Bible Study on 1John 2, verses 3 to 6, we do know that we know him

 

1John 2:3 ¶  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

John now moves from the whole world to the body of Christ in particular as he teaches these possibly new converts.

Is this a call to turn back to the Law given to Moses for the Jews? But what about this from Paul?

Galatians 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

And what about this warning in the form of a question from Paul earlier in that chapter in Galatians?

Galatians 3:1 ¶  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Or is this a reminder of the specific instructions given by Jesus to His disciples?

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

And remember what of the Law given to Moses that Paul reinforces for the Christian?

Romans 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Keep in mind now what Jesus said about the Law before His crucifixion and resurrection.

Matthew 5:17 ¶  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

And He indeed is the fulfillment of the Law and has fulfilled it.

Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Philippians 3:9 ¶  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Keep in mind what Jesus said also here;

John 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

There are many admonitions that Christ gave us to follow. Included are;

Mark 8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

John tells us to walk as Christ walked and that would be in complete and perfect/complete obedience to God the Father. And we are about to find out that John 13:34, 35 is the principle to which John is referring. John will insist that there is nothing new about this, that he is offering nothing in addition to what has already been said. He simply underscores and even explains Christ’s commandment.