For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Paul Josephs
If you are saved by the gospel Paul preaches in Romans and are alive in these times, then I John 3:15 is not directed to you. If you note who is directed to earlier in the Epistle, John is talking to those saved by the name of Jesus Christ, not those that are saved by the blood. In other words, John is talking to those remaining after the Lord has come to claim the Body of Christ (us today, including you if saved by Grace). You are sealed by the Spirit until that day.
The Lord died too hard on that cross to be letting those He won slip away. If you're saved by Grace, God's got you. Just walk in it.
Jennifer Rothnie
I John 3:15 is directed to all those who are 'children of God' (I John 3:1-2), who have hope in Christ (I John 3:2-3), who are born of God (I John 3:9-10, I John 5:1-2), who have passed from death to life (I John 3:14), who love the other brethren (I John 3:11-15, I John 3:23, I John 2:9-11, I John 4:7-12, I John 4:20-21), who understand that Christ laid his life down for them (I John 3:12-17), who love with actions and with truth (I John 3:16-18, I John 1:5-7), who believe in the Name of Christ (I John 3:23, I John 5:13), who keep God's commands (I John 3:23, I John 2:3-8, I John 5:2-5), who have the Spirit living inside them (I John 3:24), whose sins have been forgiven (I John 2:12), who know the Father (I John 3:14, I John 4:7-8), who do not love the world (I John 2:15-17), who acknowledge the Son (I John 2:20-23, I John 4:2-3), who abide with Christ (I John 2:28), who do right (I John 2:29, I John 3:18-24), who have fellowship with the brethren and with Christ (I John 1:1-4), who confess sins (I John 1:8-10), who are purified by the BLOOD of Christ (I John 1:7), who are atoned for by the BLOOD of Christ (I John 2:1-2, I John 4:10-11, I John 3:16), who walk in the light (I John 1:5-7), who overcome the world through faith (I John 5:3-5), etc.
Which part of this does not apply to Christians living today?
Paul Josephs
I notice all of your replies are from 1 John. Why nothing from Paul?
Jennifer Rothnie
Your comment was about the context of I John 3:15, and about who John was talking to.
But if you want some cross-references from Paul as well:
Children of God (Rom 8:16, Rom 9:8, Phil 2:14-16, I Thess 2:10-12)
Hope in Christ (I Co 15:12-34, Eph 1:11-12, I Tim 1:1)
Born of God (John 3:3-7 [Jesus, not Paul], Rom 6:3-4)
Passed from death to life (John 5:24 [Jesus], Rom 6:8-13)
Love the other brethren (I Peter 4:8, I Pet 1:22, [Peter], John 15:12, John 13:44 [Jesus], I Thess 4:9, I Thess 1:3, Eph 4:2)
Understand that Christ laid his life down for them (II Cor 5:14-15, I Cor 15:3, Rom 5:8)
Who love with actions and with truth (I Cor 13:1-6, II Thess 2:10, Titus 1:15-16, II Cor 13:8, James 2:15-17 [James], John 16:12-14 [Jesus], Rom 13:8-10, I thess 2:10-11)
Who believe in the Name of Christ (Acts 10:42-43, Acts 26:9-18, Rom 1:5)
Who keep God's commands (Acts 17:30, Eph 6:1-2, Rom 7, Rom 6:12-17, Rev 14:11-12 [John], II Thess 1:8, Acts 5:29)
Who have the Spirit living inside them (I Cor 7:40, Rom 8:23, Jude 1:19, I Cor 2:12)
Whose sins have been forgiven (Heb 10:18-19, Col 1:13-14)
Who know the Father (II Cor 1:3-4, Phil 1:3, II Thess 2:16)
Who do not love the world (Rom 8:12-14, Col 2:20, Col 2:8, Gal 6:14, II Cor 6:14-16)
Who acknowledge the Son (Luke 12:8-18 [Jesus], Heb 4:14, II Cor 1:19)
Who abide with Christ (Jude 1:20-22 [Jude], Heb 3:6-15, II Pet 1:3-11 [Peter], Col 3:16, Gal 5:1),
Who do right [by faith] (I Thess 5:23, Rom 13:1-7, Rom 7:7-25, Rom 9:30-33)
Who have fellowship with the brethren and with Christ (Acts 2:42, I Cor 1:9, II Cor 13:14)
Who confess sins (James 5:16 [James])
Who are purified by the blood of Christ (Heb 9:11-28, Rom 3:24-26)
Who are atoned for by the BLOOD of Christ (Rom 3:25, Heb 2:17)
Who walk in the light (II Cor 6:14, Eph 5:8-14)
Who overcome the world through faith (Rom 12:21, I Pet 5:8-9 [Peter], Rom 4:13)
John, Paul, and others use different 'favored phrases' and analogies, but the same concepts regarding salvation through faith in Christ are found throughout scripture.
Danny Hickman
Acting pious is easy and doesn't cost a thing. Saying you love everybody and don't hold a grudge against people who have hurt you doesn't cost a thing. And it makes the person who makes those claims look so spiritual. I tip my hat to people who can truly overlook the hurt they've incurred from people who aren't the least bit repentant for hurting them.
To the person who admits to hating someone for some reason, and is concerned about getting to heaven, I want to remind you of what the scriptures teach.
Nowhere in the Bible is it said, 'You must love everybody in order to be saved.' Nowhere in the Bible is it said, 'If you hate someone you will not be saved.'
The Bible says, 'Believe on the Lord and you will be saved.' (Acts 16:31)
The Bible says, 'He who does not believe is condemned.' (John 3:18)
It says nothing about being condemned if you don't love everybody, or if you feel hatred for someone. Honestly, I don't know how you can love everybody when you don't KNOW everybody.
I guess the people who make such grand claims mean that they love the thought of loving every person on earth. I believe they can meet some people who will make it a serious chore for them to love.
If you think the person who admits to feeling hatred for someone is barred from heaven, please list the scripture that supports your contention. It needs to say something like 'if you hate someone you're not born again, and you must be born again,' or something as definitive.
Danny Hickman
What does it mean to 'Believe on the Lord'?
I think in this case it means to believe that HE LOVES the people who we have trouble loving, and he loves us, in spite of our sin. If we are required to do the hard stuff ourselves, then what good is it to believe in Jesus?
There's not a lot of things harder to do than loving people who don't love you. If there's anyone other than Jesus who can do it, I haven't met them.