Proof of Life - The Truth Test
Truth
1 John 2:3-6 NLT
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Knowing Him
John 17:1-3 NLT
After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
"Knowing" is the goal.
In Jesus' prayer, He clearly says that life is found in knowing God. We either know God or we don't. How do we know if we know? Obedience and desire begin to converge.
Pretending to be alive
John says that an indicator of knowing God is that we obey his commands. Obedience is not the formula for life, it is the outcome. If we find ourselves continually struggling to obey then we may not be in a relationship with God, thus not truly alive. Who wants to admit that? Sometimes, we pretend. We may be living a lie.
The Capacity to Know Him
Jeremiah 24:7 NLT
I will give them hearts that recognize me as the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.
Knowing has always been the goal
God has actually given us hearts that search for him. This is why every human searches for identity, love and destiny.
Way, Truth, & Life
John 14:6 NLT
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Relational Shift
Obedience comes from us trusting that God has our best interest in mind and that we believe that God knows the truth. Trust comes from knowing that God has our best interest in mind and that God knows the truth. We don't obey, because we don't trust. We don't trust because we don't know. We don't know God because we would rather believe a lie.
Perceptional Shift
When we are alive, we can clearly perceive how important love is as the context for life. When we are not alive, we might think other things are more important. John clearly tells us that we are lying to ourselves if we claim life, yet fail to perceive love as the greatest command, therefore indicator.
Truth frees us to run!
Psalm 119:32 TNIV
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
Free to run!
When we are alive, then truth lives in us and we perceive things differently. We no longer see God's commands as limiting, but we perceive that they are there to help us have more life. We can run, not walk or crawl. We see them as life giving!
John's bottom line
1 John 2:6 NLT
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Essential Shift
When we become alive in Christ, our essence is changed. Jesus doesn't simply offer to keep raising the bar for us. He offers to live in us and live out through us. Proof - We will walk as Jesus walked. We will live as Jesus lived. We will finally live in the dimension of truth, not darkness, not falsehood, not shadows. Every other religion gives you something to do that you CAN do. Faith n Christ calls you to do something you CANNOT do except that He does is for you by living in you.
Has this ever happened to you?
Have you ever had a moment or a thought when you knew that what you were doing was exactly what Jesus would be doing if He were you?
What is your prayer today?
Please share with us your prayer commitment or prayer request.