Tests of Knowing Him - 1 John 2:3-6

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked--1 John 2:3-6


Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

A life in a relationship with Jesus looks like something.  That is important, so I will say it again.  A life in a relationship with Jesus looks like something.  Evidence of your faith should be well...evident. Those who are truly born again have been given a new nature.  This new nature will evidence itself in obedience to the Father's commands and a love for God and for one another.  John wanted believers to have an assurance of their salvation and to continue in it. He did not want people to be deceived either by themselves or by others.  Be warned, John presents the truths of this book in very black and white terms. Light vs dark. Truth vs error.  No real gray areas. John gives us the marks of those who are truly in fellowship with Christ...who truly know Him.  They should be a comfort to those who are, and to those who are not, they should be a warning to search their own hearts diligently.

The passage above gives us two ways that you know you belong to Christ - do we do what He says, and do we walk as He walked?  More specifically, are we keeping His commandments? (vs 3) Are we keeping His Word? (vs 5) Are we walking as He walked? (vs 6)

Our desire should be to obey His commandments and to do always those things that would please Him. Jesus lived a life of obedience to His Father.  He is our pattern. We possess the Spirit of Christ...our lives should reflect His characteristics and His nature.  It is not that as a born again believer we display these characteristics faultlessly, but there should be a habitual pattern of obedience to our Heavenly Father and a love for one another manifested daily in the lives we live.  The key words there being habitual and daily.  If obedience to the Father, is not the general pattern and direction of your life and you say that you know Him, the Bible says you are a liar and the truth is not in you.

On the other hand, verse 5 says that if we do keep His word, then the love of God is perfected in us.  I love that.  The love that God has for us has reached its mark in us and accomplished what it was designed to do, if we respond by obeying His commandments.  In essence our regenerated hearts say...Lord, I see that you are good and you are holy. I see the beauty, goodness and rightness of your ways.  I see my own sin and selfishness and I don't want it anymore.  I want to be like you.  I want to do only those things that please you.  The Bible says in Romans that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. .The love of God being perfected in the heart of sinner is a beautiful thing to behold and again...it most definitely looks like something. 

Finally, in verse 6, it says,  if we say we abide in Him, we should walk as He walked.  Jesus' life is our pattern.  His obedience to the Father is the standard.  All questions girls about how to live are answered in the study of Jesus' life.  We have His Spirit, His power and His presence.  We can walk as He walked.

John 6:38 says this:

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.


Jesus had no hidden agendas.  No secret motives or plans. Jesus' purpose was to do the will of His Father in heaven.  If we walk as He walked, this should be our purpose also.

Love
Mom