Verse 2.— By this we know that we love. To test the question whether we love our brethren or not, and to know the truth of the same, we can ask this question of ourselves— do we love God and keep his com­mandments, one of which is that we love the brethren? If we are assured that we do love God and keep his command­ments, then we may feel assured that we love the children of God.