But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:5 (NKJV)
In the words of Apostle John, the proof that we are in God and that His love is perfected in us is found in our keeping of His commands. This must, however, be distinguished from being in Him because we are doing His commands. We are in Him because of our faith in Christ, but the only proof that we are truly in Him is that we keep His commands. We keep the commands of God because we are in Him. In other words, what we do with the commands of God verifies or annuls our claim of being in Him. If we say that we are in Him and live in constant violation of His commands, then we can be sure that we have only deceived ourselves because our lifestyle is not consistent with our profession. Those who are in Him keep His commands.
This is how what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 can make grace sense. "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." Since we already know that doing the commands of God shows that we are in Him, we can then understand that if we are not doing the commands of God, it is evidence that we are not in Him. Again, it should be noted that it is not doing the commands of God that brings us into Him, but having faith in Christ. In the words of the apostle John, "by this we know that we are in Him, that we keep His commands." Apostle Paul was emphatic when he said in Titus 1:16, "They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." Obedience is the proof of our claim of being in Him because those who are in Him walk in obedience.
Toni
In the words of Apostle John, the proof that we are in God and that His love is perfected in us is found in our keeping of His commands. This must, however, be distinguished from being in Him because we are doing His commands. We are in Him because of our faith in Christ, but the only proof that we are truly in Him is that we keep His commands. We keep the commands of God because we are in Him. In other words, what we do with the commands of God verifies or annuls our claim of being in Him. If we say that we are in Him and live in constant violation of His commands, then we can be sure that we have only deceived ourselves because our lifestyle is not consistent with our profession. Those who are in Him keep His commands.
This is how what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 can make grace sense. "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." Since we already know that doing the commands of God shows that we are in Him, we can then understand that if we are not doing the commands of God, it is evidence that we are not in Him. Again, it should be noted that it is not doing the commands of God that brings us into Him, but having faith in Christ. In the words of the apostle John, "by this we know that we are in Him, that we keep His commands." Apostle Paul was emphatic when he said in Titus 1:16, "They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." Obedience is the proof of our claim of being in Him because those who are in Him walk in obedience.
Toni
