1 John 2:5-6
New Living Translation
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.
For those who trust in God’s Ways show their complete love for him and intimacy in the relationship with him. Those who say they live a godly life should live as Jesus did in the same image
What Does 1 John 2:5 Mean? ►
But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him:
1 John 2:5(HCSB)
Verse Thoughts
God wants us to hear His word; to know His word; to trust His word and to keep His word. The Lord has placed His Word in a superior position above His holy name. Whether we are talking of the written Word of God or the Living Word of God – the God-breathed Scriptures or the Lord Jesus Christ in Person, God wants us to hear, to know, to trust and to keep His Word.
We can only keep His word if we trust His word. We can only trust His word if we hear His word, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God. And we can only keep His word if we hear, know and believe in our hearts ALL that God has said in and through His Holy WORD.
Once the Word is in our hearts by faith, it is only then that we can KEEP God’s word, for our lives are to be lived in spirit and truth. We cannot keep His word in the strength of our own fleshly nature. The only way to keep His word is to remain in Christ, living in the power of the Spirit of God, Who guides and directs our path and checks and corrects our thoughts.
But whoever keeps God’s Word demonstrates that the love of God is in Him and God’s love is very different from human love. His love is a godly love; a pure love; a perfect love – and it is this godly love that is being perfected in us as we keep His word.
The love that is being perfected in us is the love of Christ and His final command to all of us is to: love as I have loved. The only way that we can keep God’s word is to let the love of Christ dwell richly in our hearts. The only way to keep His Word is to hear His Word, know His Word and trust His Word.
Always remember, when you keep His Word, His love will be perfected in you as He guides, directs, checks and corrects your daily walk, and then others
Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/1-john-2-5
What does 1 John 2:5 mean?
In contrast to the “liars” of verse 4 are those who obey God’s commandments. “Keeping” God’s Word is another reference to obedience. According to John, God’s love is perfected in those who obey the Word of God. The term “perfected” does not refer to 100 percent flawless living, but rather to maturity. No one is perfect (Romans 3:10), but all believers are called to growth and maturity; this is a process of perfection. While this is expected, it is not guaranteed.
As with verse 4, there are alternate interpretations of what verse 5 implies. Those who truly know Christ grow to live like Christ. Their actions give evidence of their relationship. Those who do not progress in their Christian walk fail to give positive evidence that they are saved. This should not, however, be mistaken as salvation based on works or good deeds. Only God knows the heart (Acts 15:8), but our lives can reveal whether our hearts have been changed by Christ or not. Nor are verses 5 and 6 meant to be a test of a person’s salvation.
In the immediate context, John is speaking of a person’s relationship and fellowship with God. This parallels John 15:1–8, where those who do not “abide” in Christ lose all ability to produce good fruit. This is not a loss of salvation—which is secure once obtained—but it certainly applies to the consequences of choosing sin over righteousness.
Regardless of interpretation, this verse points to a clear statement in verse 6: that believers “ought to walk” as Christ did. Whether or not we do is up to us.
Context Summary
First John 2:1–6 both encourages and warns Christians about sin. John reassures his readers that when a saved believer sins, Christ will plead our case with God. Jesus is our substitute, taking the punishment for our sins. At the same time, John warns that those who claim to know Christ, yet disobey Him, are lying to themselves and others. Anyone who claims to have fellowship with Christ should live as if that is true.
Chapter Context
Chapter 2 explains the fellowship Christians have with God. Christ is our advocate, even when we sin. Christians are not to love things of the world, or to love the world. Instead, we are to live, love, and act like Christ. False teachers, and those who deny Jesus are called ”liars.” Those who demonstrate a Christ-like behavior are ”born of” God.
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