He who says "I know Him" and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
John Gill writes:
is a liar;
he contradicts what he says, and gives the lie to it; for though in words he professes to know God, in works he denies him, and which betrays his ignorance of him:
and the truth is not in him;
there is no true knowledge of God and Christ in him; nor is the truth of the Gospel in his heart, however it may be in his head; nor is the truth of grace in him, for each of these lead persons to obedience. The Ethiopic version renders it, "the truth of God is not with him"; (See Gill on 1:8).
I know numerous cases of Christians, who claim they know Him but do not walk in His ways. They are rebellious, but fully believe they are His. This is quite a scary verse. It would seem to me they are deceiving themselves. But I can't help but think of a verse in Thessalonians which says to "withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us" 2 Thess 3:6
Is there levels of not following Gods commandments? One where you are a brother but walk disorderly and two where you think you are a brother but do not walk in Gods commandments.
The church is full of these people.
David Guzik writes: A liar, and the truth is not in him: The truth of this is so certain that if one does not live a life marked by obedience, their claim to fellowship (the experiential knowledge) with God can be fairly challenged.
Adam Clarke: He that saith, I know him
This is a severe blow against those false teachers, and against all pretenders to religious knowledge, who live under the power of their sins; and against all Antinomians, and false boasters in the righteousness of Christ as a covering for their personal unholiness. They are all liars, and no truth of God is in them.
Barnes Study Notes: He that saith, I know him, He who professes to be acquainted with the Saviour, or who professes to be a Christian.
And keepeth not his commandments. What he has appointed to be observed by his people; that is, he who does not obey him.
Is a liar. Makes a false profession; professes to have that which he really has not. Such a profession is a falsehood, because there can be no true religion where one does not obey the law of God.
No Response to "1 John 2:4"
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