1 John 2:5-6
The James Method Verse Mapping
As I continue my journey through 1 John, I looked at these verses:
5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
My takeaway from these verses is that God has given us everything we need to follow him. In particular, he gave us two huge resources: the life of Christ and his word. God’s word has everything we need to know to live in obedience to him. If we aren’t sure about anything, all we need to do is look to Jesus for an example. Between those two things, that’s all we need to understand how God wants us to live our lives.
Here is an image of my verse map for 1 John 2:5-6. I will also type out what I have written for easier reading.
Keep in mind that a lot of my writing is shorthand or bullet points rather than complete thoughts or sentences due to limited space in the journal. That shorthand is reflected in the content I have typed out.
1 John 2:5-6 (NIV 1984)
5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Translations (key differences bolded)
ESV: 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
NLT: 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
NET: 5 But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. 6 The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.
NASB: 5 but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked.
Context
Author: John
Date: Between 85-90 AD, from Ephesus
Audience: Gentile Christians, all believers everywhere
Purpose: After addressing sin, he now addresses obedience
Key Words
I’m studying Greek, so I’ve included the Greek terms for each key word. Substack doesn’t allow Greek text, so I had to add them as photos, which can only be centered and have a lot of space around them. So I know they look weird, but I have to work with what I’m given.
Obeys/keeps
Greek:
Definition: to attend to carefully, to guard, to observe, to keep
Word
Greek:
Definition: the sayings of God, moral precepts given by God, doctrine, teaching
Love
Greek:
Definition: affection, good will, love, benevolence
Complete/perfected
Greek:
Definition: to make perfect, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end
Live/abide
Greek:
Definition: remain, abide, not to depart, to last, endure, not to become different
Walk
Greek:
Definition: to make one’s way, progress, make use of opportunities, to conduct one’s life
Know
Greek:
Definition: understand, perceive, have knowledge of, feel
Cross References
Matthew 16:24-25: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
To follow Jesus, deny self, take up cross, and follow.
John 14:23: Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
If we love Jesus, we will obey his teaching. Then God will love him and live with him.
John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
If we remain in Christ, we will bear fruit.
John 13:15: I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Jesus has set an example to follow (washing feet).
Ephesians 5:1-2: 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Be imitators of God, live a life of love like Christ did.
1 Peter 2:21-22: 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
Christ is our example, he committed no sin.
Psalm 119:1-8: 1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
Walk according to the law, obey his precepts/decrees
View of God
God gives us his word to guide us in how to live.
God gives us a model to follow in Jesus Christ.
God wants to live with us, abide with us, remain in us.
God makes his love complete in us.
View of Man/Self
Evidence that I am following Christ:
Obey his word
Deny self, take up cross, and follow
Love Jesus and others
Imitate Christ
Remain in Christ
Reflection and Application
How do I look for evidence in my own life to know if I am following Christ? It all starts with knowing and obeying. I must spend time in God’s word so that I know how to obey. I must spend time in God’s word so I know how to walk as Jesus did. How did Jesus live? He had close fellowship with his father. He spent time in prayer and knew the Scriptures. He denied himself and committed no sin - all the way to the cross. He loved others. If I live like this, God’s love will be made complete in me.
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you have given us a way to know that we are in you. We know because you have given us a benchmark, an example to follow - Jesus. Thank you for sending Jesus to model for us how to remain in you - how to know your word and obey it, how to deny ourselves so we can follow you, how to be complete in your love. Help me to walk according to your ways.