1 John 2:4

4 Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist;

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

3 Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments.

4 Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist;

5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him:

6 whoever says, "I abide in him," ought to walk just as he walked.