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1 John 2:3 - What It Means To Know God.

1 John 2:3 - What It Means To Know God.

1 John 2:3 (NIV) We know that we have come to know him if we 
obey his commands. 

The common word used for the intimate relationship between 
husband and wife is the word KNOW.  The same word is used for the 
relationship between the individual and God.  The word means more than mere 
knowledge ABOUT a person, but a profound relationship WITH another. 
Teachers Adult SS Lesson 11/26/92 

  How do we find God and grow in him?  Jesus was adamant at this 
point.  He says we must do what he says.  We must put into practical 
obedience the knowledge that we have.  He continually asked people to drop 
their nets, to sell all they had and to follow him. 
  We might say that Jesus had a theology of obedience.  And the 
object of this obedience was a living person, not a historical norm, 
not a code of laws, but himself.  He called people to be accountable 
to God whether they were believers or skeptics who were searching.  
For example, he told his disciples, "What is the point of calling 
me, 'Lord, Lord,' without doing what I tell you to do?" (Luk.6:46 
Phi)... 
  Jesus knew that obedience to his and his Father's words 
yielded faith ... If I had to sum up one's response to the gospel 
message, I would say as William Pannell has said, "It's paint - or get 
off the ladder."  Jesus approached people exactly like that.  He 
told them to pick up their brush and paint something.  [Rebecca 
Pippert; Time with God devotional SB] 

Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the 
commandments that proves the sincerity of our professions of love. When the 
doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from 
defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of 
God. When benevolence, kindness, tenderheartedness, sympathy, are 
manifest in our lives; when the joy of right doing is in our hearts; when 
we exalt Christ, and not self, we may know that our faith is of the 
right order. "Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His 
commandments." 1 John 2:3.  MB146, 7 

  Following Jesus means living as Jesus did. How do we do that? 
John was pretty clear. For him, it came down to obedience. If we love 
God, then we obey him. While that can sound a little cut and dried, 
there is something wonderful in knowing that each act of obedience has 
meaning. Even the most unnoticed act--the honest claim on our tax return, 
the extra twenty dollars we return to the bank teller who mistakenly 
gave us too much cash, the act of kindness that no one saw, the 
forgiveness we find in our heart for someone who absentmindedly wounded 
us--can be a meaningful expression of love for God.  
  Obeying God isn't about keeping rules; it's about honoring 
your relationship with him. It's about understanding that God is the 
source of any light and life in your existence. When you show your love 
for God by your obedience, you are following Jesus--living as he 
lived. [The One Year Bible for New Believers re 1Jo.2:3-6] 

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/

Excellent Sermon Resource Site:
http://www.pmchurch.tv/

Another Excellent Sermon Resource Site:
http://www.lluc.org/podcastlist.php

More Spiritual Resources:
http://www.aBible.com