As we continue our study of 1 John, we pick up at verse three of Chapter 2. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle John writes:
“We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, ‘I know Him’, but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His Word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2: 3-6
The Lord Jesus came to fulfill the Law of Moses, which was filled with Commands. The Religious sects had taken the 10 Commandments given to Moses by God and had expanded them to over 600 man made Commands and Laws. But Jesus kept God’s commands, for the Word says He was sinless. He fulfilled the God given Covenant of the Mosaic Law for His last words on the cross as He died for our sins were, “It is finished”. (John 19:30.) The curtain of the Law that had separated the Holy Place from all but the High Priest was torn away, (Matthew 27: 51) The New Covenant of Grace, Mercy and Love was put in place of the old, and sealed by His blood. (Luke 22: 20) But this New Covenant had few commands, and they all revolved around one primary thing:
“Walk in Love.” Jesus said, “This is my command . Love each other.” (John 15:17)
John had already declared, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1:8) (All of our sins are forgiven, but we need to stay ‘fessed up’, and the Fellowship open.) Here he says “Whoever claims to live in Christ must walk as He did.” So he is not telling us we will walk in the sinless perfection that Christ did, but he is saying if we claim to ‘know Him’, we Will walk in love for God, and for others, and for ourselves.
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
(Matthew 22: 37-40) Jesus had said in His great Sermon on the Mount: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) Jesus summed up the walk of life with these Words.
John says God’s love is made complete in us when we obey the Word of Christ. When we set out each day desiring to walk as Jesus did, we will love and trust God for all things. We will go to Him in the Word, and in prayer, and praise. We will receive His grace and mercy, and His love to walk in as His Holy Spirit fills us. We will love and treat those in our lives as we want to be treated. This does not mean we have to like them, or what they stand for, or the things they say, or the things they do. It just means we will love them as a fellow human being, and treat them as we would like to be treated. That is, “please respect me for who I am, and what I am, even if I am different from you.” That is, “don’t hate me for what I believe even if it is totally different from your beliefs”. That is, “please reach out to me if I am down if you can”. That is, “please don’t judge me but leave that to God”. That is, “please be kind to me even if you do not like me”. That is, “please pray for me, God loves us both”.
God’s love is made complete in us as we obey His Word.
The Lord bless you, and keep you, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you, and give you peace.
Poppa B.
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, On Line