The Test of Knowing Him
I. Introduction
A. Tough Tests and Questions
1. A tough engineering test.
a) A disassembled high powered rifle is in a box in a 10 by 10 room with a small door located on one wall.
b) The instruction manual is written in Swahili.
c) In ten minutes a hungry Bengal tiger will come through the door.
d) Take the appropriate action and be prepared to justify and explain your actions.
2. Some Easy Questions
a) How long did the Hundred Years War Last? – 116 Years
b) What country manufactures Panama Hats? – Equador
c) From what animals do we get cat gut? - Sheep and horses.
d) In what month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? – November
e) What was King George IV’s first name? – Albert
B. A Spiritual Test
1. How well do you know Jesus?
a) We know His place of birth.
b) We know the place of His death.
c) We know His earthly parents.
d) How well do we know Him?
2. Test of Knowing Him
a) John tells us we can know Jesus with all assurance.
b) In 1 John 2:3-11, there are three test that help know if we know Jesus.
II. Three Tests for Knowing
A. The Loving Obedience Test (3-6)
1. Three keys to passing this test.
2. Keeping His Commandments (3-4)
a) “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.”
b) In Revelation 1:3 John shows us the pattern for keeping His commandments.
a. Read His word.
b. Hear His word.
c. Keep the things that are written.
c) Our love for Jesus is demonstrated by our obedience to Him – John 14:15
d) To keep His commandments, His word must dwell within us – Colossians 3:16, Psalm 119:11
3. Maturing by His Commandments (5)
a) We are to continue to progress in the Lord – 1 Timothy 4:15
b) Moving past the first principles of God – Hebrews 6:1-2
c) Paying attention to the weightier matters of the word – Matthew 23:23
d) Pressing for the Goal – Philippians 3:12-14
4. Abiding in His Commandments (6)
a) The word abiding means, to dwell or live continually.
b) Those who abide in His word are His disciples (John 8:31).
c) Those who abide in His word know the truth (John 8:32).
d) Those who abide in His are set free from sin (John 8:32, 36).
e) Knowing that His commandment are not burdensome – 1 John 5:3
B. The Loving Commitment Test (7-8)
1. A New Old Commandment
a) Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudges against the children of your people, but you shall love you neighbor as yourself…”
b) John 13:34 - “A new commandment I give to you that you love one another, as I have love you, that you also love one another.”
c) 2 John 5-6 – “…but that which we have heard from the beginning that we love one another. This is love that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
d) 1 John 2:23 – “And this is His commandment that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us a commandment.”
2. The Demonstration of the Commitment
a) God’s demonstration of the commitment – Romans 5:8
b) Jesus’ demonstration of the commitment – John 15:13
c) The early church’s demonstration of the commitment – Acts 2:42, Acts 7
d) Our commitment to the commandment – Mark 12:30-31
3. To Know God is to Commit to God’s Commandment
a) To be firmly planted – Psalm 1:1-3
b) To rightly divide – 2 Timothy 2:15
c) To properly apply – Matthew 7:21
d) To teach to others through word and deed – 1 John 3:18
C. The Loving Your Brother Test (9-11)
1. A Change in Attitude
a) We are in the light because we desire to please God.
b) Our love for Him motivates us to obey Him.
c) Our love for Him motivates us to love our brother.
d) Our love for Him compels us change.
2. A Change in Address
a) 1 John 3:14 – “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.”
b) We are called from darkness to light – 1 Peter 2:9
c) Jesus the Light displaces our darkness.
3. A Change in Action
a) “An unchanged life is the sign of an unclean heart.”
b) No longer a love for the world – 1 John 2:15-17
c) But a love for the Lord and His people – 1 Peter 2:17
d) We cannot harbor hatred for others and love God.
e) We cannot continue to hate and know Jesus and His Father.
f) To hate is to walk in darkness but to love is to walk in the light of Jesus – 1 John 1:7
g) When we love God, we will love His children – 1 John 5:2
III. Conclusion
A. Passing the Test of Knowing
1. More Than Intellectual Facts – It is About Obeying
2. More Than Lip Service – It is About Doing
3. More Than an Experience - It is About Growing
4. More Than Talking - It is About Loving
B. Do we pass the test of knowing Him?
C. Invitation
