1st John 2:3-6 WE KNOW HIM Around forty times in the epistle of 1st John the word "know" occurs in its Greek form helping to define what it means to be a Christian. Many equate being a Christian as one being born in a Christian country, in a Christian family, who attends a Christian church and lives a Christian lifestyle. "Know" in verse 3 is relating to the first of several tests of salvation in this letter. This refers to the practical experience of believers who keep the commands of God out of a genuine desire to please Him. Obeying God's word, walking in holiness of life and doing what we know God wants, are all evidence that we truly know Him in a personal way.
Knowing what the Bible teaches is not necessarily evidence of divine life in a person. Wanting to obey our Lord from the heart and serving Him with a gracious and humble spirit gives us personal assurance of the fact we are children of God. We know personally when we do something because we sincerely want to, not because we have to. Appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness have a way of demonstrating reality that is not seen by responding to truth simply by one's intellect. This does not mean we never disobey, but the lives of those who are God's children are generally characterized by wanting to show our love for Him by pleasing Him.
Two tests of genuine faith in Christ is that we do what He says because He is our Lord and conduct our lives as our Lord wants. It is made plain a little later in the epistle that these two things are that we " believe on His name, and love one another." Neither of these has to do with what I say about myself or the impression I try to make on other people. The negative side of this teaching regarding knowing that we are saved, is that if I do not "keep His commandments," no matter what I might say or think - I am not a child of God. That is very clear. When the truth is in us, we do keep His commands. That is not only a desire but a fact. To keep every condition and demand perfectly of the ten commandments is not what is being said here. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." No one but our Lord Jesus Christ has ever done that. But it is expected of one who has the divine nature given when we were born again, and has the Holy Spirit of God within, to conduct their life in obedience to God. The frailty of our human nature limits us, and on occasion trips us up. His commandments are consistent with the life and teaching our Lord when He was here. "He left us an example that we should follow in His steps."
To keep on obeying the word of God consistently is a demonstration of the love of God in a believer. The revelation of God's will is in all the scriptures; not just a verse that fits our opinion as to how to deal with a situation at the moment. This is more than one's personality having a bent toward God and religion. This is the result of God's love being in us and shown to others through us. Love is in God because God is love. He is the source of love in us, and the evidence of that love is that we are in Christ. It is God's intention that our lives should be conducted as the Lord lived His life when He was here on earth in the flesh.
This does not mean that we need disciples following us and we must do miracles as a test of our salvation by grace. Copying the life of Christ is simply seeking to do what He said, "I do always those things that please the Father." Faith, obedience and service to others was what people saw in our Lord when He was here. What I think, what I do, how I love others and live life should testify in some way that I am a true child of God. This is evidence of one who is "abiding in Christ."
I have a moral responsibility as a child of God to conduct all I do in a way that is consistent with the mind of God. My mind must be like His, so I am to "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." Whatever I do in word or deed should be done "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." People should be able to know I am a disciple of Christ because "by this shall all men know ye are My disciples if (since) ye love one another," and that kind of life is seen to be real.
Our Lord Jesus Christ brought delight to God by who He is and what He did while walking as a man among people like us. His walk, His ways, His words, His character were all perfect as a man. It is this that give us the template of the holy walk God desires of all His children. Our humanity is certainly not perfect, but this we "ought" to do. Walk as children of light who know our Lord and do what He says. When we do that, the love of God will not be some light-hearted comment that is so common today - "Love you !!" - and then is forgotten. That maturing process will be evident as God's love is seen through us and Christ-likeness is seen in our frail humanity.