Lesson 5 Practical Application of Truth

1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Doubt and fear have no place in the spirit-filled child of God - Because of obedience.
'That we may keep on knowing that we have known Him'. He is NOT telling us how we may know Christ but how we might know that we know Him.

A. What good does it do for others to admire our faith if we are plagued with self-doubt?
B. This is NOT written to convince us of HIS faithfulness - this comes by simply trusting Him -

2 Tim 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day - but as inner proof of our OWN faithfulness. How we can know where we stand
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
This is NOT a question of the salvation of the soul for this would make salvation by works. Paul was saved but still had a desire to know Christ -
Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; This was also his desire for the Ephesian Church.
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. This is the intimate knowing of one through constant companionship.

C. Only IN and through Christ can His commands be kept.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

How others can know that we know that we know Christ! (This is fruit inspection -
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.)

A. There are liars both outside the church and on her rolls!
1. Those outside who attribute their works to His will.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jer 23:16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Jer 23:17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
Jer 23:18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
Jer 23:19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
Jer 23:20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
Jer 23:21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
Jer 23:22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
2. Those on the inside who still refuse to submit to His authority.
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
B. Any spiritual blessing claimed to be experienced by these is, of necessity, counterfeit.
C. These are they who spread 'apostasy' and doubt through their teachings because they can't KNOW Christ continually.

1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

The love of God is brought to full fruition in the one who observes His WORD attentively.
A. By witnessing to lost souls His love for the lost will grow in us.
B. Through study His love for the Truth will become ours. (no truth is precious until we learn it and claim it for our own.)
C. As we honor His church , His love for her becomes ours.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts and fills us with hope. Can you hope for a soul-winner's crown if you have never won a soul? For a "Well done" if you haven't done well?
D. By obeying, we can know that we are continually IN Him. Obedience is required that we may have assurance in salvation and service. ( Don't confuse the assurance with the possession.)
If any man be IN Christ, he is a new creature - - - All things have become new.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Are all professed Christians leading this kind of life? Those who aren't are either lost or this verse is speaking of our 'abiding in Christ'. This is what Jesus teaches in
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. And it is the theme of First John.
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

How we ought to walk
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.


A. If we claim to be Christians then our acts will be attributed to Him and will reflect on Him before the world. (If you are going to act like a Russian, don't wave an American flag; Don't claim to be a Christian unless you are going to act like one.)

B. Even as He walked.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Next week; Getting Down To Specifics