“One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him.”

If we are not walking with God and living an obedient Christian life, then we are not really Christians at all. If we say we know God, but do not obey, we are termed liars. It is strong language with a stronger sentiment behind it. The truth of God is not in us. The Lord Jesus called Himself “the Truth” and without Him, our so-called faith is not real. We must truly know Him and seek to be like Him in all our ways and lay hold on the comfort of His Word in times or trouble.

This verse links with the previous verse, where knowing God depends on keeping His commandments. We might know the commandments, but if we do not keep them, or strive to keep them, we are not truly the Lords. Obedience is the key, as it was for Jesus who did nothing outside the will of His Father and fulfilled the whole law of God on our behalf. Because of the righteous life of Christ, we are set free from our unrighteousness and made right with God.

When we fail in our living, to keep the commands, we have an advocate with the Father, who has died for us and holds the keys of forgiveness in His hands. When we come to Him when we fall and fail, He is ever ready to forgive us. We must turn from our sin and put it away from us completely. We must not presume on forgiveness, but seek to live holy lives to God. The honour of God should come first in all our thinking and doing and to put His holy considerations above our own desires is paramount.

This is impossible to do without the power of the Holy Spirit in our life. Without the power of God, we are powerless to subdue the sinful urges within us and the fleshly desires that war against the Spirit. We must not give ourselves to the fleshly desires of our minds but commit all our behaviour to the Lord.

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.”

Galatians 5:17

The Lord will help us and motivate us to be obedient children, that we might know Him better and love Him truly. Then we can truthfully say “I know Him…”