Know God? Love Your Neighbor!

“Know God? Love Your Neighbor”
1 John 2:3-11 (John 14:12-24)

Introduction

· Muslim Extremists vs. British Soldier
· The Most Hardened Heart Can be Converted & Saved
· We Give Evidence of knowing Christ & Abiding in Him
· Two Truths to Keep in Mind

I. What it Means to Know God (vs. 3-5)

A. Knowing God – Keep His Commandments (v. 3)
· True Knowledge of God vs. Phantom Knowledge (Calvin)
· “We Know That We Know Him” (2 Cor. 4:6)
· Knowing God Gives Us a Desire to “Keep His Commandments” (Ezek. 36:27)

B. Cannot Know God, if Commandments not Kept (v.4)
· The Spiritual Lie Detector

C. The Love of God is Perfected in him, Who Keeps the Word of God (v. 5)
· “Perfected” – Perfect Tense/Passive Voice (John 14:21, 23)

II. What Does it Mean to be in Christ (vs. 6-11)

A. A New/Old Commandment (vs. 6-8; Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:37-39; John 13:34-35)

B. Hate Your Brother – Still in Darkness (v. 9, 11)
· Abides in Darkness; Never had the Light (v. 9)
· Walks in Darkness; Doesn’t Know Going Down Path of Destruction (v. 11; 2 Cor. 4:3-4, 6)

Conclusion and Application

· Desire to Keep the Word of God; His Commandments
· Love as God Has Loved Us
Let Your Light so Shine (Matt. 5:16)