And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read this and think "keeping rules is how you prove you know God." But John is actually saying that genuine knowledge of God naturally results in obedience, not the other way around. Our ability to keep his commands becomes the evidence that we're truly connected to him.
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
English Standard Version (ESV)
John is writing to assure believers of their genuine relationship with God, distinguishing true faith from false. He's just spoken about Jesus being our advocate and atonement for sins, and now he's explaining that a real knowledge of God isn't just intellectual, but it's proven by obedience to his commands, which will be further elaborated on in the following verses.
Ever wondered how you can be sure you truly know God? It's not just about what you feel in your heart.
John is crystal clear here: genuine knowledge of God isn't passive. It’s demonstrated through action.
The Test of Relationship
This verse presents a direct correlation: if we keep his commandments, then we know him. It's like saying, 'If you truly love your best friend, you'll show up for them.' Our obedience isn't what earns our salvation, but it’s the evidence that a real relationship has taken root.
What Does 'Keeping' Mean?
It's not about perfect, sinless perfection. Instead, it speaks to a consistent effort, a life oriented towards following Christ’s teachings. It’s a desire to honor God in our choices, big and small, because we love Him and want to align our lives with His will.
Sometimes, God's commands can feel like a checklist or a heavy burden. But John sees them differently.
When John talks about 'his commandments,' he's not referring to a rigid legal code designed to crush us. He's pointing to the ways of life that God has revealed as best for us, ways that lead to true life and flourishing.
Freedom Found in Following
Think of them as loving instructions from a perfect Father. They aren't designed to restrict us from joy, but to protect us from harm and guide us into God's intended goodness. Keeping them is an act of trust, acknowledging that God's wisdom is superior to our own.
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The Spirit Empowers Obedience
This isn't about self-effort in our own strength. The New Testament teaches that through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a life that pleases God. Our obedience flows from a transformed heart, made possible by God's grace.
Understand the original words
entolē · Greek Noun
The set of moral or ritual instructions given by God to His people; in the New Testament, it refers to Christ's teachings and the moral requirements of the new covenant.
Jesus Himself connects loving Him directly to keeping His commands, echoing John's point that obedience is the evidence of genuine relationship.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28This Old Testament passage lays out the principle of choosing blessings through obedience and curses through disobedience, showing that the connection between knowing God and keeping His commands is a long-standing theme in God's relationship with His people.
1 John 3:24This verse further emphasizes the Holy Spirit as the means by which we know we are in God and He is in us, directly linking this assurance to abiding in Him and Him abiding in us, which is evidenced by His commands.
Romans 6:1-2Paul tackles the idea that because we have grace, we can continue in sin. He strongly refutes this, showing that true union with Christ (knowing Him) means dying to sin and living a life of righteousness, mirroring John's assertion that keeping commands isn't burdensome but the natural outflow of knowing God.
It's easy to read this and think "keeping rules is how you prove you know God." But John is actually saying that genuine knowledge of God naturally results in obedience, not the other way around. Our ability to keep his commands becomes the evidence that we're truly connected to him.
John is writing to assure believers of their genuine relationship with God, distinguishing true faith from false. He's just spoken about Jesus being our advocate and atonement for sins, and now he's explaining that a real knowledge of God isn't just intellectual, but it's proven by obedience to his commands, which will be further elaborated on in the following verses.
John is writing to assure believers of their genuine relationship with God, distinguishing true faith from false. He's just spoken about Jesus being our advocate and atonement for sins, and now he's explaining that a real knowledge of God isn't just intellectual, but it's proven by obedience to his commands, which will be further elaborated on in the following verses.
"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." — It's easy to read this and think "keeping rules is how you prove you know God." But John is actually saying that genuine knowledge of God naturally results in obedience, not the other way around.…
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Last reviewed October 2026