“Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments. The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person. But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked”.
(NET)
Today in vv.3-6 John returns to this idea he first expressed in 1.5: the basic principles of knowing God. At fist glance, it might seem harsh and legalistic, right?
“Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments. The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.”
I wonder what Jesus would say about this? What would Jesus say about this idea that to demonstrate that we truly do know God, know of God, know about God, want to know more of God, we keep his commandments?
“The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me.
The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”
(John 14.21, NET)
Not a new idea, is it? John has framed it a little differently in 1.5-2.1, but essentially is saying the same thing. He’s saying that as a believer, as a Christian, you will want to and you will actively pursue the keeping of God’s commandments. Simply, you will care about how He says you are to live and you will commit to doing your earthly best to living like it.
The alternative is somewhat harsh sounding, but again, we can’t pick and choose which parts of Scripture we follow:
“The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person”.
The idea is very simple, really, that if you are claiming to be a believer, if you are claiming to be a Christian, you ought to walk just as Jesus walked and you ought to obey His Word. Simply, lip service is not enough. Claiming to know God is not enough, saying we reside in God is not enough. As a thought to dwell on today, let us consider this thought from James 1.18:
“Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.”
(NET, emphasis added)
James Travis 