Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, has explained that he is writing so that his Spiritual children will not sin.  But if they do sin, they have an advocate with the Father – Jesus.

1 John 2:3 “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

Observations:  How do we know if we have a relationship with Jesus?  Our obedience.  (Note: Scripture is clear that we cannot be obedient apart from the work of the Spirit in our lives through faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  Scripture is also clear that faithful men who knew Jesus experienced times of disobedience – see Romans 6-7)  John will continue: “Whoever says ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the Truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

Application: I want to walk like Jesus walked today.  I want the words of the song “Trust and Obey” to be my motto.  “Lord, give me courageous and obedient faith!”

By John’s definition, do you know Jesus?