We Know

WE have folks in the world who do not know, and do not know that they

do not know. They are to be pitied. We have others who do not know, but

know that they do not know. They should be taught. And then we have others

who know, and they know that they know. They are safe teachers. To them we

should listen. There are many things we can know beyond the peradventure

of a doubt. In this article we direct your attention to a few of those things.

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his

commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his

commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:3,4.) From this

we know two things: first, if we keep God's commandments, we know that we

know him; second, if we say that we know him, but do not keep his

commandments, we are liars. The world is full of "religious" liars. They claim

to know God, but refuse to keep his plainest commandments.

"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:

hereby know we that we are in him." (1 John 2:5.) According to this criterion,

many who think they are in him are not in him.

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we

should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because

it knew him not." (1 John 3:1.) Some seem surprised that the world does not

know us. We should be surprised and alarmed if the world knows us too well.

We are in the world, but we are not of the world. The world knows and loves

its own. Christians are not of the world. They do not engage in worldly things.

The world did not know Christ. Because of this lack of knowledge they

crucified him.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what

we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that

hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3:2, 3.)

We do not know just what we shall be like in that future state, but we shall be

like him! Blessed consummation! Do you have this hope? If so, God says you

will purify yourself. Those who are impure either in word, thought, or deed

do not have this glorious hope. This hope is an anchor of the soul.

"Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have

passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not

his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and

ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:13-15.)

Yes, the world has very little time for the true Christian, and he may be hated.

Do not marvel at this. We know we have passed from death unto life. How do

we know this? Because we love the brethren. Many must not have passed from

death unto life, because they do not love the brethren. They hate their

brethren. They are abiding in death. We can love the brethren without loving

the sins of the brethren; in fact, if we love a brother, we shall try to get him to

correct his sins. This pure love for the brethren prompts us to try to help them

overcome the sins that may hinder. Murderers cannot go to heaven. Brethren

who hate brethren are murderers.

"For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth

all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence

toward God." (1 John 3:20, 21.) Brother, have you done, or are you doing,

things for which your heart condemns you? If so, remember that God is greater

than your heart and that he will condemn you. Do you have that confidence

toward God that comes from a clean, Christian life?

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God,

and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his

commandments: and his commandmentsare not grievous." (1 John 5:2, 3.) We are not left in doubt as to whether we

love the brethren. We love the brethren when we love God and keep his

commandments. God's commandments are not grievous. They can be kept.

They must be kept. In keeping his commandments there is great reward and

great joy.

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing

according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us,

whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of

him." (1 John 5:14, 15.) Real Christians have real confidence in their heavenly

Father. They know that he hears them. They know that he will answer their

prayers. Of course our prayers must be in harmony with his will. When our

earthly children make their requests known to us, we grant the request, if in

harmony with our will. God is anxious to hear us and grant our every request

according to his will. We ought to have enough faith in him to ask him to

withhold anything and everything from us that is not in harmony with his will

and that is not best for us and the ones for whom we pray.

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is

begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." (1

John 5:18.) Those who are born of God do not sin—that is, they do not

habitually sin. It is not physically impossible for them to sin, but it is

incompatible with their profession. The child of God keepeth himself. He

walks according to the commandments of God. While thus doing, the wicked

one toucheth him not.

Thus we have gone through the five short chapters of First John, calling

attention to a few of the many times that the beloved disciple uses the words

"we know." He was old, nearing the century mark. For more than sixty years

he had been a quiet and devoted follower of the Lamb of God. With sixty

years in the service of the Master behind him, he spoke unhesitatingly and

with confidence. His faith abounded more andmore. Thus it is with us. The longer we follow after the Master the stronger

our faith becomes. We know who he is. We know whose we are. And thus we

journey on toward the setting of life's sun. Amen!