Verses 5-6: But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (ESV)
“But” sets up a contrast between “whoever keeps His word” and the liar who “does not keep His commandments” of verse 4. What is the meaning of John’s subtle distinction which he alludes to concerning ‘keep His commandment’ and ‘keep His word’?
In the previous verse it was noted that by keeping His commandments believers are to obey them, not to merely examine or scrutinize them, but to follow the instructions given. Whereas, to keep His word is much broader in scope, entailing the acquisition and assimilation of all of the information which God has provided the believer in order to navigate this unique spiritual life He has given to us. The Apostle Paul further explains this:
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
God’s Word is our instruction manual, complete with examples, comprising all that we need to walk righteously in the Light and to please our God. Pleasing God should be an ambition for our lives, as it is often encouraged by Paul: 2 Corinthians 5:9; Ephesians 5:10; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and also in Hebrews 13:21 and 1 John 3:22. Our right response is not simply to read His word, but to absorb it into our souls and to apply its directives in our daily lives. By this we will fulfill the purpose for which He called us, as the Apostle Peter proclaimed: “so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
R.C.H. Lenski reminds us of the importance of God’s Word:
Without this Word there is no connection with God despite all claims to the contrary. Only one divine means reaches down from God to us sinners, cleanses us, and puts us in fellowship with God; there is no other means.1
Truth and Consequences
By a casual reading one might assume that if the truth is not in him who does not keep His commandments then the one who keeps His word would have the truth in him. Although that certainly is true, instead John advances his line of reasoning that “in him truly the love of God is perfected.” Concerning this phrase love of God, Dr. Wallace deduces that it “suggests that such love is the source for a reciprocated love.”2 The idea being that “the love that comes from God and that produces our love for God”3 reaches a state of completion (perfected) because of our keeping and absorbing His Word.
And the truth is that we have an internal witness “that we are in Him.” Not by some subjective feeling or emotion, but by an objective knowledge, by spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:10-15). We are able to implement spiritual discernment because “He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4:13). So then, by the Spirit we compare the truth standards of God’s Word with our manner of life to determine if His truth is in us and that we “are in the faith.” This is what the Apostle Paul intended when he commanded that we test and examine ourselves:
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Actions Speak Louder than Words
It should be noted that John switches from the emphasis in chapter 1 on fellowship to now advising believers to abide in Him. He maintains that those who claim to abide in Him ought to make certain that their actions speak louder than their words.
The meaning of the Greek word for ‘ought’ is “to owe, whether of a debt or any obligation”4—hence to be bound in duty. Therefore, in this context we recognize that progressively and persistently5 we have an obligation, that we are bound in duty “to walk in the same way in which He walked.” The phrase ‘in the same way in which’ is simply one word in the original Greek, kathṓs, meaning just as6 or in the same manner. John implies that there should be an equivalence or uniformity in our manner of life with that of Our Lord’s.
John refers to this manner of life as our ‘walk’, which he previously discussed in chapter 1:6-7. The word ‘walk’ means “to live or pass one’s life,”7 referring to a person’s manner of living. What we need to learn is exactly how our walk ought to be the same as Our Lord’s. Since the context of this passage is concerned with the obedience of the believer we should examine the example of obedience demonstrated by Our Lord regarding the completion of His momentous work while on earth.
He knew that He “must do work the works” (John 9:4) for which the Father had sent Him; this He did even knowing that He “must suffer many things” (Luke 9:22); He was obedient even to His “death on the cross” (Philippians 2:8); which He emphasized prior to His death the future certainty8 of “having accomplished the work” (John 17:4); at which time He proclaimed “It is finished!” (John 19:30); consequently, by His obedience “many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).
Can we say that we possess the same pattern of obedience as His in our walk? We need to follow the advice of the Apostle Paul: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). For Paul warns of the disgrace of those who fail to live by the same standard:
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ. (Philippians 3:17–18)
[1] Lenski, R.C.H. (2001). Commentary on the New Testament, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 11.410.
[2] Wallace, D. B. (1996). Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics - Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Zondervan Publishing House and Galaxie Software, p. 121.
[3] Wallace, p.121.
[4] Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 2.75.
[5] Dana, H.E. & Mantey, Julius R. (1957). A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament, Toronto, Ontario: Macmillan Co., p. 182.
[6] Arndt, W., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (1979). In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, p. 391.
[7] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, G4043.
[8] Wallace, p. 564.
© 2024 David M. Rossi
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