1 John 2:4

4 Anyone who says, "I know God," but does not obey God's commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

1 John 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 2:4

He that saith I know him
God or Christ, as the Gnostics did, who pretended to great, even perfect, knowledge of divine things:

and keepeth not his commandments;
which the above persons had no regard to, and as many who profess great light and knowledge in our days show no concern for:

is a liar;
he contradicts what he says, and gives the lie to it; for though in words he professes to know God, in works he denies him, and which betrays his ignorance of him:

and the truth is not in him;
there is no true knowledge of God and Christ in him; nor is the truth of the Gospel in his heart, however it may be in his head; nor is the truth of grace in him, for each of these lead persons to obedience. The Ethiopic version renders it, "the truth of God is not with him"; (See Gill on 1 John 1:8).

1 John 2:4 In-Context

2 He is the way our sins are taken away, and not only our sins but the sins of all people.

3 We can be sure that we know God if we obey his commands.

4 Anyone who says, "I know God," but does not obey God's commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

5 But if someone obeys God's teaching, then in that person God's love has truly reached its goal. This is how we can be sure we are living in God:

6 Whoever says that he lives in God must live as Jesus lived.