"And hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments."
1 John 2:3
Part 1
The proof that we know Jesus Christ is not in our religious zeal, or even in how much Bible knowledge we have, although these are important. The evidence that we know Him is in what we do.
“And hereby.”
This word “hereby” is vital to John’s first epistle. The word[1] points us to critical clues about our relationship with Jesus. “Hereby,” “in this,” “herein,” “by this,” are all the same Greek words. These are words that are like spotlights to show us the truth about our relationship to Him. It is an essential exercise for Bible students to trace these words through the Epistle of First John. We need to ask honest questions about our personal relationship with God.
“And hereby we do know…” 1 John 2:3.
“…hereby know we that we are in Him” 1 John 2:5.
“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil” 1 John 3:10.
“Hereby perceive we the love of God…” 1 John 3:16.
“And hereby we know that we are of the truth…” 1 John 3:19.
“…And hereby we know that He abideth in us…” 1 John 3:24.
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God…” 1 John 4:2.
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us…” 1 John 4:9.
“Herein is love…” 1 John 4:10.
“Hereby know we that we dwell in Him…” 1 John 4:13.
“Herein is our love made perfect…” 1 John 4:17.
“By this, we know that we love the children of God…” 1 John 5:2.
In our verse, today, “hereby” points to the last phrase of the verse, “if we keep His commandments.”
“We do know that we know Him.”
What wonderful words! As a pastor, many people have asked, “Can I know for sure that I’m saved?” The short answer is, “YES!” But the answer they are seeking does not come from any church. Neither does it come from any pastor, priest, pope, or counselor. It comes from but one Person, from God Himself in His inspired Word. And it is His Spirit that gives the believer His internal witness.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
What does it mean “to know God?” Tomorrow we will see what we can learn about this. Come back for more.
Quote: “Ye are my friends if ye do the things which I command you” (John 15:14).
[1] The Greek phrase is en toutō. It might be translated in English as “in this,” or “in this one.” Each of its uses seems to open up the truth about our relationship to God and/or others.