1 John 2:4

4 He who professes to know Him, and yet does not obey His commands, is a liar, and the truth has no place in his heart.

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 and He is an atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And by this we may know that we know Him--if we obey His commands.

4 He who professes to know Him, and yet does not obey His commands, is a liar, and the truth has no place in his heart.

5 But whoever obeys His Message, in him love for God has in very deed reached perfection. By this we can know that we are in Him.

6 The man who professes to be continuing in Him is himself also bound to live as He lived.