Sure of a Relationship • 1 John 2:3-11, 15-17
By Laura Lee Leathers
One of the prerequisites for entrance into college is taking the ACT test that covers four core areas: English, math, reading, and science. A writing section is optional. Scholarships are granted based on a score of 21 and above. Many students attend workshops, take pre-tests, and even retake the exam in hopes of increasing their score.
Every day, Christians also take a test. It’s called the HIL (How I Live) test. There are five biblical components of that in the Epistles of John: faith, life, love, growth, and sin. Unlike the ACT, there are no pre-exams or retakes.
As a believer daily walks with Jesus, their actions reflect these five areas. How we live should reflect the Light that is Jesus, in our willingness to obey and love Him. The other option is darkness, which is how the world lives in opposition to a personal relationship with Christ.
Walk in obedience to God’s commands (1 John 2:3-6). Why did God create humanity? To have a loving relationship with us, to know Him, and to make Him known. How do we know Him? By keeping His commandments. How do we know His commandments? By studying the Bible and applying it to our lives.
God gave Adam and Eve a commandment and they disobeyed. In Genesis 3:23-24, we read the result of their disobedience. In God’s plan, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). That one Man’s obedience was Jesus on the cross, fulfilling God’s plan for the salvation of mankind.
What am I to obey? Start with the Ten Commandments, the moral content of God’s law. Then, move to the New Testament. Jesus repeats four of the commandments in Mark 10:17-19. The Apostle Paul also referenced them in his writings.
The website, https://www.gotquestions.org/, puts it this way: “While it is true that Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf (see Matthew 5:17), the New Testament is clear that believers should not violate God’s moral law because of their standing in grace (Romans 6:15).”
Jesus set the example of obedience. He was totally dependent and fully submissive to His Father (John 5:19; 5:30; 8:29; 15:4, 5, 7). When believers say they know Him, it means they keep His commandments and are deeply grieved when they don’t. Obedience can only be done through Christ’s grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This is how we walk, just as He walked (v. 6).
Walk in the Light, so that you don’t go blind (1 John 2:7-11). In this passage, John is asking his readers to evaluate how they love God and others. Our love for God is centered on thinking about Him, reading the Bible, prayer, and obedience. Our love for God is demonstrated when we spend time in His presence.
God said, “Love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:4). In his sermon titled, God is Love, David Jeremiah (https://davidjeremiah.blog/about/) points out, “God’s love is uncaused, unreasonable, unending, unlimited, unchanging, and uncomplicated.” Because we are in Christ, He gives us the ability to strive to love as He loves.
Jesus said we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind: “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35; Matthew 22:37-39).
Because Christ is the Light and He is in us, we reflect His Light by loving our brothers (vv. 9-11). If we don’t, we walk in darkness and our eyes are blinded to His truth.
Walk in the will of God, not the ways of the world (1John 2:15-17). “Be different” is the theme of a believer’s life. We are not to love the things of this world. John says this is the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life.
This world is not our home. We are to love the things of God’s kingdom and invest in matters that relate to eternity, souls being saved, and discipleship. John is calling us to examine ourselves and our choices. Are you abiding in God?
Andrew Murray [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Murray_(minister)] wrote in his book, The Blessings of Obedience: “If you hope to lead a different life, to become a man or a woman who exhibits Christlike obedience, begin by asking God for the Holy Spirit of conviction to show you all your disobedience. He will lead you, in humble confession, to the cleansing God has provided. Do not rest until you have received it.”
Be sure of your relationship with Jesus. One day, God will give us our HIL score!
Leathers is a member of First Church, Lexington. She may be contacted at laura.l.leathers@gmail.com.
