We continue to ask and answer the question, How do we know that we know God?

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1 Introduction We continue to ask and answer the question, How do we know that we know God? John has given us a series of tests; the test of obedience; do we keep God s commandments (vv.3-6). The test of affection; do we love our neighbors (vv.7-11); the test of growth; do we continue to grow and mature in our faith (vv.12-14). The test of conformity, do we love the world and the things in this world (vv.15-17). The test of discernment, do we guard against false teachers and false teaching (vv.18-23). We also saw a test of truth, the gospel truth, did you hear and receive the true gospel (vv.24-27); and does it remain in you? Now at the end of the chapter John gives us another test, the test of fellowship; do we abide in Christ (vv.28-29)? John has reminded his readers of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. You do not need that any one teach you (v.27). The Holy Spirit is the true guide to the Word of God. Since the message of the Holy Spirit in part is to point people to Jesus, to exalt Jesus, the message of the Holy Spirit is abide in Him. The true test of the Holy Spirit is the honoring and exalting of Christ (see Chuck Smith; Outlines in 1 John; p.25). The abiding Word testifies of Christ. The abiding Spirit testifies of Christ; the abiding Christ manifests Himself in our lives and through our lives; abiding in Christ means confessing Jesus Christ as the Son of God Our 7-year-old daughter had just won $2.00 for her memory work in Sunday school. After the morning service, the pastor's wife congratulated her. Our daughter proudly announced, "And I put it all in the morning's offering!" "My, how wonderful!" the pastor's wife exclaimed. "I'm sure God will be pleased." "Yes," the child replied. "Now maybe God will let me do some of the things I want to do!" Genia Obal, Montrose, British Columbia. "Kids of the Kingdom," Christian Reader. The Christian way is not the middle way between extremes, but the narrow way between precipices. Donald Bloesch, Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 4. The precipices are the cliffs of certainty. You will abide in Christ or you won t. Abiding includes obeying. The Disciple s Proving Ground: Abide In Christ (v.28a) 1

2 "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (1 John 2:28, NKJV) John uses this word abide over and over again (11 times in the second chapter). The force of the word abide does not so much deal with salvation (relationship) but rather with friendship and fellowship with God. We have already seen the word means to dwell, or live or remain. The definition of abide in Him means to stay fixed, stay grounded, stay firmly rooted in Christ. Simply put it means to continue and stay in Christ, to rest in Christ, to be at home in Christ, to find your permanent home in Him, completely settled in Him. We have seen two themes in our study of the first two chapters; the theme of knowing God, and the theme of abiding in Jesus. You abide in Christ by believing the truth, obeying the truth, and loving other Christians the brethren. Obedience, love, truth, yourself out of fellowship with God, it is because you have disobeyed His Word, lacked love for a brother, or believed a lie. The solution is to confess your sin instantly and to claim God s forgiveness (1John 1:9) (Warren Wiersbe; TBEC; Vol. 2; p.502). To abide in Christ means both union with Christ and communion with Christ. Jesus said in John 15:1; I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser (15:5) I am the vine you the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Abiding in Christ means that a person bears fruit and lives a fruitful life. Abiding in Christ means that a person continues in the church; he has not gone out from the church. 1 John 2:19; They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. We encourage people to stay in fellowship with God and fellowship with each other. We certainly believe in the concept of the universal and invisible church but some people think invisible means they don t have to be seen in church! "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25, NKJV) Are you abiding in Christ? Do you continue in fellowship, in the church of God, study in the word of God, and provide service in the Spirit of God? Are you reading your Bible? Are you storing up the Word of God inside of you? The Psalmist wrote; Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Ps. 119:11). To abide in Christ is also to abide in the Holy Spirit. We know the Spirit lives in us, yet the Bible teaches that we in turn ought to abide in the Spirit. Walk in the 2

