Welcome back to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Monday at 12:00 PM Eastern.
We are now on Lesson 22 and we’re going to study 1 John 2:3.
But first, let’s review what we learned from 1 John 2:2 in Lesson 21.
Let’s read the verse.
1 John 2:2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Here’s what we learned:
An atoning sacrifice is necessary to appease and satisfy the wrath of God, leading to reconciliation between God and humanity.
God's wrath is a reflection of His holy and just nature. He does not tolerate sin and is fully committed to upholding righteousness.
God, in His great love and mercy, has graciously provided Jesus as the only means through which His wrath can be satisfied and people can be reconciled to Him.
The significance of Jesus' sacrifice is not restricted to a particular group of individuals; rather, it applies to all people, irrespective of their nationality, tribe, ethnicity, or background.
The atoning sacrifice does not guarantee automatic forgiveness of sins for everyone, but it opens up the possibility of forgiveness. To receive salvation, you must believe that Jesus died for you and rose from the dead and repent of your sins.
In Lesson 22 we will learn how we can know with certainty that we have a deep, personal relationship with Jesus.
Let’s read our verse:
1 John 2:3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
Let's focus on the first part of the verse: By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him.
By this we can be sure means to know with certainty, especially through personal experience.
that we have come to know Him means to understand Him intimately and to be deeply acquainted with Him. (Amplified)
Him is speaking about Jesus.
There is a significant distinction between having knowledge about Jesus and truly knowing Him intimately, relationally, and experientially.
This kind of knowing involves personally walking with Jesus, obeying His commands, and aligning your life with His will.
While many people are familiar with the name of Jesus and have encountered images or representations of Him on the cross, this doesn't necessarily mean that they have a deep, personal, or experiential knowledge of Him.
Jesus desires for us to know Him deeply and to cultivate an abiding relationship with Him for eternity.
In John 17:3, we read that eternal life is not just about life after death for eternity, but it’s about knowing God.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
Now let's focus on the final part of the verse: if we keep His commandments.
“Keep” means to guard, maintain, to spiritually watch over, keep intact, observe, express watchful care, or hold fast.
Keeping His commands is like a guard continually watching over and protecting His commandments.
Remember, the enemy and your sinful nature are seeking to destroy you by tempting you to break Jesus' commands and not follow what He is commanding you to do.
Be like a guard of His commandments. A guard is attentive, meticulous, and tirelessly watches for the enemy's attacks.
This verse serves as a test to determine whether or not you have come to know Jesus personally.
Simply examine your life and ask yourself if you are keeping His commandments in this way.
Keeping Jesus' commandments demonstrates that a person's faith is genuine, rather than just a mere claim.
There is a direct link between knowing Jesus and keeping His commandments.
If we truly love Jesus, we will naturally desire to keep His commandments.
When someone is in fellowship with Jesus, they will walk in the light, which consists of spending time in the Word and obeying His commandments. In Lesson 16 we learned about walking in the light.
Keeping His commandments gives us assurance that we truly know Jesus.
By keeping His commandments, we reflect our belief in Him.
Evaluate your life to determine whether or not you are keeping Jesus’ commandments.
This verse however, doesn’t mean that you don’t know Jesus unless you are 100% perfectly keeping His commandments.
God understands that we all sin, but if we are genuinely following Jesus, we will turn away from our sins and strive to keep His commands more and more.
It means that we are continually confessing our sins, like we learned about in 1 John 1:9 from Lesson 18 and repenting of our sins.
We learned in 1 John 2:1 from Lesson 20 that the goal is to not sin, but remember we have an advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous One, before the father if we do sin.
Let's read some verses where Jesus speaks about keeping His commandments.
John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:21 Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
In conclusion, here’s what we learned from lesson 22.
There is a significant distinction between having knowledge about Jesus and truly knowing Him intimately, relationally, and experientially.
Jesus desires for us to know Him deeply and to cultivate an abiding relationship with Him.
Keeping His commandments is like a guard continually watching over and protecting Jesus’ commandments.
Keeping His commands gives us assurance that we truly know Jesus.
By keeping His commandments, we reflect our belief in Him.
Let’s read today’s verse one more time.
1 John 2:3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
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Listen to these lessons over and over again. Let God’s Word penetrate you deeply, do what God is asking, and help others obey His will.
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Thank you and God bless you!
~ Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash. Berean Study Bible.)
Lesson 22 - 1 John 2:3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.