1 John 2:3-5

DISCOURSE: 2434
THE TRUE TEST OF LOVE TO GOD

1 John 2:3. Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

THERE are many who imagine, that to enforce an observance of God’s commandments, and to insist on obedience as an evidence of our faith, is legal. But the whole tenour of the Gospel shews, that our interest in it must be productive of holiness, since “faith without works is dead.” In fact, there is no certain test whereby to try our faith in Christ, but our obedience to his commands. Of this the Apostle testifies plainly in my text: from whence I shall take occasion to shew,

I. That it is the Christian’s privilege to be fully assured of his acceptance with God—

The generality of persons conceive this to be impossible; and account the very idea to be presumptuous in the extreme. I will readily grant, that there are many who deceive themselves in relation to this matter: but still I cannot admit, that the unfounded confidence of hypocrites is any just ground for concluding that the upright may not know their state before God. Those who deceive themselves do not judge by a right test; and therefore it is that they are deceived: only let any one apply to himself the test which is prescribed in my text, and he need not fear but that the trial shall issue in a clear discovery of his state.
The whole Scriptures attest, that men may “know” their acceptance with God—

[In the Old Testament, David confidently asserts, “O God, thou art my God [Note: Psalms 63:1.].” And the Bride, in the book of Canticles, with equal assurance, exclaims, “My beloved is mine; and I am his [Note: Song of Solomon 2:16.].” Under the New-Testament dispensation this privilege is yet more extensively enjoyed. St. John, writing to the whole Christian Church, says, in the third chapter of this epistle, “We know that we have passed from death unto life:” “We know that we are of the truth, and may assure our hearts before him:” “We know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us [Note: 1 John 3:14; 1 John 3:19; 1 John 3:24.].” In the fourth chapter he renews the same subject; saying, “We know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit [Note: 1 John 4:13.].” And in the last chapter he asserts the same, in a direct contrast with all the world besides: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true: and we are in Him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ [Note: 1 John 5:19.].” Nor is there a real Christian in the universe who is not entitled to say with St. Paul, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me [Note: Galatians 2:20.].”]

The enjoyment of this privilege is at the root of all the believer’s comfort—
[It is in order to the Christian’s enjoyment of this assurance, that the Holy Spirit is given to him as “a Spirit of adoption, that he may cry to God, Abba, Father;” and as “a witness to assure his conscience that he is a child of God [Note: Romans 8:15.].” And it is altogether owing to this internal persuasion of his acceptance with God, that the believer can look forward with confidence to his future state in glory: “We know, that when our earthly house of this tabernacle shall be dissolved, we have an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven; since, being clothed, we shall not be found naked [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:1.].” It is under the same conviction, also, that the Christian, even now in the midst of all his conflicts, is enabled to triumph over all his enemies; assured that none of them, nor all together, “shall ever separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord [Note: Romans 8:34.].”]

Of course, you will all be anxious to know,

II.

How this assurance is to be obtained—

It is not the fruit of any enthusiastic impression or conceit.
I do not deny, but that many “profess that they know God, whilst in works they deny him [Note: Titus 1:16.];” and that it is possible for men so to deceive themselves, as to possess all the confidence of the most established believer: yea, there are not wanting multitudes who carry this delusion with them even to the bar of judgment; and, even in the presence of their Judge, will claim his favour; saying, “Have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name done many wonderful works?” whilst they will only draw upon themselves that damnatory sentence, “Depart from me; I never knew you, ye workers of iniquity [Note: Matthew 7:22.].” If any would attain a scriptural assurance, they must try themselves by the test proposed to them by St. John—the test of their obedience to God’s commands.

This is a suitable way of attaining it—

[How do we judge of a tree, but by its fruits? We should not be satisfied with beholding its foliage, however luxuriant it might be: we should desire to behold, and to taste, the fruit: and by that we should form our estimate of its real worth. In like manner, if a child or servant professed pre-eminent regard for us, we should naturally expect that regard to manifest itself by an observance of our commands. This, then, is the way by which God will judge of us, and by which we also must judge ourselves. Our Lord has plainly told us, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me [Note: John 14:21.]:” and again; “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit [Note: John 15:5.].” Well, therefore, may our Lord accuse us of inconsistency, when we profess ourselves his, without obeying his commandments: “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say [Note: Luke 6:46.]?” We may set this down as an unquestionable truth, that if “Christ be made unto us righteousness, he will be to us sanctification also [Note: 1 Corinthians 1:30.].” And if we say, “There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,” we must never forget the description there given of those persons; namely, that “they walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit [Note: Romans 8:1.].”]