3 Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal.5:16). Are you yielding to the Holy Spirit. The Word of God, the Spirit of God, the Son of God and the Saints of God, all contribute so that your life is in control, cleansed and changed. The Disciple s Purpose: Purity and Confidence (v.28b) that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (1 John 2:28, NKJV) Appear is phaneroō (φανεροω), in the passive voice as it is here, to be made manifest or visible. The invisible Lord Jesus will some day be made visible as He comes from heaven into the atmosphere of this earth to catch out His Bride, the Church. 1 John mentions the coming of Christ for the first time! Later this event is called his coming. The word means show up or come alongside or be present with. It speaks of an advent or an arrival. Christians certainly have their differences concerning the timing of Christ s return, but all Christians believe in the literal, physical bodily return of Christ. The invisible Christ will become visible. What will happen to Christians when Christ appears? We know the Christian will not be judged for their sins, Christians will be rewarded or not rewarded on the basis of their faithfulness in serving Christ (1 Cor.3:10-15). Those who are faithful will receive rewards; those who are unfaithful will lose rewards (Wiersbe; TBEC; Vol. 2; p.502). In my view Jesus could return at any moment. I believe John is trying to remind believers of this truth. The return of Jesus is supposed to provide incentive to live in fellowship with Christ, live in love with others, serve in faithfulness, be obedient to his word. We abide in Christ for fellowship and growth and confidence. We abide so that we need not be ashamed when Jesus shows up! We should be looking for Jesus Christ. (Heb.9:28); so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. The early church waited, looked, expected Jesus to return at any moment! Jesus will return to consummate history, fulfill prophecy, and execute judgment. We should be loving his appearing. (2 Tim.4:8); Henceforth there is a laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 1 Wuest, Kenneth S.: Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1997, c1984, S. 1 Jn 2:28 3

4 When are you least likely to love someone s appearing? When you engaged in activity that you know will be displeasing or embarrassing! We should be living in such a way that we welcome His appearing. (Titus 2:12-13); Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We expect Christ today. Have you ever lived in a world of surprise inspections? John says abide so that when when Christ appears you need not be ashamed. I have a triple AAA card in case I get stuck, or lose my keys, or lock my keys in my Volkswagon. We as Christians have a different triple AAAA card; abide, appear, avoid being ashamed. Some Christians will be ashamed at His appearing. Wait I thought all Christians were accepted in the Beloved. True all Christians are accepted, but not all Christians are acceptable. The word ashamed is interesting (aischunthomen). It really means may be ashamed from him. It could be translated shall shrink in shame from him. The idea is shrink back in guilt and disgrace. When Jesus comes some Christians will be embarrassed. The embarrassment will come from a life of hypocrisy, inconsistency, perhaps even outright immorality. The return of Jesus will catch some Christians in this world s cookie jar. Are you prepared for Jesus to return and can give a satisfying explanation for your current behavior, your current relationships, your current attitude? Your current plans? Does the return of Jesus fill you with joy or fear? Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition...to be pleasing to Him. The Christian who does not walk in fellowship, in obedience, in truth, will lose his or her reward. Think for a moment a Christian has every reason to obey the Lord. If we look back at Calvary, where Christ died, we see His love. If we look within, we experience the Holy Spirit, who teaches us, guides us, and reminds us of the truth. If we look around we see the brethren, whom he loves; we see a world desperate and lost, we look ahead and we see Christ coming our home of glory. The Disciple s Proof of Abiding: A Lifestyle of Righteousness (v.29) "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." (1 John 2:29, NKJV) 4

5 When you make a purchase or cash a check what identification to they require? Do you need a credit card or a driver s license? What identification do you need to prove you are really a Christian? Do you need Biblical answers to life s most difficult questions; the ability to quote chapter and verse of Scripture? Do you need a Bible, or membership in a church, or a gold cross around your neck? According to John the proof of identity is are you born of Him are you born again does your life reflect your love and your relationship with Jesus? John offers evidence we are abiding in Christ; a lifestyle of righteousness. We might translate the first part of this verse since you know that He is righteous. Jesus is righteous. Jesus is the sinless Son of God. Jesus was sinless (holy) and righteous before he ever came to the earth. When Jesus came to the earth he lived the perfect life, he walked in sinless perfection. He lived in complete submission and obedience to His Father. This is the reason Jesus is the precious sacrifice, able to offer Himself on our behalf. Jesus lived a perfect, righteous life. As the perfect, ideal man, God was able to accept His death as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Why do we emphasize this? Because everything depends on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. John s argument proceeds to make the connection many are reluctant to make, or reluctant to admit, the person who truly believes, who truly trusts the Lord Jesus Christ; lives in the righteousness of Christ. Have you ever seen those Oak Express commercials that s not natural. Righteousness is not natural to man. Jesus told Nicodemus that which is born of flesh is flesh (John 3:6). We cannot become good by being good. If we are going to be children of God we must find some other way. "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. " (Galatians 2:16-21, NKJV) 5

