3 Tests

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Introduction

I grew up going to children's church on Sundays. Sometimes we would sing songs. One song, in particular, went like this. "If you're saved and you know it, clap your hands, stomp your feet, or say amen. If you're saved and you know it then your life will surely show it." John gives us three tests that you should pass if you claim to be a Christian. They are the test of obedience, the test of imitation of Christ, and the test of love.

John wrote this letter to believers under the influence of false teachers and deceptive individuals. Gnostic teachers had the potential to gather Christians away from the gospel. Gnosticism was not a formal movement but a general tendency to emphasize greater spirituality through special knowledge, often in the form of special gatherings, teachers, and insight. John counteracted this erroneous teaching by affirming the sufficiency of Christ and simple obedience to God. As we will see, those who failed to pass the simple tests proved that they were not following God as they assumed.

Like an infection in the Christian community, this virus urged that the pathway of salvation did not depend on freedom from sin, but rather freedom from ignorance. If esoteric mysticism opened the way to God, then other mundane matters, such as earthly obedience and morality, could easily be swept aside.

Gary M. Burge

Test of Obedience

John affirms that God has given commandments for us to follow. These commands are not optional but mandatory. As Creator, God has the right to call us to obey any command He desires. We can be assured that any command God gives is for our benefit and blessing. Psalm 19:7-11

Psalm 19:7–11 ESV

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

In the Bible, the commands are not good in themselves but good because they come from a good God. And unlike our human laws, God's law is eternally good.

The first test of being a believer is to have a desire to keep God's commandments. How does one come to know God's commandments? We come to know God's commands through scripture. God is faithful to let us know what He requires of His people. Notice that this test examines the motivation of the heart. We recognize that we fail to fully obey God at times, so we must repent. But at the center of this test is the commitment to keep growing in obedience to the Savior. John walked and talked with Jesus. And all he says in this letter comes from the words of the Savior. John 15:10-11

John 15:10–11 ESV

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

How do you feel about the commands of God? Do you struggle with certain ones? The evidence of a changed heart is a change in desire toward pleasing God in all things.

The Test of Imitation

Have you heard the saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?” It implies that when a person imitates those they admire. The term "Christian" is found in Acts 11:26. This was how people in Antioch described the early believers. They were like "little Christs". The name they gave was not a compliment but a way to describe how these people were committed to following Christ that they resembled their master.

John posts the test. "If someone says they abide, live in Christ, they are a Christian, then that person ought to strive to imitate Christ." How did Christ live life on the earth? He lived in perfect obedience to the Law of God. His sinless life and sacrifice on the cross secured our salvation from sin. And if Christ lived in obedience, we should do the same. If we don't, have we really understood what it means to be in Christ? 1 Corinthians 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

The test of brotherly love

From the beginning of time, God has always intended for us to live in peace with Himself and with others. That relationship is disrupted and broken because of our sin and sinful nature. We are naturally lawbreakers. God is steadfast in his commands even though we fail to keep them. God’s commands are meant to be life-giving. John introduces the third test by reminding the “beloved” of God’s commands. John has a particular command in mind. It is the command to love those within the spiritual community. Listen carefully how God expected His people to treat each other. Leviticus 19:17-18

Leviticus 19:17–18 ESV

17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

This command to not hate is both an old commandment and a new one. It is new in that it is completed in the life of Jesus Christ. In Christ, the wrath of God toward our sin is removed. Jesus gave his life for sinners so that those who believe will receive the gracious love of God. And he calls believers to love as He does. John 13:34

John 13:34 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

But some people were willing to ignore this command. John could not let them off the hook. If they chose to hate those within the community of Christ, then they failed the test and were living in darkness. Their hatred formed spiritual blindness and prevented them from truly growing in Christ.

Passing the Tests Today

Each test may be a challenge for us. Some may struggle with recognizing the authority of God and his word. This is a real struggle that the younger generation will have to combat. The public education system and the majority of higher education do not support the idea of God and the Bible as the authority for all things and all time. I encourage parents to teach and live the example of a high view of God’s word for your children. They will learn from you how to value God’s word.

For some the challenge will be to let the transforming power of the Gospel change us from the inside out. Our life in Christ has a transformative quality. If we are saved, then we have come to a new life, and the old life has passed away. But our past desires and temptations may occasionally influence our life. For example, we may long for the guilt-free life we had before we chose to obey God’s commands. Then, it was much easier to sin and not ask forgiveness because we had no commitment to Christ. But now that we have the Holy Spirit within us, He will convict us and remind us that we must repent and return back to God’s ways.

Lastly, for some, the challenge will be to love those within the body of Christ. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to hear of a church erupting into hatred and division. Some have done so over the smallest things. I remember hearing stories of two deacons disagreeing over a building project that resulted in the two men stepping outside, ready to start punching each other. What a tragedy to make something out of a minor situation. We may want to blame those who seem strong-willed as the cause of hatred. But hatred also occurs in the heart of those who are deeply injured or fearful. So how should we approach the challenge of loving each other?

Matthew 18 gives us the two guiding principles.

Approach with Honesty and Grace

Approach the situation by first dealing directly with the individual to explain how you feel and to get clarification. Many issues are just misunderstandings or a failure to communicate. The majority of hate issues could be quickly eliminated if we would prayerfully approach another person privately in love and grace. Instead we may wish to build a coalition of support and then approach the individual, but this is not God’s plan. But what if you do this and nothing improves or is resolved? If the attempt to resolve is not successful at first, God encourages the effort to try again with wise and faithful believers to help the situation. And if the person refuses to address or correct the situation, then one is left with the conclusion they are not dealing with a fellow Christian but someone who remains an unbeliever.

Keep the door of forgiveness open

Peter attempted to ask Jesus how many times one should forgive a brother. He offered a generous number of seven times, but Jesus replied with a greater number, seventy-seven times. This is the principle of keeping the hope that forgiveness is still possible for the broken relationships between Christians. And Jesus places the task upon the injured person to keep a heart open toward forgiveness. The cost of forgiveness affects more than just the one who needs forgiveness. It greatly affects the one who is to give it. For if we withhold forgiveness, we store up unforgiveness toward ourselves. We must never forget how great a debt of forgiveness God has canceled for us. We must in turn, act in mercy toward our Christian family.

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