I John 2:28-29 (Part 2)

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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.

THE STUDY:

It is obvious to the fact there are two parts to this verse: 1) John is telling his readers that if they know in their hearts “that he is righteous,” 2) they also will learn to know that righteous Christians are born of him. John is reminding the believers that Jesus is “the Righteous One” (2:1)?^[1] This may be something the Gnostics didn’t believe and is one of the cornerstones to the believer’s teachings.

We know that this verse is pointing ahead in the letter so we can interpret “born of him,” as referring to God. The overall thought in this verse is the understanding that everyone should know that the Father and the Son are “Righteous” and that those who practice righteousness are believers as well. As a believer we will be known by what we live and what we live is what we believe to be the truth.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away, this morning, with the understanding that, as a believer, knowing the Father and Son to be righteous is evident in our lives by what we practice: Righteousness. We do right because we are re-born of it. We long to please the Father more than ourselves. It is His will not ours that rules us.

• Is it more important for the will of God to be done in our lives or is there still a battle between our will and His? Let those around us today see the righteousness that’s been re-born in us. Let them see Jesus!

CONCLUSION:

It was Leigh Richmond, who dropped a gospel tract on the pavement in England and prayed that a bad man would pick it up.

          A bad man did pick it up. He carried the tract with him to prison and he was converted, and he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress, which turned millions to righteousness. He was John Bunyan.

          I pray that through our righteousness, others may become believers.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (288). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.