1 John Chapter #2 Pt. 2 Real Faith Is Working Faith That Keeps Christ's Commands

Wonderful words of life for us. 

1 John 2:1-2  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2)  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

With wonderful words of life, the apostle John points us to Jesus Christ. He is our advocate, a mighty defender who comes to give aid to us. 

The efficacy of His atoning work cleanses us when we confess our sins. The Father immediately forgives us when we fail Him, because of Jesus' redeeming work.

The beauty of the gospel is that God will save all who hear it and believe it. 

True faith versus a false profession of faith. 

1 John 2:3-4  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

John does not mince words because he does not want us to have any doubts about our salvation and the security of being "in Christ."

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He explicitly said to teach all nations "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:18-20). 

How can I know if I am really a Christian? We "know" Jesus Christ through salvation if we keep His commandments. This is the fruit of "The entrance of thy word giveth light..." (Psalm 119:130).

The word "know"  means that we know Jesus Christ in the present tense. We know Him through salvation and He knows us as one of His children. 

The wonderful knowledge of our Savior means that we have received the true knowledge of Him. 

This word is in the perfect tense, meaning it is complete knowledge of Christ that we have obtained and it continues in us.  

The word "keep" means I am heartily accepted and am a willingly subject to God’s revealed will, as found in the Word.

John goes on to give the other side of this coin. 

If a person professes to know Jesus Christ, but does not keep His commandments, then that person is lying. 

In the case of that person, there is no fruit, because there is no spiritual life in them.

Why did John emphasize this truth? Because the Gnostics boasted in having the right knowledge, but they did not obey the gospel. 

John's Spirit guided words are a severe blow against false teachers, and against those who profess faith but still live in sin. 

John's words expose the real reason behind  personal unholiness. They are liars, and the truth of God is not in them.

Jesus does not "know" those who profess faith without obedience.

Matthew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Thus, Jesus' words carry a heavy weight, and are directly related to the truth John is teaching us.

Not every person who professes faith in Christ will enter the kingdom of heaven. The ones who do the Father's will, are the ones who enter the kingdom of heaven. 

We know that we know Jesus, because we keep His commandments. 

Those who profess to know Christ, but do not obey His commandments, are liars and their profession of faith is false. 

I told you, John was very blunt as he wrote to  Christians struggling with worldliness and heresies. 

The Spirit of God does not want anyone to think they are born again, when they really are not. Therefore, we find spiritual litmus tests like 1 John 2:3-4).

A false profession of faith is abominable to God. 

Titus 1:15-16  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16)  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 

The Holy Spirit guided the apostle Paul to address this same truth. Those who are born again live according to God's will, and all things are pure to them, because they will choose good over evil. 

Those who profess they know God, but who deny Him in their works, are disobedient, abominable and reprobate. There are very strong words of condemnation.

Let me just comment that churches are full of people today who profess faith in Christ, but they live just like the world. 

Let the weight of what God is saying fall upon us. 

1 John 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 

Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, and who conscientiously keep His word, and who live by His commandments, are blessed.

The love of God is perfected or brought to completion in the hearts of those who truly know Christ and keep His commandments.

The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of God so that we might love God aright (Romans 5:5). 

God's love is completed in us as we love others.

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35)  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

God's love is perfected in us so that we might love one another as God tells us to do.  

Jesus told us that the mark of a true disciple of Christ is that we love one another as our Lord loved us. He loved us enough to die on the cross to save us from our sins (John 13:1).

God's love is the fruit of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Love is the first one of the fruits of the Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is truly indwelling us, then this is what we can expect to see. 

When the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about spiritual gifts, he paused to show them a more excellent way. 

Love is the greatest of God's good gifts to us. 

1 Corinthians 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

1 Corinthians 13 is dedicated to teaching us about the love of God in us, what it does, how it acts and how we are changed by it. 

At the conclusion of that chapter, Paul was guided by God's Spirit to tell us that the greatest of all the spiritual gifts is love. 

The Greek word "agape" is translated "charity" which describes the actions of the love of God in our hearts.

In a general sense, charity is love, benevolence, good will, a disposition in our heart, which causes us to think favorably of others, such that we do good to them. 

Faith without works is dead faith. 

James 2:14-17  What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15)  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16)  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17)  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James raises the issue of professing to have faith but not having any works. This is the same reasoning of John and Paul. 

A true Christian is one who loves Jesus Christ and keeps His commands. 

James says that if you see a brother or sister in need, and you have the means to help them, but you do not help, this is a problem. 

This connects with John saying that those who profess faith in Christ, but they do not keep His commands, are liars. 

It connects with Jesus telling those who were outwardly religious, to depart because He did not know them. 

Abiding in Christ and walking as He walked. 

1 John 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

To be "in Christ" is to be converted to the Christian faith, and to have received the remission of sins (1 John 2:5). 

To "abide" in Christ, is to continue in that state of salvation, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is our example and model. 

John 13:15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

John's gospel recorded Jesus' teachings right before His betrayal, arrest and death on the cross. 

After washing the disciples feet, Jesus said "I have given you an example." John tells us that we should follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, and walk as He walked. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Let us think carefully about what John is teaching us. 

True faith is accompanied by obedience to God's Word.

True faith is actively loving and serving others.

False professions of faith have no evidence of change or fruit. 

False professions of faith are self centered and vain. 

Jehovah will give us the good things that we need. The idea of righteousness going before Him, is that Jesus has walked in the way that He calls us to walk. 

He will set us in the way of His steps, so that the love of God pours into us, and out of us in ministry to others. 

May our Lord renew our zeal and passion for the things of God. 

May we be vessels fit for our Master's mighty hand, that He might use us as He deems best. 

Bob

Psalm 85:12-13  Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. 13)  Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.