1John 2:3-6

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Scripture 1 John 2:3-6(ESV)

3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. 6By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Devotion

            Here in 1 John 2:3-6 we have the beginning of a description how to know if you are truly following God. Why is this so important? Because in Matthew chapter 7 we find this: “Matthew 7:22–23 are among the scariest verses in the Bible. Jesus says: Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?”1 Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Some who think they know Jesus will be told that they never knew him. So how do we know if we are truly following Jesus? The short answer is that the one who keeps Jesus’s commands (2:3), keeps his word (2:5), and walks in love (2:6) is the one who truly knows Jesus.

            John pulls no punches when in (2:4) he says if anyone does not keep his [God’s] commandments is a liar. What the verb keeping means here is a continuous action. John is not talking about someone who randomly commits some sin, gut rather someone who makes a lifestyle of sinning.

            The other verbs talk about a relationship. They are not commands. They express the idea that if you truly know Jesus you will do these things, or these qualities will be manifest in your life. Basically, it boils down again to love God, love your neighbor; the greatest commandment.

So, it again says our relationship should be rooted in our love for God. “The reason that love for God will result in obedience is that love motivates. Love is a very powerful motivator! Discipline is helpful, but love is more powerful than discipline.”2 We should recognize God’s sacrificial love for us and be drawn in to love God sacrificially. It’s not what you know about God that is important, but it is that you truly know him. I would rather know Jesus in my heart than know all about him from the books in my library.

1Campbell, Constantine R. 1, 2, and 3 John (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 63). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

2Campbell, Constantine R. 1, 2, and 3 John (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 65). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

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