"1 JOHN 2:28-3:3"

>>>The previous verses of chapter two talk about “antichrists” who come and spread false doctrine in the church. They lived their lives, spread their “gospel”, then left completely.

>>>John then exhorts the believers to hold to the teaching they have received.

1 John 2:28–29 “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.”

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1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

>>>The first part of this verse says to abide in God.

*This word is used 68x in the books of John.

*“Abide” typically is said to mean “remain”, but this sense is to “continue”. The existence of a believer is continuing to live in Christ.

>>>Why does John say the church should be abiding in God? So that when God appears believers can have confidence and not be put to shame.

>>>(Illlust.) Dogs that bark are not really threatening. They “shrink back” when approached.

>>>Dogs that are confident are not forced to go back. They stand, come up to, and are even (in some cases) the ones more prone to bite. They typically don’t bark.

>>>Those who are living in sin “loudly” will be put to shame at the Lord’s coming. Those who are living rightly before God will not be put to shame but will have boldness to stand before Him.

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1 John 2:29 “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.”

>>>Two uses of the word “know”-“know” and “you may be sure”

*First use is basic knowledge-knowing Who God is

*Second use is understanding the basic knowledge-knowing what knowing God means.

>>>Those who know God and His righteousness know that those who have been born of Him-God as their Father-will also practice righteousness.

*“Practice” means “do” or “conduct”. People born of God conduct themselves in His righteousness.

>>>How we live on this earth reveals if we are truly in Christ.

>>>People who are not continuing with Him will fall away, because they were never in Him to begin with (1John 2:19-using same word sense as v. 29).

>>>This is huge, because of the false teaching being spread that life on this earth does not matter.

>>>Chapter three will go on to say that those who practice sin are not truly believers.

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1 John 3:1–3 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

>>>John changes this convicting tone to one of hope and love, saying that those who practice righteous should be in awe of God’s love for them-He is their Father.

>>>God’s children have the hope of becoming fully like Him when He comes for them.

>>>The common theme of these verses in the appearance/coming.

THOSE REMAINING IN CHRIST HAVE THE HOPE OF HIS COMING.

>>>The children of God, who live a life of righteousness, have the hope of being with Him forever. Eternal life is in their future.

>>>For those who are not God’s children, those who are practicing evil/sin, the appearance of God/coming of Christ will be a time of judgment. Eternal Hell is in their future.