1 John 2:1-5 and James 1:19-25
One of Satan’s favorite tactics is to cause
us to question whether we indeed are in fellowship with God. John counters that
with some great identifying marks and the first one is this; Are you walking in
the light? Remember that the one word John uses a lot here is “continues.” We
must be continuous-ly in the light! Jesus said, we must “remain” in the vine…
not just be in the vine once in a while, or whenever we feel like it, or just
when it’s appropriate…Not just “step into the light” on Sundays…but, continuously!
The second is, “Are you walking in
obedience?” Somewhere along the line
people have the mistaken idea that salvation is without obligation. However,
John says in verse 3 "We know we have come to know Him, and now here’s the
if- “if we obey His commands." In other words, we know that we have come to know him, we have the security, the assurance, because we have seen in our lives the change that has taken place so that;
*The commands we once thought were ridiculous and stupid and life-destroying, we now learn to joyfully obey… because God’s work in our lives changes our understanding.
*We have come to learn that this God who we used to hate, we now love.
*And the commands that we used to disregard and were “not for me”, have now become something we follow.
What can explain a psalmist writing, "Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long." Does that sound like something a typical non-believer would say? No. This is a person who has been changed, who’s understood that the God he hated and feared is in fact a God of tremendous love and has embraced him and brought him into fellowship with Him and he says, "Man, I love your law! The lights are on…the blinders are off, and now I can see how wonderful your Word and your commands are." "If anyone obeys His word," verse 5 says, "God’s love is truly made complete in him."…not - will be made complete, IS made complete!
This obedience or “keeping of God’s Word” means we are actively complying with His Word. It means we habitually keep or keep on keeping His commandments. What I know does not mean a whole lot unless it leads me down the path of obedience.
This is not something based on feelings; I can’t just “feel” like I am a Christian; or “feel” like I know where my eternal destiny is…no, John says absolute assurance comes from a clear understanding of the facts. Back in the “good ole days” there was a show called Dragnet, and when ever a witness would begin to ramble on about something, Sgt. Friday would always say; “Just the facts Maam, just the facts.” John says, the fact is that “We know that we have come to know Him if we are walking in obedience.”
That does not mean that our lives are characterized by total, perfect obedience…there is only one that is perfect…but, that our lives will be characterized by a consistent and continual desire to do what is right and good according to God’s Word. In other words, there will be more than just “hearing and reading” God’s Word, there will be a desire to “understand and apply” what we know. And, when this is happening in our lives, Romans 8:16 tells us that the “Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
John is very blunt and to the point in verse 4 when he says; “the man who says “I know Him” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” This is the second time John has told us to quit lying to ourselves! In verse 3 the words “that we have come to know him” suggests a growing process. In that process we “come to know” more about God; we “come to know” more about Jesus; we “come to know” more of His Word”; and we “come to know” what He desires of us; and we come to obey! That’s what brings assurance. Not out of fear or force, but a true desire to please God and obey as a result of a loving relationship.
I like to put it this way; “Being a Christian is a “Be” experience; “Believing”; “Becoming”; and “Behaving” all of which are a part of “obedience.” Believing is the first step to Becoming and Behaving… and, Becoming and Behaving are the direct results of believing! I think John would agree that if there is no becoming and behaving, there really is no believing!
Assurance comes from obedience to his commands…such as; Matthew 4:19 "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."…there are too many Christians who are no longer “fishers of men” but “keepers of the aquarium!”
In Matthew 25:6 -10 we read, "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet him. And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." I believe that we are living on the threshold of that midnight cry. For many, the door will soon be shut. Now is the time - the time for those without Christ to come to Christ! Now is the time for those who are in darkness to step into the light!
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