1 John 3:21 (KJV)

Passage

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Nearby Context

1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "condemn", "beloved", "heart", "confidence", and "toward". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "condemn" and "beloved", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "For if our heart condemn us God..." into verse 22's "And whatsoever we ask we receive of...", so "condemn" and "beloved" belong inside that flow. In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "condemn" and "beloved" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.