62-14 Marks of a Believer
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1 John 2:28-29
1 John 2:28-29
Matt 28:19-20
what was Jesus last command to his followers?
This is Christ's final imperative for believers ... "teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." That is the divine standard/requirement for disciples.
Obedience to the commands of Christ is an essential characteristic of a believer.
It becomes the hallmark of every Christian and the irrefutable evidence of a believer's relationship to LJC
1 Jn 2:3
But we continue to battle with the flesh. On-going struggle between our flesh and our spirit. John is saying the one who habitually keeps the Lord's commandments is the one who has confidence that he has come to know God (another way of saying that person is saved).
John has written some strong statements about the person who is habitually walking not with Christ but against Christ. This person is in continuing darkness, his eyes are blinded to the truth, he is self-deceived, he is pursuing the things of this world and as the result-John calls this type of person antichrist. He is not the final antichrist who is yet to appear but the spirit that works in the final character is already working in and thru these people who are set against Christ.
Genuine believers on the other hand are clearly different. The truth is abiding in us, we have the HS ( anointing-who teaches us, illuminates our minds to understand the resident truth).
Now as a summary to this chapter John unfolds 3 characteristics/marks of genuine believers.
1. Perseverance with Christ (vs 28a)
1. Perseverance with Christ (vs 28a)
As a believer, it is dangerous to rely upon a single moment, or decision that was made years ago to receive Christ. Jesus speaks to the condition of the heart that receives the implanted word of Christ in the parable of the sower and the seeds. In Mt 13 of the 4 types of soil (hearts) that God's word falls on, those which are "good soil" (rightly prepared to receive the word) yields the fruit of righteousness. (better to look at the present rather than the past)
Genuine believers persevere in their walk with Christ. The term John uses is "abide" comes from the word meaning “remain or stay." This is an important aspect of the Xian life for John. He mentions it several times in this letter (2:6,27), but he develops the concept from the night Jesus was betrayed and He spent time with 11 disciples.
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 15:1-11 10x Jesus uses this word abide to speak of the importance of persevering with Christ. Jesus' point is that the power to bear fruit (power to live a fruitful life as a believer) only flows from Jesus as we stay vitally connected to Him.
Abiding is not some mystical connection to Christ where we come to some esoteric knowledge thru an experience. John was writing against this philosophy of the Gnostics. It is command of Jesus and NT writers that we persevere daily and sustain our faith in the gospel and Christ of the gospel—b/c “apart from Him…”
13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Colossians 1:21-23 (continue in the faith)
What does it mean to abide? Or what are the indicators that one is abiding?
Love for and obedience to God's Word
John 15:7-19; 1 John 2:3,6
Submission to the HS-1 Jn 4:12-13
Commitment to walk in the truth- 2Jn 2,9; 1 Jn 2:24
Tense of the vb indicates a continual, on-going abiding. It is clear that perseverance of believers means that those who truly profess Christ as their savior will not permanently abandon their faith in Hirn- 1 Jn 2:19
Those who remain faithful bear much fruit—fruit of righteousness.
17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
We must continue in the faith. We must strive and hold out to the end. Yet, there is another side to this coin: Truths held in tension by the sovereign God.
There is perseverance but there is also preservation.
Scriptures teach us that God wonderfully preserves those who have genuine faith in LJC. We are saved eternally and cannot be separated from His love by anything.
John 10:27-29; Romans 8:38-39
Other truths held in tension:
God sovereignly chooses individuals for salvation but not apart from personal response of faith
God sovereignly & faithfully conforms us into the image of His Son but not apart from personal obedience
God promises to keep us secure but we are admonished to remain faithful by abiding in Christ, obedience to His Word and submissive to His Spirit.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
2. Confidence in presence of Christ (vs. 28b)
2. Confidence in presence of Christ (vs. 28b)
Purpose: "so that ... " shows us the necessity of perseverance. “when He appears" lit "if he appears" John is not doubting the return of Christ but the uncertainty of the circumstances under which Christ will return. Harmony of
32 “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
2 terms John uses to express the reality of the 2nd coming of LJC.
Phaneroo—speaks of manifestation of Christ. Expresses the visibility of Christ's return. When Jesus appears people will actually see Him (1 John 3:2; 1 Pt 5:4)
Parousia—presence of Christ.
Both terms are used to refer to the coming of Christ which brings about the resurrection of church saints (rapture ) 1 Cor 15:23; 1 Thess 4:13-18
Parousia is also a technical term that describes the coming of Christ to initiate judgment on unbelieving world. Although the threat of judgment is included here in John, the focus seems to be on preparations believers make for the coming of the Lord.
