Pastor Jamie Wright * MFC * May 24, 2006
Last week: Do you know Him? 1 Cor. 3:10
This week: How do I know that I know Him?
1 John 2:3-11
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.”
There are three TEST(s) of knowing Him:
1. ATTITUDE TEST towards obeying His Word and His Will
vs. 3 OBEDIENCE DESIRED -keep= means to personally guard like a treasure
Genuinely true believers (born again) have a desire to obey His commandments (This keeps you eternally secure)
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vs. 4 OBEDIENCE DESCRIBED
Keep His commandments (vs. 3) versus Keep His words (vs. 5)
*Illus. Dad tells me to take out the trash and wash the car = commandment
I over hear dad tell someone he isn’t feeling well and wishes someone would cut his grass = his words
I love my dad….therefore, I do both.
John 14:15 Jesus says, “If you love me keep my commandments.”
vs. 23 he says, “If any man loves me, he will keep my words.”
The Attitude of Obedience makes me know that I know Him
Are you a liar (vs. 4) or do you know that you know Him?
II. ACTION TEST we ought to do something
vs. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked.
WALKING is an action verb. It shows action. You can’t sit still and walk.
We must walk the way Jesus walked (1 John 1:7)
We must talk the way Jesus talked
We must live the way Jesus lived.
You weren’t saved to sit. You were saved to serve.
vs. 6 says, we ought - have to, must, should, required to
Ephesians 5:1 Amp
“Therefore, be imitators of God- copy Him and follow his examples just as well beloved children imitate their father.”
How do you know that you know Him? You act like Him.
III. AFFECTION TEST (vv 7-11)
Your love-o-meter will reveal whether of not you really know Him and are a born again child of God
vs. 3 COMMANDMENTS (plural) all his commandments in general
vs. 7 COMMANDMENT (one) narrows it down
It is a new commandment yet it is old.
vv. 7-8 seem to contradict themselves
Commandment of love is an old one, but it is new to the soul that is experiencing it for the first time.
*Illus. Puppy love- young people think they have invented/discovered love. It has been around along time baby
We can’t love ANYONE without His love in us.
This new commandment is:
New in Essence
New in Emphasis not about the law, but a RELATIONSHIP
New in Experience Love/hate Light/Darkness- can’t mix
How do you know that you know Him? Love comes out of you
