What is the context?
After presenting Christ as advocate, the letter asks how knowing Him becomes recognizable. Keeping His commands and His word tests the claim to know Him. A profession contradicted by conduct is called a lie.
Remaining in Him entails walking as Jesus walked. The claim concerns a lived relationship, and the next paragraph identifies love for a brother as a concrete expression. This must also be read with the preceding acknowledgment of sin and Christ’s advocacy.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Wesley describes knowing, being in, and remaining in Christ as closely related expressions of communion that continues. The USCCB notes also emphasize a life conformed to Christ rather than intellectual knowledge alone. The tests examine the truth of a claim; the paragraph does not present an independent price paid to buy access to Him.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.