In secular Gk-parousia-was used to describe the visit and presence of a ruler. The people would make preparations for the visit: "Streets and highways were put in the best of repair; luxurious gifts were presented; and addresses of praise and gratitude were delivered."
There was a time of preparation for the coming. Same thought is here with John-be prepared by persevering so that when He appears you will have confidence when He comes.
"confidence" is translated from a term that lit "all speech." It speaks of the privilege that citizens of a democratic state have.
But it speaks more than simply freedom of speech but also the courage to speak with candor. Especially in the presence of a high ranking official.
When John uses this term he always means a believers boldness in the presence of God the Father, or before the Son in making petitions or in the face of judgment.
It is this confidence that keeps us from "shrinking away ... " Marvin Vincent "separation and shrinking from God b/c of the shame of a guilty conscience."
Those who continue to abide in Christ (thru obedience to Christ's commands) do not shrink back from Christ, they don't resist the coming of the King b/c their consciences are sprinkled clean with the blood of Christ and will confidently wait for the verdict of the righteous judge.
Return of Christ is a central theme of Scripture. There are several reasons why Jesus must return:
1) God's promises necessitates the return of the King to receive His kingdom— Gen 49:10; Ps 2:6-9; Is 9:6-7; Jer 23:5-8
The earthly reign of Christ was not fulfilled in His 1st advent that was clearly indicated by Israel's rejection in part b/c He did not come as a political deliverer but a deliverer from bondage to sin.
2) Jesus' promises necessitates His return. Jn 14:1-3; Rev 22:7
3) HS' seal, pledge necessitates the return of Jesus.
Jn 15 :26 "Spirit of truth" who teaches us-every promise of NT is promise of the HS of truth. Tit 1:2 & Num 23:19 God cannot lie-veracity of the Trinity is at stake
4) God's program for the church necessitates His return.
Rev 3:10 "keep from hour of testing" reference to Trib--Jesus must return before it to keep us out of it "Rapture"
After the Rapture believers will stand before the bema seat to receive rewards for faithful service and @ end of Trib we will return with Christ to rule with Him over the earth for 1000 yrs.
5) God's program for unbelievers necessitates Christ's return.
Judgment of nations is promised in Ps 2 which didn't happen at 1st advent.
6) God's program for Israel necessitates return of Christ.
Rom 11: 1; God is not finished with Israel; Jer 31:35-37; 33:25-26
God promised the nation salvation, peace, prosperity, security, and a kingdom.
7) Judgment of Satan necessitates return
Satan is temp ruler of this world, prince of the power of air. Jesus returns to destroy the devil (process which began at 1st advent) and He will return to reclaim what is rightfully His.
8) Expectation of saints necessitates return of LJC
1 Cor 15:19; Titus 2:13; 2 Tim 4:8; 1 Thess 4:18
John wants believers to have boldness when He returns-a confidence that comes thru active perseverance.
3) Manifest the Righteousness of Christ (vs 29)
3) Manifest the Righteousness of Christ (vs 29)
2 terms in Gk for "know" need to understand what they mean:
To know by intuitive, absolute knowledge-awareness of the fact-to know that Christ is righteous. John doesn't question if they know this but they way he words it leaves it up to the reader to answer for himself.
“don't you know that Christ is righteous?" Of course every believer knows that wonderful truth. Jesus is righteous-an unmistakeable attribute of our Lord who was the lamb of God unblemished and spotless.
Scripture affirms that He is without sin-perfect fulfillment of God's Word and will.
To know by experience, perceived knowledge-to come to a logical conclusion based on intuitive knowledge.
If you understand that Christ is righteous then John expects these readers to conclude that those who are born of Him also reflect righteousness.
Membership in God's family is marked by a family resemblance. Christ is righteous and so those who are born of Him/His Spirit do what is right- 1 Jn 2:6
Divine birth (γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν birth from above-Jn 3) makes us new creatures who model the life of Christ by living in righteousness.
This means avoiding the practice of sin and actively pursuing what God says is right.
(God is conforming us into His image)
These are the marks of a believer (there are many others) but John's focus seems to be on qualities that set us apart from those who are set against the Lord.
When we are born of Him we will persevere with Christ, have confidence in his presence because we have nothing to fear, and we will live according to righteousness, seeking those things which bring pleasure to God. That goes beyond a mere outward profession of Christ. It is the evidence and reality of new birth which comes only from God.
APPLICATION (AI)
What is the primary requirement for believers according to Christ's final imperative?
How does John describe the difference between genuine believers and those who are antichrists?
What does it mean to 'abide' in Christ, and why is it significant for believers?
According to the sermon, what are the three characteristics of genuine believers outlined by John?
How does John connect the righteousness of Christ with the behavior of those born of Him?
