Knowing That We Know Him

1 John 2:3-6
“And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.”

“Christians are people who know what they know.

As natural human beings we want assurance. We want to be certain of things in this life and world. The New Testament comes and offers us this blessed assurance. There is something in us, as a result of sin, that objects to this though. Do not feel it is presumption. Do not show mock modesty and say “who am I to presume to say that I know Him? He is so utterly and absolutely holy and I am so aware of my own sinfulness.

What are we to know?

Firstly we are to know the Lord Jesus Christ. He does not say we are to know certain things about Him, but rather to know Him – there is an intimacy about it, a knowledge in a special sense, a personal acquaintance.

The second thing we are to know is that we are in Him. ‘He that says he abides in Him, ought also to walk in Him, just as He walked’ (vs. 6). We are to be aware of a union with Him. The union of the believer with Christ. Also, ‘we know that we are in Him if we keep His commandments’ (vs. 3). Love always manifests itself by doing what the object of the love desires.