1 John 3:21

3:21 Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,

1 John 4:20

4:20 If anyone says ¹  “I love God” and yet ²  hates his fellow Christian, ³  he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian ⁴  whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. ⁵ 

[4:20]  ¹ tn Grk “if anyone should say…”

[4:20]  ² tn “Yet” is supplied to bring out the contrast.

[4:20]  ³ tn See note on the phrase “fellow Christian” in 2:9.

[4:20]  ⁴ tn See note on the phrase “fellow Christian” in 2:9.

[4:20]  ⁵ sn In 4:20 the author again describes the opponents, who claim to love God. Their failure to show love for their fellow Christians proves their claim to know God to be false: The one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.