The Proof Of An Obedient Life Series

 Today we continue discuss John’s concern that believers discover how to maintain unbroken fellowship with Christ. It is the secret to living a dynamic Christian life.

If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink….out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water(JN 7:37-38) ’This he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive’(7:39a)

 In Chapter 2 and beginning in verse 3 John deals with the issue of how a person can really know that they are saved. You must have relationship before you can have fellowship.

Say ’I know’ Clint Eastwood. Seen most of his movies, edited of course, and am very familiar with what he believes about many things. But if you asked him about me he would say, ’Who?’ ’Never heard of him’. I know him but I don’t know him. I don’t have any relationship with him so it is impossible for me to go further and have any fellowship with him. Many know about God, are f amiliar with Him, what He has done and what He stands for but they don’t ’know’ Him and thus can have no real fellowship with Him. One builds into the other.

 The Greek word for ’we know’ occurs twenty times in this letter. John is saying that knowing you are a Christian is not a matter of doubt but a believer can be certain. What are some proofs, clear indicators of a relationship with Christ out of which can develop real fellowship?

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ’I have come to know Him’, and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His Word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know t hat we are in Him; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 2:3-6)

PROOF #1: An Obedient Heart (3) By this we know that we have come to know Him, IF we keep His commandments. (4) The one who says, ’I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him;’

1. John likes to compare the things that people say with the things that they actually do. Jesus said, Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do the things that I say?’(Luke 6:46)

Fair Characatures: Drawings meant to imitate the real thing but are distorted in certain ways to enhance a particular thing beyond it’s proper meaning.(Oversized nose or hair) Some people have made characatures of Christianity which has distorted the real thing out of some proportion. See it as only a way to get to heaven, something for someday, ’sweet by and by’. Others see it as a hope for self-improvement or behavior modification. To learn to act better. ’You can’t purify the water by painting the pump’. That happens but is a distortion of the real meaning of Christianity. Q- Do I really have a relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ?

2. Look at the phrase, ’By this we know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments’. ’Come to know’ is in the PERFECT TENSE meaning ’something done in the past’ while ’keep His commandments’ is PRESENT TENSE. A sign that we have in the past come to know Him(have relationship) is our present behavior. Your actions have changed because you have changed.

a. Note: we are not saved by keeping but we can know we are saved by the fact that we keep His commandments.

3. Intensity in the word ’keep’. It carries a very unique meaning.(Imagine the battles in church history if Bible originally written in English instead of Greek: provides portraits of meaning)’ More than just to keep as a possession or to place a guard over.

a. Literally ’to value as a treasure’. It was a word used in SAILING. The phrase ’keep the stars’. In John’s time the stars were the only thing between you and being lost at see. You learned to ’keep them’ or to set your course by them. They were dear to you and your treasured them.

Imagine meeting President Bush and him asking you to hold his watch until he returns. You would guard it with your life.

b. It is more than an attitude but is an inner desire to do what is asked. Not just doing something because it is the thing to do or it might bring us certain benefits but it is the passion of our heart. It is a holy desire to obey God because of your love for Him.