1 John 2:3-11
Read 1 John 2:3-11
Helpful Background Information:
First John was written to believers to warn them against false teachers and point them to the truth by teaching them to obey His Word and to love His people. In this section, John tells us how we may know that we know God: if we keep His commandments (v3).
John is not saying that keeping God’s commandments earns us salvation, but rather that obedience is a direct result of our salvation that we receive by grace through faith alone (Eph 2:8). Obedience is a marker of genuine faith and flows from someone who wants to walk in the light because Jesus is the light.
Of course, we will not perfectly obey on this side of heaven, but those who know God will be characterized by their love and obedience to Him. This doesn’t mean we will never sin, but we have a new identity in Christ that continually transforms how we live. Love for others is a sign of God’s presence in the life of a believer. He who hates his brother walks in darkness, showing that God’s love is not in him.
It is possible for people to claim they love God without truly knowing Him. Loving others distinguishes those walking in light from those walking in darkness. In John 13:35, after Jesus commands His disciples to love one another, He says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Reflection Questions:
How are you loving other members of God's family? Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile? Someone you need to encourage?
In what ways are you currently tempted to love the world more than God's will? In what ways are you trying to earn your salvation through good works rather than the good works being an overflow of the love you have already received? Ask the Lord to reveal these things to you, confess that to God, and pray for a heart to desire obedience to Him out of love for Him.
John gives some criteria of assurance of knowing and being in him throughout this passage. In verses 3 and 5, he says “this is how we know…” According to this passage, how do we know that we know him/are in him? What areas of your life are you not living this out? How is this a statement of encouragement rather than fear?