Do You Know If You Know Him?

 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

I John 2:3

  Oh how great a thing is it to be able to really know the God of the universe! Not only to say we know He exist or that we've heard of Him, but that we know Him personally. Is this just simply knowing His actions throughout the course of our history, or is it something far greater? Thankfully, knowing God is not hidden in some complex algorithm, a scheme of events, or incantations that must be achieved in methodical fashion. Knowing God is really quite simple. However, it is impossible for the unconverted person to know Him. This is because to know God is to know that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son and is the propitiation for the Lord's saints. Without believing the gospel it is impossible to know God and have fellowship with Him.

And there is a way that we know who knows Him. Those who keep His commandments are those who have fellowship with Him. Not that the mere acts themselves grant fellowship or knowledge, but that those who are redeemed from sin, and the wrath of God upon their sins, desire to obey Jesus because His commandments are light in the darkness of sin.

It is true that our flesh at times lusts against us to do sinful things we would not do. But the Christian earnestly desires to please his Savior by obedience because it shows we belong to Him. Praise God! it is He who changes our hearts that we desire to obey and to grow closer to Him! It is He who grants us the sweetness of His fellowship and knowledge of His saving grace when after we look to Him we obey Him. 

Consider yourselves in the light of this short, simple, yet glorious verse. Do you desire to obey Jesus? Or is it a grievous thing for you to follow after Him and abandon sin. If you love the things of this world then it is likely you hate the things of God. You love darkness and not light and therefore you'll find yourself in eternal Hell if you do not believe the gospel. But if Jesus is precious to you; if He is your desire then take comfort that He has overcome the world for you. If His commandments are wonderful to you then praise the name of Jesus Christ the righteous and know that you know Him!

Consider also: Matthew 7:15-27; John 3:14-21; John 14:6,7,15; John 17:1-3