The Powerful and Profound Meaning of 1 John 2:3-5 (What shows that we Know Christ)

 

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (1 John 2:3-5 KJV) 

The book of 1 John was penned by the Apostle John, one of Jesus' disciples and an eyewitness to His life, death, and resurrection. The early Christians faced many challenges regarding their faith, so the purpose of 1 John was to provide assurance and guidance to them, addressing those issues and their living as followers of Jesus Christ. This letter wasn't directed only to the early Christians but to those of us in this era as well.

Context of 1 John

Who are the audience of this letter?

As stated earlier, the audience or recipients to whom the book of 1 John was intended were Christians within a specific area or communities facing challenges such as false teachings, confusion, moral dilemmas, and questions about their faith.

During this time, the early Christian communities were dealing with various false teachings and conflicting ideas. Some of these teachings included Gnostic beliefs that downplayed the importance of Jesus' physical existence, denied the reality of sin, and denied the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. These ideas posed a threat to the foundational truths about Jesus Christ and the nature of a believer's relationship with Him. These are the same issues the current Christians are facing concerning the Divine Nature of Christ Jesus and our relationship with Him.

The purpose of this letter

• To assure believers of salvation. The letter highlights the certainty of eternal life found in Jesus Christ and seeks to provide a guarantee to the believers.

"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:11-13 NKJV)

• Giving us a correct understanding of Christ. John, in this letter, wanted to ensure that believers had a proper comprehension of Christ's nature, His atoning sacrifice, and the implications of following Him. In the fourth chapter, the Apostle John made us know the distinction between the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error to debunk the Gnostic's idea and to authenticate the fact that Christ indeed came to the flesh. (1 John 4:1-3). Again, the fifth chapter gives us the certainty of God's witness about His Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 5:6-13)

• To teach us how to live in authenticity. The writer emphasizes the importance of a genuine and transformed life marked by love, obedience, and observation of God's commandments. This was to address the gap between professing faith and living it out. (1 John 2:3-5) This is where our main scripture for this post comes in.

 

Contextual Relevance of 1 John 2:3-5

1 John 2:3-5, a passage from 1 John, is a concise yet powerful statement on the connection between knowing God and obedient living. These verses fit into a broader context of 1 John by addressing the authenticity of one's relationship with God. They emphasize that genuine knowledge of God is not just by making claims but by living a lifestyle that reflects obedience to His commands.

 

Understanding 1 John 2:3-5

1. Knowing God through Obedience (Verse 3)

 

The passage begins by stating that knowing God involves keeping His commands. This verse suggests that keeping His Commandments indicates a genuine relationship with Him. The evidence that we have true knowledge of God is by living a life that aligns with His will. Jesus said in John 14:15 (NKJV), "If you love me, keep My commandments."

In verse 21, Jesus continued and said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

James also stresses that we should not only be merely listeners of the word and do otherwise, or else we will deceive ourselves. But we must do what it says." (James 1:22)

 

 

2. Authenticity of Knowledge and Obedience (Verse 4)

 

Verse 4 indicates that we cannot claim to know God but not live in obedience to Him. That is inconsistent with His word. It tags those people with such claims as falsehoods. The verse calls for integrity between our profession of faith and our lifestyle. Jesus said why do we claim He is our Lord yet refuse to do what He says? (Luke 6:46)

 

Again, Jesus said, those who do the will of the Father in Heaven will enter the kingdom of heaven but not those who call him Lord, Lord. (Matthew 7:21)

 

3. Fulfillment of our Love for God is our Obedience to His Word

Verse 5 indicates that obedience to God's word is a clear sign that we love Him and His love is made complete in us. Obedience is not a burdensome duty but a loving response to God's immense love for us. What is the Love of God?

 

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3 NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:23 NKJV)

Lessons and Life Application from 1 John 2:3-5

The early Christians weren't the only recipients to whom this letter was intended, but also to our generation of Christianity. Since the word of God stands sure and timeless, all those who claim to have accepted Christ and confess Him as Lord are also an audience of this letter from the breath of the Holy Spirit through Apostle John.

These verses challenge us to examine our lives and prompt us to see if our claim of knowing God aligns with the actions we exhibit. We must understand that mere words about knowing God are not enough if they are not accompanied by a life that seeks to follow His commands.

We must evaluate our actions in light of God's commandments to know if they reflect a life in obedience to Him. A sign that our faith in God is authentic is our obedience.

These verses also teach us to be consistent with what we claim and how we live. Authentic faith requires a confession of knowing God and a life that reflects obedience to His commands.

Being obedient to God is a response to His immense love for us but not about legalistic adherence. It is a sign that we appreciate His love by returning the same through our obedience. Obeying God's commands flows from a heart of love for Him. When we love God, obedience becomes a joyful expression of that love. It's important that we intentionally seek to obey God out of love, not out of duty. This fosters a deep and meaningful relationship with Him.

Conclusion 

Amid the confusion and false teachings circulating in our communities, Apostle John emphasizes the importance of authentic faith expressed through obedience, love, and consistency. He encourages us to examine our lives, ensuring that our profession of faith isn't merely lip service but is evident in our actions.

It's a false notion to think that knowing God could exist separately from obedient living.