1 John 2:3-4
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's not about feeling like you know God, but about a tangible, observable reality: do your actions show you know Him? The proof of genuine knowledge isn't emotional or intellectual, but relational and obedient, a direct outworking of His truth in your life.
John is addressing a community of believers, helping them discern genuine faith from a false profession. He's just warned them against lying about their relationship with God and now emphasizes that true knowledge of God isn't just intellectual assent, but is demonstrated by obedience. Following this, he will explain that God's commandments are primarily about loving one another, showing that this love is the real test of our relationship with Him.
Does keeping commandments earn our relationship with God, or does it show we already have one? John is clear about which is which.
John isn't saying we can achieve a relationship with God by being perfect. That's impossible! Instead, he's offering a diagnostic tool. "By this we know" – this is how we can have confidence. If our lives are characterized by a desire to obey God's commands, it's evidence that we truly know Him. It’s like a thermometer showing the fever is real; it doesn't cause the fever, it reveals it. Our obedience doesn't create our connection to God, but it demonstrates its reality.
Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. So, why do we sometimes feel God's commands are heavy weights?
When John talks about keeping God's commandments, he’s not referring to a list of arbitrary rules designed to make life miserable. These are the commands of our loving Father, given for our good and reflecting His very nature. They are the pathways to abundant life. When we are truly “in Christ,” His Spirit empowers us to desire and live out these commands. What once felt impossible or burdensome becomes a joyful expression of our new identity and love for Him.
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.
alētheia · Greek Noun
That which conforms to reality, God's nature, and the revelation of His word; it is the antithesis of falsehood and a defining characteristic of the Christian life.
Jesus himself directly links loving him with obeying his commands, echoing John's assertion that obedience is proof of true knowledge of God.
1 John 3:24This passage reiterates the idea that abiding in God and God abiding in us is demonstrated by keeping his commandments, reinforcing the connection between internal reality and external action.
Deuteronomy 11:26-28This Old Testament passage presents a similar theme of blessing or curse tied to obedience or disobedience to God's commands, showing this concept of obedience as a sign of relationship is ancient.
Matthew 7:21-23Jesus warns that simply saying 'Lord, Lord' is not enough; it's the one who *does* the will of the Father who enters the kingdom, highlighting that true knowledge or relationship has tangible actions attached.
It's not about feeling like you know God, but about a tangible, observable reality: do your actions show you know Him? The proof of genuine knowledge isn't emotional or intellectual, but relational and obedient, a direct outworking of His truth in your life.
John is addressing a community of believers, helping them discern genuine faith from a false profession. He's just warned them against lying about their relationship with God and now emphasizes that true knowledge of God isn't just intellectual assent, but is demonstrated by obedience. Following this, he will explain that God's commandments are primarily about loving one another, showing that this love is the real test of our relationship with Him.
John is addressing a community of believers, helping them discern genuine faith from a false profession. He's just warned them against lying about their relationship with God and now emphasizes that true knowledge of God isn't just intellectual assent, but is demonstrated by obedience. Following this, he will explain that God's commandments are primarily about loving one another, showing that this love is the real test of our relationship with Him.
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"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him," — It's not about feeling like you know God, but about a tangible, observable reality: do your actions show you know Him? The proof of genuine knowledge isn't emotional or intellectual, but relation…
