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Maturity Through the Knowledge of Jesus

The one saying “I know him” and keeps not his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Now, whoever keeps his word, truly in this person the love of God is matured in knowledge, because existing in him. The one saying he abides in God ought to walk just as Jesus walk - 1 John 2:3-6


John relates keeping his commands to keeping the words of Jesus, not to be confused with commandments, handwritings, decrees, rules and regulations, elemental principles that have no power to overcome the desires of the flesh so that one can keep his words. In a place of maturity one finds that his words or commands are not burdensome. And this is how we know the love of God is fulfilled or completed or matured, when we find keeping his words are not burdensome. Maturity comes through knowledge of the Son, the words of Jesus increase our faith, and faith works through love thus we know God's love is matured in us when we have faith, when we are fully convinced of his words and promises. 

 Forgar thishoutos iseimi theho loveagapē ofho Godtheos: so thathina we keeptēreō ·ho hisautos commandsentolē. Andkai ·ho hisautos commandsentolē areeimi notou burdensomebarys - 1 John 5:3

This exists the love of God: that we keep and find his commands not burdensome. This comes through growth in knowledge of the Son, what is purposed in the church (read more below). To not have understanding of growth in knowledge of him which brings us into maturity would take this verse "the one saying “I know him” and keeps not his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him," out of context. John writes that we might not sin but if we do sin (we do not keep his commands) we have an advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1-2). And previously he writes "if we say we are without sin, deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). We see "the truth is not in us" if we say we are without sin and if we do not keep his commands (1 John 1:8; 1 John 2:3). We associate unbelief with sin and not keeping his words because if we do not keep his words it means we are not having faith and anything done without faith is a sin. How can this be? If we sin the truth is not in us and if we say we are without sin the truth is not in us? how do we come to grips with such words? We read on in context,

whoever keeps his word, truly in this person the love of God is matured in knowledge, because existing in him. The one saying he abides in God ought to walk just as Jesus walked (1 John 2:5-6) 

Surely this is the concept of abiding, remaining, continuing in his words which produces maturity. Keeping his words comes through maturity which comes through knowledge of Him. Think of bearing fruit in terms of a plant growing up into maturity. We grow up truth in love (Ephesians 4:15-16). Therefore the love of God is matured in knowledge of Him. He gives gifts to the saints "... to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ until we all attain unity of faith in knowledge of the Son of God, unto matured adulthood unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-16). What is maturity but to "walk just as Jesus walked" or to walk worthy of our calling?" This is the elder or mature person John describes as "knowing him which is from the beginning." They know him implying maturity, they have walked with him for some time, walking as Jesus walked. We mature as we grow, through abiding in his words (John 15:7). Abiding, growing up in knowledge of Him, causes us to bear fruit or be filled to the fullness of God which is the same thing. This bearing fruit through the knowledge of Jesus glorifies God (John 15:8). We grow up through abiding, truth in love, because if we abide in his words we abide in his love (John 15:8-9). Thus faith works through love. 

if then you keep that my commands, abiding in that my love, just as I kept my Father's commands and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you so that my joy exists in you and that your joy is full - John 15:9-11

Joy is tied to maturity which requires a firm foundation in Christ. Paul prays that God grants us power through the Spirit in our inner being, Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith, rooted and grounded in love, so that we have strength to grasp the breadth, height  depth, width, to know the love of Christ so to be filled to the fullness of God. Here Jesus tells us these things so that his joy exists in us and our joy in him is full. John begins his letter the same way, "these things we write so that our joy is full" (1 John 1:4). What does John say to us so that our joy is full? First, it is as Jesus said, we can not bear fruit on our own, so John proclaims Jesus to us, the Word of Life, eternal life. Then as Jesus does John relates the fullness of our joy to "walking in the Light" and "obeying his commands" and "keeping his words" and "walking as Jesus walked." If we keep his commands, which we do by abiding in his words, we also abide in his love, which implies as Paul writes we mature,  grow up rooted and founded in love and rooted and built up and established in him through faith. 

And the one keeping his commands abides in him, and he in him. And in this we know because abiding in us, from the Spirit whom is given to us. (1 John 4:13)

This follows the previous writings of John, "in this we know..." The one saying “I know him” and keeps his commands knows God. There is a knowing like the fallen angels know of God and there is a knowing of God, in whom we cry out "Abba Father." God is in us, "in this knowing because abiding in God and he in us: because he has given us from that his Spirit" (1 John 4:13). The Spirit testifies we are children of God, thus abiding in us (Romans 8:16). A child knows this, the Father, and that his sins are forgiven. We know we know God by his Spirit abiding in us, " you have the anointing from the Holy One, I write to you because you do not know the truth but because you know it and no lie comes from the truth" (1 John 2:20-21). The Spirit of truth abides in us and guides us unto the truth, by abiding in his words (1 John 2:27). 

There is a deeper knowing of God which comes through abiding, in which we grow up into maturity whereby we overcome the evil one. We are no longer children but sons and find that obeying and keeping his words are not burdensome but joyful. Doing his will is acceptable and pleasing, a sign of maturity (Romans 12:2). This is how our joy is made complete and brought to fulfillment. To use joy as a decree to a child, "if you do not have joy you do not know Christ" is to use it as an elemental principle, no different than others like do not handle, touch or taste... or like trying to use laws or fear to bring a child into maturity. We grow in knowledge of Him, "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).

in this we know, because we love the children of God whenever we love God and the commands of him keeping - 1 John 5:2

How do we know God? because we keep his commands and we love his children because we love Him. In this we know God, because His Spirit abides in us, and testifies we are his children. In this we know God in maturity, if we keep his commands. And what command does John say Jesus gave us to keep? To love one another (1 John 2:7-11). John compares keeping his words to walking in the Light. If we walk in the Light we will obey the commands of Jesus and Jesus commands us to love one another, thus not loving my brother is walking in darkness. Paul did not have joy doing the things he hated  when he did not have the ability to do good. We will not have joy walking in darkness, but if we walk in the Light, confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John is writing these things so that our joy is full. 

Joy is tightly coupled to walking in the Light, keeping his commands, and agape love. If we do not love one another we walk in darkness, v.8. Joy is tightly coupled to maturity, as in the parable of soils they received the word with joy but it was those that endured to maturity who did bear much fruit. Why do you think Paul calls the outflowing of the Spirit in our lives fruit? Joy is tightly coupled to walking in a Spirit of truth and love. "These things I have spoken to you so that my joy exists in you and your joy is full. This is my command, that you love one another as I love you" (John 15:11-12). Maturity comes through the knowledge of Jesus, in truth and love we grow up in him, "until we all attain unity of faith and of knowledge of the Son of God into mature adulthood..." (Ephesians 4:13-16). There is fruit, life, joy, love... which is great motivation for us to endure into maturity in knowledge of Jesus.

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