (2Corinthians 3:7-9). Death cannot give life. Rather, it is Jesus who gives life (1John 2:25), and his commandment is that we should believe him (John 6:29) and love one another, as he had loved us (John 13:34). These are the only commandments he has given us in the New Covenant. Obedience to these commandments require good works (cp. Ephesians 2:10), not mere compliance to refrain from doing evil works. The New Covenant is a positive, life-giving covenant that begins with a clean slate, and the slate stays clean, as long as we are repentant, because Jesus washes us from our sins—all our sins.
Finally, John offers the convincing argument for the believer that the objective proofs, which he provided, are true (1John 3:16 and 19). These proof texts are objective evidence that we are the children of God (1John 3:10) and that we abide in Christ and he in us (1John 3:24), but the convincing proof to the believer who does these things is that he has the Spirit of God dwelling in him (cp. Colossians 1:27). It is the private, subjective proof one needs to be convinced he’s Jesus’ disciple. Naturally, the unbeliever couldn’t see this kind of proof, but the one who has the Spirit of God knows it (1Corinthians 2:9-13), just as the natural man understand he is able to know and understand his own affairs (cp. 1Corinthians 2:11). The natural man doesn’t need to prove he has the human spirit anymore than the spiritual man needs to prove he has the Spirit of God. Both are meant for the confidence of the one who possesses such a spirit / Spirit.
Smoodock's Blog 