John says, “And now, little children, abide in him.” We saw last week how the command to abide in Jesus means continually living in Jesus through His word and in His spirit. Such abiding, John says, has a future purpose.
The Pure One is Coming
Notice how the verse continues, “[A]bide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.” Jesus is coming soon and John says you will either stand in confidence or shrink in shame. Never forget that Jesus’ second coming will be one of comfort for some and terror for others. What is it specifically that John thinks will give confidence at Jesus’ coming? Devotion to God’s word and Spirit; abiding in Jesus. Continuance in Christ now gives confidence then.
See now how in 2:29 John elaborates on this relationship with Jesus. He writes, “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” This is like John’s spiritual paternity test: if God is your Father, if you’ve been born of him you be growing in the practice of righteousness. That’s one way to know if you are truly a Christian. It’s also our first clue on what “being like Jesus” means—it means growing in righteousness, as He is righteous. But what does that look like? Practicing righteousness is reflecting the standard of all that is good and true. Jesus is righteous; He is the standard. We are to reflect Him, abide in Him . . . be like Him. Remember now, our righteousness isn’t the cause or condition of the new birth, but it is the evidence of it.
A Theological Rabbit Trail of Love
Do you have anyone in your life who tends to pursue rabbit trails in conversation? Or maybe your small group is often chasing down a conversational rabbit. If so, you have good company with John. The mention of people born of God gets John going down a wonderful rabbit trail for a few minutes as he thinks about the joy of the new birth; the reality that dead sinners can be made alive in Christ. Look at 3:1, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” This may be the height of John’s amazement at and adoration of God in the whole letter. The Greek word he uses for “what kind of” (patopen) means “of what country” and show us how unusual God’s love is: it’s of another country, another world! John wants us to feel the force of God’s love and find it taking our breath away.
As soon as each one of our boys has been able to say, “Daddy,” I’ve given them a Stone family catechism of sorts. I ask, “Who loves you?” To which I train them to say, “Daddy.” In the course of a normal week whether it be driving in the car, wrestling, or during times of discipline the question will randomly pop up, “Who loves you?” By this point the training is so engrained within the boys answer with as much though as they give to breathing.
I can’t help but wonder if the same thing has happened to many us as Christians. We know the truth of God’s love and are functionally unaffected by it; that’s how familiar it is to us. We are in a sad state if we are not surprised by God’s love for us. For why should he invite us into His family? Or maybe you are so aware of your own sin that you think, “Why would He welcome me into His family? He’d never want me.” The simple answer is: because He loves you. Faith in Jesus is the confirmation of God’s love. For faith God’s gift of grace to those whom He loves. Do you have faith, even small faith, in Christ? Than you know God loves you.
This post is adapted from my recent sermon, “The Light of Righteousness,” on 1 John 2:28-3:10.