Do You Know Jesus?

Alba 6-19-2024

DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

I John 2:3-6

There are a lot of things we think we know. But sometimes what we know is not as accurate as we thought. For example, let me give you a test. These are just simple questions that have an obvious answer. Here goes:

1) How long did the Hundred Years War Last? – 116 Years

2) What country manufactures Panama Hats? – Equador

3) From what animals do we get cat gut? - Sheep and goats, cattle and horses.

4) In what month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? – November

5) What was King George IV’s first name? – Albert

If you were able to give a correct answer to those questions, then you know more than most people. On the other hand, if you were surprised by some answers, perhaps you don't know as much as you thought. But there is a more important question than any of these. And here it is: Do You Know Jesus?

You may say, “Well, that's an easy question. I'm in church and I've heard a lot of sermons, so yes, I know Jesus.” I certainly hope that you do. But to make sure.... Let's take a look at I John 2:3-6. All the clues to the right way that question can be answered are in these verses. We will be wise to compare ourselves with what we find here.

I John 2:3-6 says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

There are at least three specific things that are mentioned here that will help you to give an honest (and biblical) answer to the question, Do You Know Jesus? First you must ask yourself:

1. Do I Keep His Commandments (vs. 3-4)

Don't be too quick to answer. If you recall Jesus' encounter with the rich young ruler, he thought he was doing pretty good on that score. When he asked Jesus how he could have eternal life, Jesus told him, “ You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And (the young man) said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” (Luke 18:20-21)

In spite of such a good record, Jesus pointed out that there was something he lacked. I think that is true of all of us. Hopefully we also keep the commandments that Jesus spoke of to the young man. Those are the big ones. But what about other areas of our lives. Can we honestly say that we are living in such a way that, as best as we are able, what we are doing is a reflection our personal relationship with Jesus? Would other people look at any of us and see us being obedient to the commands of our Lord? Or would they be able to say, “Oh, there goes another hypocrite!” Or as verse four calls it straight up: “Liar”. Judas is the ultimate example of one who looked like a Christian … but “the truth was not in him”.

Following the teachings of Jesus involves conforming every area of our lives to Him. It requires submitting every relationship, every attitude, every word, every thought, every action to him. It involves our whole lives, not just a few specific things that we do or don’t do.

Listen to what Peter says about how we should live in 1 Peter 1:14-16, “As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Can we be truly holy? It's not easy is it. Here's the thing. When we come to Christ through our obedient faith, turning from sin and being baptized into Him, we are made holy before God. But we still live in this human body, so sin continues to plague us. That is why the Lord implants His Holy Spirit into our lives to give us power to live better than we did before. And the means the Holy Spirit will use to help us is through what is revealed in scripture.

We won't, we can't, follow the Lord's commands if we don't know what they are. If we want to know that we know Jesus, we need to read and study the Bible. Without knowledge of the scriptures, we won't know Jesus. We may know about Him, but we won't know Him. Everything about Jesus and what He wants us to do is revealed in the Bible.