I KNOW HIM!???

Text: 1 John 2:3-6

Introduction

(Show “Elf” video)

There is without a doubt that buddy the elf had a real connection in a certain sense with the childhood character Santa Claus. Yes, he could recite the elf creeds and mottos, however, it was not those things that created him to be who he was. He has a true love for all the things Santa and Christmas.

Now, John is introducing to us another non-negotiable evidence of true conversion: If we keep his commandments then it is evident that we KNOW Jesus! John is not referring to the ten commandments (those were given to a nation; they are needed for the lost man). He is referring to a real love for pleasing God over anything else.

Let us make something very clear, John is not talking about the security of the believer, but rather how can we have the assurance we are in God’s family?

We will learn today more fully what John means when he says, “assurance comes by keeping God’s commandments and His words.”

1) Keeping God’s Commandments (vv3-4)

A. The positive claim

“know” = to know (experientially) v. — to know or have knowledge about (someone or something); normally as acquired through observation or the senses.

John has already expressed how his own knowledge grew as he observed Jesus.

The Apostle Paul said, “I KNOW in whom I have believed.”

We have the constant, moment-by-moment experience of knowing Him because we have already come to know Him. [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 2:3). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

Your knowledge of Jesus is to be just like John’s; a living growing knowledge.

Such as Polycarp did until he met head-on with martyrdom!

Polycarp was born about the year a.d. 70, is believed to have been a disciple of the apostle John, and became bishop of the church at Smyrna in Asia Minor. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius launched a savage persecution of the church, which was widespread and prosecuted with great cruelty. One of its victims was Polycarp. The old warrior took refuge in a friend’s house but was betrayed for a bribe by one of the household slaves. While he was being bound to the stake, the Roman proconsul offered him his freedom if he would honor Caesar and curse Christ. Said the martyr, “Eighty and six years have I served Christ; how can I curse Him, my King and my Savior?” Polycarp was one of those who knew that he knew Him and was willing to be “obedient unto death.” [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 2:3). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

B. The false assertion

Yes, John was privileged to experience Jesus in a special way. However, it does not establish for us an excuse today to not live in light of Jesus’ character.

Here is another false assertion: “I know him but don’t have any fruit of obedience toward the commandments of Jesus.

Those John calls a “liar”

A liar is someone who has lied and lies repeatedly.

The Gospel “is not” in him.

Turn to: John 14:15-21

Understand this: The Gospel through the administering of the Spirit “puts in you” His righteousness and the “will” to do the good pleasure of His will.

Your will outside of conversion is merely “human will.” It will never agree with God’s will!

A true believer has been given a will that will always agree with God’s will. That is exactly why your “flesh” fights you daily!!!

Those who love God will be driven by that love to happily live with obedience to pleasure of His will.

What does it mean to “KEEP” God’s commandments?

“keepeth”to observe (conform) v. — to conform one’s action or practice to; keep on or continue in a state.

If your claimed Christianity is wrapped up in a once a week Sunday morning worship service, that is not equivocal to “keeping” His commandments.

The Bible gives us a clear view of the materialization of the character of Jesus Christ.

2) Keeping God’s Word (v5)

A. How can I please God?

Turn to: John 14:23-24

Our knowledge of God is tested by our obedience, so is our love for God. [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 2:5). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

What John has in mind here is the practical outflow of love from the believer’s heart toward other people. [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 2:5). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

Many people seem to want to live as much like the unsaved and remain a Christian.

Some will ask me, “Can I still be a Christian if I do this or that?”

They should be asking the correct question: “What can I do to please my heavenly Father?

Quote: “A genuine child of God wants to please Him; he does not try to live right on the margin of the Christian life.” (J. Vernon McGee)

B. How is God’s love perfected?

“Perfected” simply means “realized in practice”

To move past the commandments and just want to please God.

In other words, “to bring a thing to it’s proper end, or to bring to fruition.”

Illustration: While your dad’s instructions are to weed out the tomato plants, when he gets sick and can’t weed out the rest of the garden, you happily do what would please your dad and keep the entire garden weeded.

Illustration: Corrie ten Boom once saw the man she hated in a church in Munich. The year was 1947, and she had come to a recently defeated Germany from Holland, a country that had known the full rigors of German occupation and Gestapo rule. And she had come to proclaim the message that God loves and forgives. She recognized the man, recognized him at once. How could she ever forget him? He had been one of the most brutal guards at the Ravensbruck concentration camp where she had been imprisoned and where her sister died.

At the close of the service—at which she had been speaking of the love of God and of His willingness to forgive—the man approached her. He wore a brown hat and an overcoat, but her mind’s eye saw him as she had last seen him—in his black uniform and wearing the cap with its skull and crossbones. Her blood ran cold.

He came up to her and spoke. “I have become a Christian,” he said. She dragged her mind back to the present. “God has forgiven me for all the cruel things I did in that camp. I have come to ask you to forgive me, too.”

It seemed to the missionary that time stood still as she struggled with her heart. How could she forgive this man, when her sister’s dear, emaciated face came between them. She thought of the cruel death that her sister had died, and a coldness laid an icy hand upon her heart. The man held out his hand, and the seconds seemed like centuries. Then the indwelling Christ prompted the response. She reached out her hand and took his. Warmth, supernatural and sublime, flooded her heart. Tears came to her eyes as she said, “I forgive you, my brother—with all of my heart.” [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 2:5). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

John is simply talking about God’s love being perfected in the believer, enabling them to keep His Word.

3) Walking God’s Walk (v6)

No believer can do or be all that Jesus did or was.

If you set your heart on doing your Father’s will, then you will be walking (in the same manner as) He walked.

There is a lot said about “commitment.”

It is mentioned at the invitation of a worship service.

I have been in many conversations when “commitment” (lack thereof) is of huge concern.

John is speaking here about FULL commitment!

What does he mean? TO LOVE CHRIST!

To LOVE Christ is to KEEP His Word (you can’t help it).

The question is NOT “Are you commited to Christ” but rather “Do you love Christ?”

John heard this message directly from His Master’s lips - John 15:4-6

“Abiding” = to dwell; to remain; to continue

Conclusion