Confident Abiding - 1 John 2:28-3:3

As John continues, he again calls these believers to abide, to remain in Jesus. This command, to abide, comes with a reason for abiding and the results of abiding. John reminds them that God, Jesus, is righteous and we must engage with him based on his character. True believers demonstrate their real faith by living in line with the righteousness of God. John affirms the love of God for believers, as his children. From that affirmation, John builds out the glorious benefits of salvation. One of the glories of salvation is anticipating the return of Jesus. Jesus is coming back and true children anticipate his return and are being transformed because of it. True children remain in fellowship with Jesus and demonstrate that relationship with Jesus by their choices and actions. 1 John has often been described as a letter written to offer assurance to believers. Believers can know that they have indeed been delivered from their sins and stand justified before God, only through Jesus, and a right understanding and belief about him and in him alone. John also makes statements about not living in darkness or continuing in the practice of sin 1 John 1:6-8; 3:9-10; 5:18. These statements can seem confusing and this is one of the elements of the epistles of John that can be hard to fully understand. How can we be sure of our salvation, of our relationship with Jesus, if the measure is not sinning anymore? We can confidently know that we are believers, resting in the finished work of Jesus. John’s epistles are unique, in that, John is clearly addressing antagonists against Jesus, the gospel and these believers (the audience may be the churches of Asia Minor that he addresses in Revelation). No matter the audience, there is clearly antagonism from outside the church, from some who have left the church, but are still causing chaos and confusion for those remaining in the church. Remember, belief in Jesus alone saves; the evidence of salvation flows from this belief.