Lesson 7

“Will you trust Me?”

The Challenge of living the FAITH-REST LIFE

 

Review/Intro:

 

 

 

 

Rabbit trail

1 John 2:3-17  Reflecting the Light, Evidence to look for

The fact that God is light without any trace of darkness in His nature (1:5) is fundamental to any clear understanding of the nature of the Christian life since we are to walk in the light as He is in the light.

 

 

In 2:3-17 John points out four signs that give evidence that fellowship with God is being maintained.

#1 the sign of obedience (vv. 3-5a) 

#2 the sign of imitation (vv. 5b-6).

#3 the sign of love (vv. 7-11)

#4 the sign of separation from the world (vv. 12-17).

 

 

1. The Sign of Obedience (vv. 3-5a)

Verse 3 states the assurance that we derive from being obedient;

verse 4 states the conclusion that must be drawn from the absence of obedience;

verse 5a concludes the discussion with a declaration concerning the assured result of obedience.

 

 

a. The assurance from obedience (v.3).

"by this we know that we have come to know Him"  

 

 

The plural "His commandments" points to the various commands, or specific precepts, whereby God has made known His will for us.

 

 

 

"There is only one way of proving to ourselves that we know God, and that is by loving obedience to His will." 

 

Such a keeping of God's commands is not legalism but a voluntary response to our relationship with Him.

 

b. What is the situation if there is an absence of obedience (v.4)?

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;

 

 

The claim he advances is given in his very words, "I know him" ("I have come to know him"),  the implication of what he's saying is that I have an abiding fellowship with God; i.e.  I'm walking in the light!

 

 

There is a sharp contradiction between his profession, what he says is the ongoing situation and the reality of his daily life.

 

 

 

 

Truth is not a controlling dynamic in this one's life as it must be in the life of the believer who is in fellowship reflecting the character of Christ.

 

c.  The result of personal obedience (v. 5a).

but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.

 

John characterizes this individual by his practice, his lifestyle,  he "keeps His word." continuous habit of life to keep/guard/protect His Word.

 

 

 

The sure conclusion concerning such a one John says "in him the love of God has truly been perfected ".

 

 

 

The perfect tense does not imply a resultant static relationship but rather that God's love, having at­tained its intended purpose within the believer, continually vitalizes the experience of fellowship in his life.

 

In such an individual it is true that "the love of God" is "perfected" .