Walking Like Jesus

I John 2:1-6 “Walking Like Jesus”

When I was kid, WWJD was all the rage in the Christian world. What would Jesus do? While there might not be as many people wearing WWJD bracelets and tee shirts, the term has stuck somewhat in the Christian culture in the U.S. In one sense, WWJD was a passing fad. But it has biblical roots. I John 2:6 tell us that if we claim to know God we will walk or live the way Jesus lived. There is nothing wrong with saying WWJD. The problem is when we define for ourselves how we think Jesus lived. WWJD does not mean donning sandals, growing a beard, and wandering around the country doing random acts of kindness. John defines WWJD in a very specific way. As we walk through this text, we will find out how Jesus walked.

1. Purpose in writing: that we may not sin

John is clear. He writes so his readers will not sin. Why does he say this here? Last week we looked at the mark of true Christian in the last part of chapter 1. A true Christian walks in the light and sees their sin. They not only see it, but they confess it. They agree with God about the hideousness of their sin and the forgiveness given to them because of Christ.

I heard the account of one college student who claimed to be a Christian, but he was sleeping with his girlfriend. A Christian friend asked him about this: isn’t that a sin? The reply: don’t worry, I’ll just I John 1:9 it.

This should not be so. Christ did not die so we could sin more. We were saved to sin no more. And one day that will be true. As we journey in the Christian life, we grow in saying no to sin. A true Christian acknowledges their sin, but also strives not sin.

You can imagine this teaching like a road with cliffs on either side. On side is perfectionism. We claim that we have no sin. That is the error that John confronts in chapter 1. The cliff on the other side is antinomianism. That is a fancy word that means “without law.” Those who are antinomians claim that they can live however they want since Jesus has taken care of their sin. John says: no: if you know God you will obey his commands. On one side you can’t claim to be perfect. If you are walking the light, you will see your sin. On the other side, you can’t claim to be a Christian and live however you want.

That’s the razor edge of the Christian life. We must acknowledge that we are sinners, but strive not to sin. I’m sure we’ve all veered toward one side or the other at times. The answer to staying on the path is to take what the whole Bible teaches on sin and the Christian life. Don’t only focus on one verse or chapter. In our passage, John keeps us on the path by pointing us to Jesus.

Jesus died for our sins…to take them away! Not for us live in sin. Jesus, the one who died for us, is called Jesus Christ the righteous. The righteous Savior died for us to live a righteous life.
You may determine: “I want to follow Jesus. I’m not going to sin.” But, sadly, we do. John is real and practical. He says “If anyone does sin.” The same Savior that died so we would sin no more is the Savior who is our advocate when we do sin.

2. Encouragement for sinners: Jesus is our advocate

John writes this book so that believers would have fellowship with God. Our fellowship is hindered when we sin. What we need to restore and deepen our fellowship is an advocate. Someone who will come to our defense when we sin. This term “advocate” is used in the Gospel of John to refer to the Holy Spirit, who will help us. Here, it is used of Jesus. If Jesus is your Savior, he is also your advocate.

Imagine if you are a friend of the King. You eat at his table. He invites you to be in his court. He takes you on royal hunts. He shares with you his riches. But one day, you dishonor the King and speak badly of him in the town square. You are scared to come into his courts. You are afraid to eat at his table. But one of your friends knows the King well. You ask him to plead for the King to forgive you. The King will listen to your friend, because your friend in the son of the King. God will not deny the requests of His Son for us.

The hymn My Hope is in the Lord says this:

And now for me He stands
Before the Father’s throne.
He shows His wounded hands
and names me as His own.

Our fellowship with the Father is not something we maintain by ourselves. Jesus is in heaven fighting for our fellowship. How, then, can Christ be our advocate when we sin? Because is our propitiation. A propitiation is a sacrifice that takes away wrath. God’s wrath and judgment against our sin were absorbed by Jesus on the cross. Christ’s death was the full and final answer to our sin. Because he took all our sin, he can come to our defense when we sin. He says to the Father: “That one belongs to me. I took his sin. I’m her Savior.”

Christ is not only the propitiation for our sins, but the sins of the whole world. John’s point is not that all people get saved because of Christ’s death. He is pointing to the massiveness of Jesus’ death. When we are discouraged by our sin, we need to be reminded that Christ’s death was more than enough for all our sins.

Let’s say you ask your husband to go to the store for a gallon of milk. You remind him to get ONLY milk. Half an hour later you feel the house shake and hear the noise of vehicles. You look out the window and see 10 semi-tankers, all with the word MILK on the side. “All I wanted was enough milk for my cereal!” I don’t need 1000’s of gallons! Christ’s sacrifice is more than enough to take away your sins. It’s like going to the Niagara Falls to moisten an envelope.

