“The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
1 John 2:4-6 (NASB)
Abiding in the presence of Christ will cause us not only to think differently but it will cause us to act differently. The true test of knowing Christ is not that we have made a profession of faith in the past, it is that we are walking in obedience to Him in the present. We cannot expect that we will be perfect but there should be a progressive growth in holiness and maturity as we are being sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit. God has purposed that every believer be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18). By abiding in Christ we can join with Him in our sanctification.
Questions for application…
What are some marks of a Christian walk presented in this passage?
What does the Bible say about a person who claims to know Christ but does not obey Him?
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