Bible Reading: 1 John 2:1-8 KJV
- 1 John 2:3 KJV
Do you keep God's commandments? 1 John 2:3 tells us, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." The Greek word translated "keep" in verse 3 speaks of watchful, careful, thoughtful obedience. It involves not only the act of obedience, but also the spirit of obedience--a willing, habitual safeguarding of the Word, not just in letter but in spirit.
When you look at the commandments of God and the people that followed through as God commanded them, one stands out as both exceptional and remarkable. Consider the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was very old and without children, then God told him that he will have a son, even though his wife's body could no longer bear children (Genesis 18:10-11).
Then after waiting years before the child is finally born, and grows up some, God commands Abraham to, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." (Genesis 22:2). Abraham did not argue with God, but did as he was told (Genesis 22:3). At the last possible moment, God stops Abraham from killing Isaac (Genesis 22:11-12).
Jesus tells us in John 14:15 that "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Keeping the commands of God is a test of your love for Him. 1 John 5:3c tells us that "...his commandments are not grievous." Simply put God expects us to keep his commandments. If you do not keep God's commandments, then there was no salvation - you are not part of the saved few.
