Untitled Sermon (8)

The New International Version Chapter 2

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

“Abiding in your Faith”

Text: 1 John 2:24-27

Introduction: “Abide” is a verb. It is active. Abiding in Christ is not a feeling or a belief, but something we do. It means to “remain” or “stay” and entails far more than the idea of continued belief in the Savior. John call his readers attention to what they have heard from the beginning He warns them against those who were trying to lead them astray. There is much more than people that I believe John is referring to in his message to this church. The world is full of enticement that we as Christians must guard ourselves against. We must have a secure and stable connection to Jesus.

Ability to Discern (1 John 2:24-25)

The importance of Christians being informed is essential if we are to abide in the faith. We need the aid of the Holy Spirit to help us discern truth from fables. The church must guard against false teachings that is designed to lead us from the way of God. Scripture and its contents must be valued and lived by in order that we abide in faith. The health of the Christian church is at stake, our focus should be on us consistently being faithful to Christ and the gospel message rather than a system of beliefs and rules that are somewhat partial because they have no scriptural content. We must be able to separate truth from error. Our opinions only matters if they line up with the will of God. In v.24, John reminds the church to let the teaching which they “heard from the beginning” abide (remain) in them. What was this teaching? John has already laid it out in 1 John 1: 1-3. It is the testimony of the Apostles to the life and work of Jesus, the Son of God who became human, shed his blood for us and rose again to bring us eternal life in fellowship with the Father. This, John argues, is the truth. Those who believe it, live by it, continue in it, and receive the promised eternal life (v.25). John Calvin calls it. “the fruit of perseverance”, they in whom God’s truth remains, remain in God”

Stay Connected to Jesus (1 John 2:26)

John makes an appeal for readers of this text to remain faithful to Christ and what we know He has provided for us, that is eternal life. To stay connected, remain, or abide in Him suggests, that you and I should have a stable and constant fellowship with Christ because of what we have heard from the beginning. We have the Anointing with us and if we remain faithful and abide in Him, we will possess eternal life. Salvation is the end goal or reward for staying connected to Jesus. Jesus tells us that the branch must stay connected to the vine because the vine has the substance in it to keep us alive. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)

Strive to live by the Light of God (1 John 2:27-29)

John urges the church to abide in the apostolic teaching that they have already received, and which has brought them into living fellowship with the Father. “As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you.” He points out that they do not need any other “teachings” because the Spirit of God within them bears witness to the truth about Jesus Christ. As they have already been taught the truth, he urges them to continue believing it. This will require study of the word of God.

There is a good reason for remaining in the truth. Jesus Christ will come again and when he “appears” (v.28) in judgement, those who have held on to the truth will not be ashamed but will face him confidently. Unlike the false teachers and their followers. John then reminds the church how they can be sure that they are abiding in the truth. Those who “practice righteousness” show that they are “born of him” (v.29). Those who are unrighteous, are not.

Closure: Let us today consider whether we are abiding in the truth of Christ. If we abide in him, we can be confident that we are born of God and one day will be with him forever. To reject the truth, however, is to “be put to shame from him at his coming.” He is going to appear and you’ve been taught that so the best advice or measures to take before He appears is continue in His way until He comes. Are we willing to re-commit ourselves today to the way of God? The reward is great because it guarantees us a future life in glory.