First John How Do You Know You Know

How Do You Know You Know? I Jn.2:3-6 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. I John 1:3-4 Companionship community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience a company of equals or friends mirriam-webster.com Eternal life is not something to be merely possessed, but to be experienced and expressed in community “In the beginning was the divine dance.” And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent….That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Jn.17:3, 21 Fellowship is an invitation to dance with God so that the world will believe …he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature II Peter 1:4 Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going to the same place? Amos 3:3 ( The Message) And by this we know (23x) that we have come to know him (become more intimate), if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” (becoming intimate with God) 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. 2:3-6 How is intimacy with God demonstrated? What occurs as I keep His word/keep His commandments? What are his commandments? And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. I Jn.3:23 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me…. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love… “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Jn. 15:4,9,12 We are partakers (koinōnos) of the divine nature ( II Pet.1:4) and thereby invited to participate in the Divine Dance And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent….That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Jn.17:3, 21 What does that Divine Dance look like? A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jn. 13:34-35 What would my loving others look like? “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Mt. 7:12 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Gal.5:14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Mt.7:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Gal.5:13-15 If freedom is our focus, it will lead to destruction. But if love is our focus, we will discover true life- the life of the age to come