It is also a certain way of attaining it—

[From whence is it that any person is enabled to keep God’s commandments? Our blessed Lord has told us that “without him we can do nothing.” It is by its union with the vine, that a branch bears its fruit: and it is only by union with the Lord Jesus that we also can have a sufficiency for any thing that is good [Note: John 15:4.]. Have we then a clear evidence that we are bringing forth fruit to God? it is manifest that we are united to Christ: or, as my text expresses it, “Hereby know we that we are in him.” From hence, also, we know that we are in favour with God: for, to what end has God loved us, and shed abroad his love in our hearts, but that we might “by that love be constrained to live unto Him who died for us [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:14.].” It is by our obedience that God’s love is perfected in us;” for by that obedience its end is answered, its power is evinced, its operation is augmented: so that, as “by works our faith is made perfect [Note: James 2:22.],” so, by works, God’s love to us, and ours to him, are also perfected. I add yet further, that by obedience our right to heaven is ascertained: for it is written, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city [Note: Revelation 22:14.]. Of course, it is not on the ground of merit that they acquire this right, but solely on the ground of God’s gracious promises to those who believe in Christ. Nevertheless, this evidence is indispensably necessary to the believer; and on the production of that shall his title to heaven be acknowledged [Note: Matthew 7:21.]: for “Christ is the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him [Note: Hebrews 5:9.].”]

Who does not see, in this subject,
1.

The importance of self-examination?

[It is evidently taken for granted, in my text, that some self-deceivers will be found, who will “say, that they know Christ, whilst yet they keep not his commandments.” And what shall I say to them? What can I say more, than what God himself speaks to them in my text, “That they are liars; and that the truth is not in them?” I grant that this sounds harsh; but it is the declaration of our God: and I dare not to soften or conceal what he hath spoken. In many other passages does this loving Apostle use the same language [Note: 1 John 1:6; 1 John 4:20; 1 John 5:10.]; and I entreat you, brethren, to lay it to heart. Be assured, that, whilst you continue under this delusion, “the truth is not in you:” the Gospel has not yet wrought effectually on your hearts, nor are you possessed of real integrity in your souls. No, indeed, you are “liars” and hypocrites, and must take your portion with such characters in the eternal world. Tell me, then, whether it do not become you to “examine yourselves,” and to try your faith [Note: Job 20:4.] by this standard? Do not imagine that the knowledge here spoken of is a speculative acquaintance with divine truth: no; it is such a knowledge as both justifies [Note: Isaiah 53:11.] and sanctifies [Note: John 17:17.] the soul; it is that knowledge in comparison of which St. Paul “accounted all things as dung and dross [Note: Philippians 3:8.].” This is the knowledge which you must possess: and if you will think you have it, whilst your life and conversation give the lie to your profession, your doom is fixed: for thus saith God, by the Prophet Hosea: “Israel saith, my God, we know thee: Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him [Note: Hosea 8:2.]:” yea, “every such person shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the glory of his power, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed in flaming fire to take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ [Note: 2 Thessalonians 1:7.].” I say, then, to every one of you, “Examine whether ye be in the faith, and prove your own selves [Note: 2 Corinthians 13:5.].”]

2. The blessedness of practical Christianity?

[To what a glorious state does true religion raise us! Men in all ages have accounted the Virgin Mother of our Lord blessed, because she was God’s chosen vessel, to bring into the world the Lord of Glory. But I speak not too strongly, if I say, that the practical Christian is yet more highly honoured, and more truly blessed, than she, so far as her external relation to him was concerned: for our Lord, in answer to one who had congratulated her on her distinguished honours, saying, “Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked,” replied, “Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it [Note: Luke 8:20; Luke 11:27.].” True, indeed, such persons may not always possess a full assurance of their interest in Christ: God may, for wise reasons, permit their minds to be agitated with doubts and fears; and Satan may, for a season, greatly harass and distress them. But, whilst they walk in darkness, the Lord will be a light unto them; yea, he has authorized his servants to address them in these encouraging words: “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God [Note: Isaiah 50:10.]. Yes, brethren, if only you are conscientiously endeavouring to approve yourselves to God in a holy and unreserved obedience, you need not fear. This very disposition emanates from God: it is itself a fruit and evidence of his love; and it shall assuredly issue in everlasting felicity: for, as sure as God is true, “light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart [Note: Psalms 97:11.].”]