1 John 2:4

Maybe somebody will say, “I know God.” But they don’t listen to God, and they don’t do what he says. Well, that person is lying. If they don’t listen to God, that shows that they don’t really know him, and they don’t believe his true message.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

In Context

3I’ll tell you how we can be sure that we properly know God. If we always listen to God and do what he says, that shows that we properly know him.

5But if anyone listens to God and does what he says, it shows that God’s love is truly in that person. I’ll tell you how we can be sure that we are joined up with God.

Read all of 1 John 2

Cross References

Titus 1:16Those bad people say that they know God, but they do the bad things that God hates. So those people show that they don’t really know God. They shame themselves. They don’t do what God says. They can’t do anything good.

1 John 1:6So think about this. If somebody says that they are joined up with God, but they keep on doing bad things all the time, that person is lying. They don’t know God, and they don’t live his way. It’s like they are walking in the dark.

1 John 1:10Think about this too. God tells us in his book that everybody does bad things. So if you reckon that you never did anything bad, you are saying that God is a liar, and you are not listening to his true message at all.

1 John 4:20Maybe somebody will say, “I love God.” But that person hates another Christian. Well, that person is lying. Think about it. It’s easier to love somebody if you can see them. But it’s harder to love somebody that you can’t see. Well, we can see other Christians, but we can’t see God. So if somebody doesn’t love other Christians, then we know for sure that they don’t love God.

Matthew Henry on 1 John 2:4-7

The Believer's Duty. ( a. d. 80.) 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. These verses may seem to relate to the seventh verse of the former chapter , between which and these verses there… Read the whole commentary →

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Study 1 John 2:4