In January our church held its annual congregational fast. For 21 days we prayed together, fasted together and meditated on 1 John . Here are my thoughts from those times of devotion in 1 John.
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 JOHN 2:3-6
MEDITATIONAL THOUGHT:
. Keeping God’s commands is the evidence that you truly know Him, not just an intellectual acknowledgment.
MY THOUGHTS:
Here we come to the juxtaposition of thoughts. Salvation is not about the works we do…but knowing Him does depend on the works we do and eternal life is knowing God…therefore salvation is about the works we do? How does that work?
Well Scripture is clear, our salvation does not depend on our good works. You cannot earn salvation. It is a free gift from Jesus to you…but you must receive it…and when you do the gift itself will automatically begin to change what you do and how you do life.
No one who truly knows Jesus stays exactly as they are, because truly knowing Jesus changes a person at the root of their existence. It’s not the change that saves us. It is salvation that changes us.
Lillie-Put 