Bulletin
We Can Know That We Know God
Late in life, the apostle John had to combat the false teaching of the Gnostics, people who claimed to be the “knowing ones”, but whose supposed “knowledge” was nothing more than human speculations instead of divine revelation. Their assertion that Christ never really came in the flesh was especially egregious. John and the other apostles had lived with Jesus for three years, so he knew first-hand that the Gnostics were delusional. John opened his first epistle by emphasizing that he had heard and seen and touched and handled the body of Jesus and that His physical presence was no illusion.
In 1 John, the apostle tells us of several things we can know, not because we have listened to human philosophers, but because those things were revealed to us through men inspired by the Holy Spirit. In our last article, we noticed that false teachers are a problem in every age but that we can know that they are false by comparing their doctrines to the teachings of the inspired Scriptures.
In chapter 2, John outlines the key to our confidence that we know Christ, or that we are in a right relationship with Him. “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:3-6). Being in a right relationship with Christ involves establishing that relationship in the first place, obeying His commands and following His example.
Paul wrote, “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). The first step is to get into Christ where every spiritual blessing is found (Ephesians 1:3).
Secondly, John tells us that a person who claims to know Christ but fails to submit to His commands is a liar. Jesus asks them, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). I cannot earn anything with works, but I certainly can disqualify myself by rejecting the Lordship of Christ in my life.
Finally, John emphasizes the importance of following the example that Jesus left when He lived among us. If I truly know Him, my life will be characterized by His love, compassion, humility, purity, service and sacrifice on behalf of others (Philippians 2:5-8).
Your behavior is key to knowing Christ. Anyone who tells you otherwise is peddling “false knowledge”.
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