Well, I have had a break in posting this last week because Tony and I have been on Vacation! We had a great time visiting with my family and enjoying a couple of days of beach time! We had some good time to rest so I guess we are ready to get back at it.
In part 2 of our discussion of the evidence of a true believer we left off with ending chapter one and looking at point 3 that showed us that we will have a deep sense of our own sinfulness if we are true believers. Chapter one ends with verse 10 stating, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Let’s pick up with point #4 that will start us off with I John 2.
#4. If we are true believers we will keep His commandments. I John 2:1-2 tells of the wonderful grace that is ours through Jesus Christ being the propitiation for our sins and He is our Advocate with the Father if we sin. How truly blessed we are in the abundance of grace that we have received. That grace and mercy poured out on us will lead us naturally to verse 3 that says, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” A true believer will welcome Jesus’ teachings into their lives and they will process that teaching and make the needed adjustments. I John 2:4-6 says, “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; but whoever keeps His word, in Him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” I don’t know about you but that is putting it in pretty plain language for me!
Here are some questions to ask ourselves:
*Do I obey His commandments?
*Do I tend to continue in sin without any sense of sorrow and repentance over my choices, actions and attitudes?
*Do I welcome His teachings into my life and make the proper adjustments in my lifestyle? If not….why? If so….How have I done this recently?
*Is there a genuine desire to walk in the same manner as Christ walked? You can check out Phil. 2 for an idea of the manner in which Jesus walked.
* Do you sense a true humility about yourself before the Lord?
Take time to examine yourself. This idea that if we are truly in Christ we will obey His commandments comes up several times in I John and in other places in Scripture. If you do know Him in a personal and intimate way, you will not be able to continue in sin. His kindness will lead you to repentance and true lifestyle change and you will not be able to continue in your sin…..not if you truly know Him. Do you know Him today?
Dana