3. Test for Christians: we obey God’s commands
In vs 3-6 John says the same thing several different ways: true Christians keep God’s commands.
Vs 3- Positive: if we know God, we keep his commands
Vs 4- Negative- If we don’t keep his commands, we are not in him
Vs 5- Positive- Keep God’s word and your love for him is perfected
Vs 6- Positive- If you abide in Jesus, you will live like Jesus

John is not just repeating himself. With each verse he is expanding on his teaching. He is stacking terms to describe 2 realities.

1. Our connection with God
-in him, abide in him, fellowship with him, know him, having the truth in us

2. Our living for God
-walk as Jesus did, practice the truth, walking in the light, keep his commands, keep his word

John is very clear once again: if you are a Christian, you will keep God’s commands. If you claim to know God, but disobey his commands, you are a liar.

Vs 5 tells us that the love of God is perfected when we obey God’s commands. This is speaking about our love for God. It is the context of our actions toward God (keeping his Word, abiding him, etc). Our love for God reaches maturity, or is complete, when we obey his commands.

Saying to God, “I love you but I really don’t want to obey you,” is ridiculous. Say to someone: “I love you, but I just don’t like it when you talk. Especially, when you ask me to do something for you.” See how that goes over.

In vs 6, John defines keeping God’s commands as walking like Jesus. If we say we abide in Jesus, why would we live any differently than he did? Our lifestyle shows our connection to Jesus.

Let’s explore two topics in application of this passage. I want to expand on what commands mean and what walking like Jesus means.

1. Commands in our culture

We live an anti-authority culture that denies absolute truth and universal morality. These elements of our culture are in direct conflict with the biblical worldview in general and our passage in particular. Our culture affects the way we think, so we must be on guard and seek to renew our minds by the Word. When the Bible says that God has given us commands to obey, it claims at least 3 things.

A. God has authority
God has absolute authority over the universe. He is King, Judge, Ruler, Master, and Lord. He gets to say what goes and what does not. God sets up commands, and we obey them. It is quite normal for us in our culture to question our authorities. We question their commands and their authority. But we must to not let this cultural norm carry over to God. We don’t get to question God’s commands. He is perfect. He is King. It is one thing if unbelievers do not obey God’s commands. It’s another if people claim to know God and pick and choose what commands they want to obey. Today, God’s clear commands on marriage and sexuality are especially challenged and disobeyed by people who claim to know God. John says to such people: you do not belong to God.

B. Commands imply truth
When God gives commands, he is giving a truth claim about himself and humans. His commands don’t just apply to those who find them legitimate or compelling. “Do not murder” is not just for those who feel like it. “Do not commit adultery” is not just for people who accept an “outdated” view of marriage. God’s commands are true because he said them. They apply to us, whether we like it or not. Some people today are offended when you say that our God has truth claims and commands that apply to them. But we must stand on the truth and the truth that there is absolute truth.

C. Commands imply morality
I knew a lady who would say of her son: “He’s being bold.” No, he’s sinning. As our culture’s understanding of morality has eroded, our language has changed to suit it. Instead of something being evil, it is damaging. Instead of right and wrong we have nice and not nice. Hating your neighbor and murdering him is not just damaging and unpleasant: IT’S EVIL! If truth goes out the window, so does morality. But there is one place people see morality today: when they see the unmistakable evil committed by terrorists. All of sudden there is evil, and people want justice.

When we say we keep God’s commands, we say that God has the authority to give us commands. We acknowledge that he is the sources of truth and morality, not us. All of this is important as we seek to love our God by obeying his commands in this evil world.

2. WWJD
We must keep John’s teaching about commands in mind when we read verse 6: the one who abides in Jesus, ought to walk like Jesus. Our Savior is certainly an example to us on how to live the Christian life. The problem comes when we start defining how Jesus lived instead of letting the Bible speak. People have said and say today: let’s be done with all this doctrine and just live like Jesus. Some people see living like Jesus as fighting for social change or bringing justice for the mistreated. Some see it as a call to feed the hungry and care for the poor. For some, it is an attempt to love others by making them feel happy (which will fail). Others use it as an excuse to forsake church and generally be kind to those they meet. We don’t get to pick and choose how Jesus lived!

In our context, John says “obey God’s commands.” WWJD? He obeyed God’s commands. Jesus says in John 15:10- “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” Jesus did his Father’s will. John 5:30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” Jesus was a man under the authority of his Father. He submitted himself to God’s law. We should do no less. Yes, Jesus preached, prayed, healed, fed the hungry, was a servant of all, and laid his life down for us. But he did it all in submission to his Father’s will. He obeyed. We could investigate more fully what it means to live like Jesus. But it is not less than living a righteous life in obedience to our Father’s commands.

Dear friends, do you know God? Then you will be striving to obey God’s commands. It is the best expression of the love you have for your heavenly Father. Will you sin? Yes. But you have someone always defending you. Jesus Christ the righteous.