1 John 2:3–6

2:3 With slightly different language John continues to discuss evidence of true conversion. In the previous section, believers were designated as those in whom resides “the truth” (1:8) or God’s “word” (1:10). Now true believers are described as those who “have come to know him” (the first occurrence of “knowing God” language, which continues throughout the letter). To “know” God is a fairly common biblical term for being in covenant relationship with him (e.g., Jer. 9:24; John 17:3; Titus 1:16).

In this and subsequent verses John refers to “keeping” God’s commands. This Greek verb (tēreō) refers to maintaining or guarding and thus, in this context, obeying. Obedience to God’s commands is the indicator that those in question have entered a relationship with God. This is a variation on the basic point made in 1:7: knowing God results in obedience to God. It may be a halting, stumbling obedience, but such a relationship always results in a move toward obedience to God’s commands.

2:4 In light of the statement in verse 3, any claim to know God that is not followed by obedience to him is a lie. This is a variation of the truth expressed in 1:6. In 1:10 the person who claimed to have no sin made God a liar, but here the person who claims to know God, but does not in fact obey him, is himself a liar; that is, “the truth is not in him.” True faith always produces obedience.

2:5b–6 “By this we may know” restates the phrase that opened this section in verse 3, indicating that John is concluding this subsection and summarizing the emphasis on obedience as proof of conversion. If anyone truly abides in Christ, he will live as Christ lived. This is a descriptive way of saying that true believers will obey Christ, for this is what it means to be a disciple: to follow the ways, imitate the behavior, and adhere to the teachings of a specific master. Thus a claim to be a disciple of Christ while not seeking to follow his ways is patently false.