And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked.
1John 2:3-6
These verses are hard for me to understand in light of modern christian doctrine. So many people appear to love the Lord. They talk about how much they love God, they enjoy praise and worship and prayer. Yet when you get to know them you see alot of things in their lives don't line up with the word of God. And sadly, when you talk to them you often find that they don't really care what the Bible says at all.
I don't want to judge people. In many ways they seem to love God but they don't obey His word. I want to believe that they are christians but what about these verses?
I'm afraid these people are deceived into thinking they are saved when they are not.
I remember believing I was a christian because I prayed "the sinner's prayer" and went to church. I even read my Bible sometimes. But there was no real change in my life. I wasn't keeping God's commandments. Yet no one noticed or ever questioned my faith. ( If they did, they didn't ask me about it)
I'm so glad that I listen to God seven years ago and came to true salvation.
I wonder how many people are deceived like I was?
So should we let them continue on in their deception because we are afraid of judging them? What is the right way to handle this? How do we speak the truth in love? Do we really love people if we let them believe a lie? These are the questions I am praying about.
