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NASB | 1 John 2:3 ¶ By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 2:3 ¶ And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). |
Bible Question: Is it really that simple? What about 1 John 2:6. It seems John is saying that if we abide in Him then we will/should walk as He walked. Isn't the walk of Jesus walking in all the commands of God? Isn't Jesus God's commands in the flesh? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Asis! Sorry for the delay, I had some family issues that I had to deal with yesterday. Is it really that simple? Yes and no! :-) It is that simple in that John specifically spells out for us what he means by obeying His commands. John is simply spelling out what Jesus Himself said, Love God and love one another. John repeatedly makes clear that obedience to God is to love one another, as Jesus loves us. Consider the following verses: John 13:34 - "‘‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”" John 15:12 - "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:17 - "This is my command: Love each other." 1 John 3:23 - "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." 1 John 4:21 - "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1 John 5:2 - "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome," 2 John 5 - " And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." Now, it is not that simple in that walking in love (or walking like Jesus) means that we will live holy lives - lives that match the demands of the ten commandments. Consider what Jesus said to the Pharisees: Matt. 22:34 - "Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 ‘‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: ”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”" All of the law could be summed up as, "Love God and each other". Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |