How can we ensure our actions reflect true knowledge of God and Jesus? Knowing God versus Mere Information – John 16:3: “They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.” – Jesus ties ignorance of God to harmful behavior; genuine knowledge produces godly action. – Compare John 17:3: eternal life is “that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ.” Spotting Counterfeits – Intellectual facts without relationship lead to persecution, hypocrisy, or indifference (John 16:2–3). – 1 John 4:20 warns that claiming to love God yet hating people is a lie. – Matthew 7:21–23 shows zeal without obedience ending in “I never knew you.” Anchor Yourself in Scripture – Daily, plain reading and literal trust in God’s Word forms the mind of Christ (2 Timothy 3:16–17). – Let Scripture correct impulses before they become deeds (Psalm 119:11). – Memorize passages like John 15:5–10 to keep obedience and abiding inseparable. Obedience: The Proof of Knowledge – 1 John 2:3–6: “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” – Evaluate choices: • Does this align with Christ’s explicit commands? • Would doing the opposite grieve the Spirit? Walk in the Spirit, Not the Flesh – Galatians 5:16–25: Flesh yields “hatred, strife,” while the Spirit bears “love, joy, peace.” – Ask: Which list resembles my week? Adjust immediately when flesh appears. Pursue Christlike Love – John 13:34–35: visible love marks true disciples. – Practical steps: • Initiate reconciliation quickly (Matthew 5:23–24). • Serve quietly (Matthew 6:1–4), expecting nothing back. Guard Motives Through Regular Self-Examination – Psalm 139:23–24 invites God to search hidden motives. – James 1:22–25 likens ignoring Scripture to forgetting one’s face in a mirror; honest self-review prevents that. Stay in Biblical Fellowship – Hebrews 10:24–25: mutual encouragement stirs love and good works. – Accountability partners help align private actions with professed faith (Proverbs 27:17). Live Ready for His Return – 1 John 3:2–3: hope of seeing Christ purifies behavior now. – Titus 2:11–14: grace trains us to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives… while we wait.” Saturate mind and heart with the living Word, walk yielded to the Spirit, obey what you already know, and love tangibly; then actions will consistently reveal genuine knowledge of the Father and the Son. |
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