“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Today I would like us to study the word of God together.
1John 2:3 states that “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” The key words here are: know, have come, keep, and commands. Let’s look at the meaning of these words and see how they fit together and bring out what God is trying to communicate to us.
Know: Google defines know as
Be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with.
We may have heard about Jesus through our observation of others walking in righteousness or made an inquiry ourselves inspired by the Holy Spirit through reading the bible. Getting information about Him through what we gather from either listening to the pastor or reading the Bible. This is where everyone may start and this is great. However, going deeper in knowing God requires the second part of the definition; developing a relationship through meeting and spending time with God. This is accomplished by consistent and conscious effort in spending quality time in studying and praying the word of God. We cannot acquire a degree by a mere acceptance letter from a college. We have to make a constant and consistent effort and determination to attend classes, complete assignments, research into the different subjects, ask questions from the professor, write exams etc. To know God and grow in Him requires studying and praying his word. 2 Timothy 2:15 says “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Have come is defined by the Collins English Dictionary as develop, mature, progressed, or become very successful. This implies that we cannot give our lives to Christ today and become experts in the things of God. It’s a process, just like how biologically we are born as babies and we grow into adults. There are stages of growth and each requires eating certain foods and doing certain things. You will never expect a child without teeth to chew on solid food. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). As we begin our journey with Jesus, we must desire and hunger for this pure spiritual milk which is the word of God because it is what will help us grow, develop our character, progress and mature in our knowledge of God. Jeremiah 9:23-24 also says “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Keep means to continue to hold or have something. Psalm 119:11 says “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” What comes out of us is what is in the heart. Therefore, if the word of God is hidden in our hearts, that is what we will bring out consistently. Likewise, if we do not have the word of God, whatever is there will come out. “We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end” (Hebrew 3:14). We must hold onto what we have come to understand about Christ and not be moved by any form of falsehood. Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Command means an authority, order or direction from a superior (…). God is the commander and just like a physical commanders’ directions are followed strictly, more so are we expected to follow the word of the creator. In Joshua 22:5 the word of God admonishes us to “be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” If we say we love God but walk in disobedience, we are considered hypocrites.
Finally, going back to our Bible verses at the beginning and focusing on 1John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did”. Jesus depended on His Father for everything, so if we must live in Christ, we must follow his example. John 8:28-29 says “Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."
Reflection Questions:
Can I testify that I truly know God?
If Jesus stood before me now, can He bear witness that I am walking in His footsteps?
What can I change in my life to better my daily walk with Jesus?
Blessings
Ennette Heaggans