So That You May Know

The Greeting Card

I am a greeting card saver. Every holiday/occation, i display the cards recevied on the counter or a side table. They may sit there for a month or so. This display serves as a reminder for me. SO THAT I MAY KNOW… these people sent heartfelt birthday wishes- my husband loves me and declared it in a valentine, my kids really do think im a great mom!

In the absence of a 1st century Hallmark store, I John is that reminder, that reassurance to this group of churches that they have security in Christ.

Wait, what!?

These churches were experiencing growth and with that growth came believers who started teaching a version of the gospel that denied the deity of Christ, and His early incarnation. This teaching caused a fracture in the church, and for some believers to actually question whether what they believed about Jesus was true, and could the truth of the gospel be trusted!

Testing the Recipe

My mother is an excellent baker. There is not a recipe she will not tackle and 99.9% of the time they turn out just as the photo shows they should. (as a side note, I do not generally choose any recipe that does not have a picture. Cookbooks without photos go right back on the shelf for me.) One of my all time favorites of hers are her raspberry scones. I am in possession of her recipe and have witnessed her make them on probably 100 occasions over the years. Why is it that she is such a gifted baker? She follows the recipe to a T! I on the other hand am not the best baker. I know the recipe, understand the directions and measurements, but lack the patience and precision to guarantee success on a consistent and reliable basis.

What is success in this example?

The recipe for scones. A successful/appealing scone can pass three tests.

Is it tender not tough?

Is it flavorful- the fruit is not too wet or too firm?

Is it baked to appropriate doneness? Not overbaked (dry) or underbaked (doughy/gummy.)

I John chapters 1 & 2 give us three unique ways, three “tests” that John helps his readers determine if they are truly Christ followers.

The Moral Test

1 John 2:3–6 “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Moral Test One: Am I keeping God’s commands?

Moral Test Two: Am I walking as Jesus walked?

Moral Test Three: Am I seeking righteousness over unrighteousness?

The Social Test

1 John 2:7–11 “Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

Social Test One: Does my love for Christ lead le to love others?

Social Test Two: Am I imitating Christ by loving my neighbors, including those who are far from God?

Social Test Three: Am I walking in the light rather than the darkness?

Social Test Four: am I growing to be more loving of others?

Social Test Five: Even when it is difficult, do I desire to love others as God has loved me?

The Doctrinal Test

This test will be covered in our study next week, but it is probably the most important test of all! We cannot genuinely pass the Moral or Social Tests if we cannot pass the Doctrinal Test.