We Can Know
I have met so many people over the years who lack an assurance of their salvation. They "hope" they are saved. They "think" they are saved. They "have done" what is needed to be saved, but they are still not certain they are saved. It seems to me that John, the apostle, wrote I John for the purpose of making sure people knew for sure they were saved or not saved. The book is full of ways to know that we know. I John 2:3,4 makes it very clear.
If we keep His commandments, we know we know Him. This is not salvation by works. It is assurance of salvation because of works. Let me explain it this way. It is impossible for a non-Christian to keep God's commandments, because we have to be empowered and led by the Spirit to do them. Therefore, if we keep His commandments, we must know Him, and He must have given us His Spirit.
Also, the opposite is true. If we say, "I know Him," but we do not keep His commandments, we are lying. Jesus, the Truth, is not in anyone who does not keep His commandments. Does this mean every believer is perfect. Don't make it difficult. It is evident to us, if we are not keeping His commandments. We know if we are not praying, reading the Word, assembling for worship and fellowship, loving our fellow believers, and confessing Him to the world. We know if we want to do those things, or we are just trying to do them to please Him and go to heaven. If keeping the commandments out of love for Jesus is not the focus of our lives, so that we grow to be more like Him and show Him to others, we are liars to say we know Him.
Do you know that you know Him? If not, make sure you trust Him today? You will be amazed at the change in your life, when you are born again by grace through faith in Christ, and you start living out His commands by the leadership and power of the Spirit. It is the only way to live!
Tomorrow, I intend to read I John 4-5 and II John.
If we keep His commandments, we know we know Him. This is not salvation by works. It is assurance of salvation because of works. Let me explain it this way. It is impossible for a non-Christian to keep God's commandments, because we have to be empowered and led by the Spirit to do them. Therefore, if we keep His commandments, we must know Him, and He must have given us His Spirit.
Also, the opposite is true. If we say, "I know Him," but we do not keep His commandments, we are lying. Jesus, the Truth, is not in anyone who does not keep His commandments. Does this mean every believer is perfect. Don't make it difficult. It is evident to us, if we are not keeping His commandments. We know if we are not praying, reading the Word, assembling for worship and fellowship, loving our fellow believers, and confessing Him to the world. We know if we want to do those things, or we are just trying to do them to please Him and go to heaven. If keeping the commandments out of love for Jesus is not the focus of our lives, so that we grow to be more like Him and show Him to others, we are liars to say we know Him.
Do you know that you know Him? If not, make sure you trust Him today? You will be amazed at the change in your life, when you are born again by grace through faith in Christ, and you start living out His commands by the leadership and power of the Spirit. It is the only way to live!
Tomorrow, I intend to read I John 4-5 and II John.