LIAR

1 John 2:3-4 ESV

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

Looking back through the millennia of human history there are certain names that jump to the fore. Among them it is hard to find one more impactful or foundational than Moses. Even as many in our country want to remove those emblems of this foundation it is still the ideological foundation of our legal system. We learn much from the bible about this man, yet the most amazing part for me is that scripture would testify to him being a very timid and meek person (Numbers 12:3). The murderer, the leader of the people, the man who ground the golden calves into dust and made the people drink it, TIMED, MEEK! Isn’t this the mystery of what happens when God captures someone?

Having seen God, having fellowshipped with him for forty days, he comes down of the mountain and sees the mockery of him cast as a calf! At this point the timid and meek came unglued and fought for the holiness of his God and had set to executing justice on the people and making an ash water beverage for them to drink (Exodus 32). Often, we as Christians are fearful of being to harsh with those we worship with. Pastor’s specifically not wanting to rock the boat and loose anyone we are willing to not say it like it is. Then I bear the conviction that comes from confronting the God of the bible and how his servants have spoken and acted though out time. Moses was not overwhelmed when men worshiped idols or practiced debauchery. Growing up in Pharaoh’s court he had seen this all his life. Yet, when God’s people, the people called to be holy, choose to do so that overwhelms him.

The apostle John has harsh words to speak to those who claim Christ. He does not point his venom at the world unless the world claims to know the savior whom he watched die on a cross, and who he ATE with three days later! To say you know him and yet you don’t obey him, this is nothing but a cold faced lie born from the heart of a liar, still dead in his sin. He started this section with a statement of us having an advocate if we sin, so he is referencing, not a person who sins, but one who perpetually violates the commands of Christ, and does not repent! To say you love Christ and persist to hate worshiping with your brother is to be a LIAR. To say you know Christ and to persist to remain in slavery to pornography or a nonmarital sexual relationship is to be a LIAR.

John leave no room for the touchy feely. He has directly called out those who would claim Christ and called them liars because they choose not to obey his commands. This is a direct challenge to the idea that I would win people by being a nice person and not offending them. People either respond in repentance to the gospel or they don’t and nice words are not going to change that. If are Christs you obey his commands and follow his example (verse 6), if you claim Christ and don’t obey his commands and follow his example you are “a liar and the truth is not in you.” Gathering together and staying free from sexual sin are the quickest, not only, indicators of a life not given to Christ. If you are choosing to not gather with believers Sunday morning (Luke 4:16, Hebrews 10:24,25) or you are bound in sexual sin (Acts 15:20,29) you are NOT a Christian, if you claim to be, you then are a LIAR. May we be so bold as John to declare truth in the face of lies!

Coram deo