By this we know that we know Him

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (1 John 2:3-6)


This is such a simple passage. John gave his readers (and us) a test to see if we know God, and to know if others know God. The criteria? Do you keep God's commandments or not? Those who are God's will keep His commandments, and those who do not keep His commandments are not His.


Our salvation is more than saying a prayer and having your eternal destiny worked out for you because of it. Our salvation is from death, from our sins, and from the wrath of God. Should we not live accordingly?


Or, because grace abounds with sin, should we continue in sin knowing that by God's grace we remain saved, and that by our sin God's grace can increase even more?


"Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?"


I recognize that was a nonsense question. Of course those who are God's should live a life fitting of their profession and calling. There are very few who would contest it.


So why do not more live it out? Those who do not keep God's commandments can have no assurance of salvation, after all. If they say they are His, yet their lives do not reflect it (they hold on to their wrath, their lies, their sexual immorality, just to name three), then they do not truly know God. Rather, they deceive themselves and their danger is the greater, because they do not know that they do not know God.