1 John 2:4

4 Suppose someone says, "I know him." But suppose that person does not do what God commands. Then that person is a liar and is not telling the truth.

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 gave his life to pay for our sins. But he not only paid for our sins. He also paid for the sins of the whole world.

3 We know that we have come to know God if we obey his commands.

4 Suppose someone says, "I know him." But suppose that person does not do what God commands. Then that person is a liar and is not telling the truth.

5 But if anyone obeys God's word, then God's love is truly made complete in that person. Here is how we know we belong to him.

6 Those who claim to belong to him must live just as Jesus did.