6 Why did God abolish the law? Its standards reflected his righteousness, but the law as a system was replaced because it was powerless. It could not bring us what we desperately need-righteousness. Erwin W. Lutzer (1941- ) How can we tell if a person is born of God? It seems odd but the answer is if a person gives evidence of the new birth. If a person honors God by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The person completely trusts the righteousness of Jesus Christ as his or her own righteousness. God takes that person and honors that man or that woman as His own. God gives that person a new life, a spiritual birth, God makes a new creature, a spiritual man or woman. John s argument is inescapable; the person who knows God lives a righteous life, the person who lives a righteous life knows God. God is righteous; His very nature is righteous, the person who shares the nature of God will reflect that nature in his or her behavior. If a person does not have the nature of God, then he or she will live outside the nature of God and the life of God. This person will not live a righteous life. We can tell if a person knows God by the way he or she live their lives. "and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24, NKJV) "and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him," (Colossians 3:10, NKJV) "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever," (1 Peter 1:23, NKJV) "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him." (1 John 5:1, NKJV) John has written about light and darkness, love and hatred, and truth and error; and in 1 John 2:29 he sums up the whole matter of Christian living in one phrase doing righteousness (Wiersbe; TBEC Vol.2; p.203). My friend James Hesterly talks about fake cowboys; he says they are all hat and no cattle. The real Christian does not just talk the talk, he walks the walk. Conclusion John wants to assure the believer and warn the make-believer. Remember in chapter two John exposes those who distort the truth through false teaching and living and reassure those who are stay the course, who walk the line, who remain faithful to the teachings of Christ and friendship and fellowship with Christ. Good men avoid sin from the love of virtue; wicked men avoid sin from a fear of punishment. 6

7 -- John Wesley, in The Almost Christian. John reminds us of the believers responsibility; we abide in Christ; the words John has written is in the imperative mood in verses 27-28; they are commands and the result of abiding is fruit and reward. When we accept the responsibility we reap the reward; when He appears we are confident and unashamed. The confidence in verse 29 can be translated boldness, or freedom to speak openly or the expression sometimes used in the military; permission to speak openly or permission to tell you what I am really thinking. The person who claims Christ, but defames Christ, and walks in disobedience, hatred, fear, lies, is either deceived or a deceiver. The make believer departs from fellowship (see verses 18-19); the make believer deceives the faithful (vv.26-29). Dear saint, dear Christian, abide in Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you and control you. Let the very life of the Lord Jesus produce fruit through you to His glory. Then you and those who God allow you to reach, to love, to minister to will rejoice in the day of Christ s coming! Christian Herter was running hard for reelection as governor of Massachusetts, and one day he arrived late at a barbecue. He'd had no breakfast or lunch, and he was famished. As he moved down the serving line, he held out his plate and received one piece of chicken. The governor said to the serving lady, "Excuse me, do you mind if I get another piece of chicken. I'm very hungry." The woman replied, "Sorry, I'm supposed to give one piece to each person." He repeated, "But I'm starved," and again she said, "Only one to a customer." Herter was normally a modest man, but he decided this was the time to use the weight of his office and said, "Madam, do you know who I am? I am the governor of this state." She answered, "Do you know who I am? I'm the lady in charge of chicken. Move along, mister." This is a woman who knew her position and wasn't about to be intimidated. Do we as Christians recognize the significant position in which we stand because of Christ? 7