The book of First John

A Verse by Verse Study
Text 1st John 2:3 -6

 

A. To know God is to walk in His commandments. V. 3 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

     1. It is amazing to me for those to say they are Christians and reject the truths of God’s word.

          a. We are going to get a lot of this through out this book.

          b. People say they are Christians but fail to follow the Lord and His word.

          c. The Lord said in James 2:17-26 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18.) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19.) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20.) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21.) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (22.) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (23.) And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (24.) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (25.) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (26.) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

          d. Faith without works is dead, the same as a body without a spirit is dead. A so called Christian without walking in the Lords commandments is also not a Christian.

     2. What are these commandments?

          a. They are not the Ten Commandments! The Ten Commandments were a schoolmaster to show us our down fall. While the Ten Commandments are good for us to example our lives by, this is not what Johns is talking about.

          b. These commandments are the commandments of Christ in the New Testament. Example in 1st Thess. 5 we have 22 and throughout the New Testament we have many more, example 1st  John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

          c. These commandments of Christ are our daily Christian walk.

          d. Love is one of Christ most demanded commandment.  John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” I believe there are a lot of rude Ministers and Christians out there who fail this most important one.

          e. But according to John this is one of the biggest tests of knowing a Christian.

          f. Notice it does not say if you agree 100% doctrinally, but rather it they are your brother in Christ.

     3. V. 4 tells us how to treat those that fail to walk in Christ. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

          a. Christ commands us to attend church.

          b. Christ commands us to love one another.

          c. Christ commands us to tithe and contribute to the church.

          d. Christ commands us to be servants.

          e. Christ commands and if we refuse one of two things are wrong, (1.) we are lost or (2.) we have not been taught.

          f. If we are Christians (Christ like) then shouldn’t we be like Christ and walking in His commandments?

     4. God called them a liar. That would be one who, Makes a false profession; professes to have that which he really has not. Such a profession is a falsehood, because there can be no true religion where one does not obey the law of God.

     5. God tells us this is our test, V. 5 “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

     6. Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” We cannot serve God and mammon. 

 

B. If a person is a Christian then their walk in life should show that faith. V. 6 “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

     1. We are what we are, John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

     2. The Lord said if you’re a Christian that should be your walk, not maybe, but rather in fact.

     3. John 15:4-5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (5.) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

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