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Some things YOU KNOW - 1 John
Some things YOU KNOW - 1 John
John concludes this letter by writing: And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. “Knowing” is a big deal in this letter. John speaks of it nearly 40 times in this little letter.
Jesus said: "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16–20). John picks up this principle and shows that our knowledge of many things is really a matter of fruit inspection. Here are just a few things John says that we as disciples of Jesus know:
"We know that we have come to know HIM - if we keep His commandments" (2:3).
"Whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfect. BY THIS we may know that we are in Him" (2:5).
"We know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers" (3:16).
"By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him" (3:19).
"Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us" (3:24).
"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" (4:2).
"We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (4:6).
"By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit" (4:13).
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments" (5:2).
Fruit: keep His commandments, keep His word, lay down one's life, confesses Jesus came in the flesh, listens to the Apostles, love God, and obey His commandments. What manner of fruits are seen in your life?
Hugh DeLong
