Obedience: The Proof of Your Faith 1 John 2:3-6

Introduction:

Humans are naturally skeptics; meaning that we have the tendency to doubt or question. The solution for our skepticism is proof or evidence! A perfect example of this is found in ; the account of “Doubting Thomas.” The same issues of doubt and proof enter into the most important aspect of your life and that is the faith of the believer.

Disobedience is the premise of our need for salvation

Are You Saved? What is your proof? How do you know for sure?

In the Apostle John will provide assurance for your faith.

Background:

The writer: Apostle John writes to the church in Ephesus.

John’s purpose for writing:

Fellowship in the faith they shared ().

3what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. .

3what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

Provided a foundation for the assurance of salvation () .

2. Provided a Foundation for the Assurance of Salvation () .

Provided a foundation for the assurance of salvation () .

13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. .

3. John Warned of False Teachers who reflected the spirit of Antichrist (4:1-3).

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New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

John is addressing the issue of a group known as the Gnostics. The Gnostics believed:

They blended Greek philosophy and Christianity

Rejected the incarnation of Christ

The flesh is evil therefore Christ could not be totally good.

Christ came physically but his divine spirit came at his baptism and left at his crucifixion.

In 1st John the Apostle John provides 3 tests as a way for you to Assure Christian Identity.

The Test of Right Belief demanded that an individual believe that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh ().

The test of right behavior demanded righteous living ().

The Test of Right Behavior demanded righteous living ().

The Test of Right Attitude demanded the evidence of brotherly love ().

“ 3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

John is directly addressing the Gnostic problem with the words “Know” since their name meant Knowledge.

Knowledge of God is both intellectual, experiential and dynamic (progress/change). Intellectual, Moral and Spiritual.

Faith is 1st Hearing God, 2nd Believing God and 3rd Acting on it. That is what faith is. The Origin of Faith is the Word of God and the Object of Faith is God. Just having Faith is positive thinking and positive thinking is not faith in God but faith in yourself

Intellectual, Moral and Spiritual.

“If” is a conditional word used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled.

“Keep” Obedience- (τηρέω)- To keep or observe

Commandments- Orders, commands, injunctions, instructions.

If you want to know God, do what he says!!

“ 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;”

4The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

Compare this verse with (Good/Bad Fruit)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 7

22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’

23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Compare with (Rich Young Ruler)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” I have kept them all. Go and sell all you have and follow me. He left grieving

Obedience is inseparable from Faith and Love!! ()

“ 5but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

5but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

Stark contrast between verse 4 and 5

Intellectual, Moral and Spiritual.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), .

Verse 4 is the wicked person/ verse 5 has the one loved by God all rooted in obedience or the lack there of.

The obedient person has an intimate relationship with God and the keeping of the commandments bears witness to the union. Perfected means manifest or exemplified. From imperfect to perfect. Full growth by God’s doing.

You can't have fellowship or communion with God without keeping his commands.

“6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”

“abide” literally means to be-and-remain in/with/joined to/continue in/with

walk - obligated/duty to just as that one. Habitual action (lifestyle)

“walk in the same manner as He walked” - to act or behave just like Christ behaved

Conclusion

Origin of Faith is the Word of God, the object of Faith, the God of the Word, and the operation of Faith is obeying the God of the Word.

Origin of Faith is the Word of God, the object of Faith, the God of the Word, and the operation of Faith is obeying the God of the Word. Faith is not a mere intellectual assent but it is obedience. Faith is belief with legs on it. The Old English word “Beleeve” means what we believe we live by. No Creed without Conduct”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

Faith is not a mere intellectual assent but it is obedience.

Origin of Faith is the Word of God, the object of Faith, the God of the Word, and the operation of Faith is obeying the God of the Word. Faith is not a mere intellectual assent but it is obedience. Faith is belief with legs on it. The Old English word “Beleeve” means what we believe we live by. No Creed without Conduct”

Faith is belief with legs on it. The Old English word “Beleeve” means what we believe we live by. No Creed without Conduct”

Invitation