1 John 4:13

Hereby. Or, “in this.”

Know we. John has given us a sign by which we can recognize that God is working in us, namely, “if we love one another.” Now he turns to a further sign that will give the assurance that we have a permanent home in Him and that He has made us temples fit for His indwelling. As we see this sign working in our lives, we shall continuously be made aware, by experience, that the invisible God dwells within us by His Spirit.

We dwell in him. See on 1 John 2:28.

Because he hath given. The complete clause reads literally, “because out of His Spirit He has given to us.” Compare on 1 John 3:24, where the same sign is discussed. That which determines whether we shall receive the Spirit and whether the Spirit will be able to use us, is our surrender to His guidance. Our Saviour permitted Himself to be guided by the Spirit in all that He did (see on Matt. 3:16; 4:1; Luke 4:18), so He could say that He neither spoke nor acted of Himself, but by the Father through the Holy Spirit (John 5:19, 30; 14:10). Thus it could be said that He received the Holy Spirit without measure (see on John 3:34). As the Father gave the Spirit to empower the Son during His life on earth, so God will give of the Spirit to us. But we have a part to play — we must be willing to receive the Holy Spirit, we must be responsive to His control. Unless that willingness is present in us, God’s gift will be in vain. The Christians to whom John was writing had already opened their hearts to receive God’s gift, and were continuing to experience the blessings that come with the Spirit’s presence. If we follow their example, we may be sure of enjoying what they enjoyed.