1 John 2. Have you ever been in a situation where someone claimed to be something, but you suspicioned they were not telling you the truth? Imagine someone claiming to be a pro baseball player but not being able to talk intelligently about various teams and players, tactics, or recent playoff games. After a few minutes of discussion, you would begin to suspicion that they were not what they claimed to be.

John says, “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you” (1 John 2:26). Groups in the Christian community were claiming that it did not matter how Christians lived and behaved, essentially arguing that keeping the commandments of God was not necessary. Have you ever heard someone, who claimed to know Jesus, argue that their poor choices did not matter because “Jesus will forgive me anyway”? This is deceptive thinking. John wants to help the members of the Christian community discern what is right and what is wrong, who is behaving with integrity and who is being deceptive.

John argues that the litmus test of a real Christian is simple. ^“ By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:3-6)

The call is for Christians to walk in obedience to God’s commandments – that is how we know that someone is genuinely a Jesus-follower. Do we obey perfectly? Not always, but we are making daily choices to walk in the right direction.

There are two big areas where Christians often struggle with obedience to God’s commandments, and John addresses each of them.

First, John notes that, “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.” (1 John 2:11) The command to love other people is difficult. (People are sinners. So are we.) Those who truly walk with Jesus cannot hold on to hatred for other people in their hearts.

Secondly, John tackles the command to love the Lord your God with all your heart – and therefore leave all other affections far behind. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17).

How do we know if someone is genuinely a Jesus-follower? They confess their sins, accept forgiveness from God, and work towards obedience to all of God’s commands – especially the ones to love God and love others. “You may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (1 John 2:29)