I John 2:24-3:17
Review
I John 2:24 As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning abide in you. If that which you have heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
Introduction
Our text this morning resumes our study of John’s first epistle. However, this morning I want us to spend our time reviewing the ground that we have already covered in order to get us back into the flow of the book.
Now remember, the Apostle John is writing to a group of churches under his care in order to counter the threat of false teachers who are troubling his flock.
As such, in 2:24 John began our current section of his letter by showing us the way that we are to respond to the world’s false teachers and their teachings. John says that we are not to adopt, dabble in, or be thrown off course by the world’s denial of Christ or its alternate versions of spirituality. Instead, we are to abide in (remain faithful to) the Gospel.
I John 2:24 As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning abide in you.
Verses 2:24-28 (Abide)
Now remember, John told us that the key identifying mark of any false teaching is that it denies Christ (2:22-23). That is, it denies that Christ is God sent by God to make God and His salvation known. Therefore, John says that the first way we are to respond to the world’s false teachings is to “let that which you have heard from the beginning abide in you”. In other words, John says that we are to remain faithful to and not depart from God’s unchanging Word/Gospel. Think about it: God has made God known. In turn, there is nothing about God or what God requires of man that God doesn’t know or that God got wrong. As such, there is absolutely no need for the false teachers’ would-be corrections and additions. Therefore, we are not to be taken in by the world’s empty speculations about god; nor are we to dabble in or try to augment our walk with the novelty of the world’s vacuous spirituality. Instead, in the face of all the various claims and spiritual speculations that the world makes, John tells us to hold fast to, trust in, and base our living and hope on Jesus/Gospel.
Verses 2:29-3:10 (Righteous living)
I John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who also practices righteousness is born of Him.
Next, John turns to show us what it means to abide in Christ. In other words, John turns to show us what the salvation that is truly from God looks like. Importance: remember the false teachers who are troubling John’s flock not only deny Christ, they also claim that the way you live in the body and how you treat others do not matter. Therefore, John responds by reminding his readers that the first key component of what it means to abide in Christ is righteous/faithful living. Notice then in verse 29 John says that if we know that Christ is righteous, then we also know that everyone who is born of Christ also practices righteousness. In other words, John’s argument here is that a righteous Christ does not beget wicked children. Instead, the new life that a righteous Christ imparts inevitably results in righteousness living (like begets like). Why? The grace that saves you is a grace that both forgives your sins and also heals your sinfulness (1:9). Notice the result: for John the reason that righteous living is central to the Christian walk (to abiding in Christ) is because healing and renewal are as central to the salvation that Christ has provided as is forgiveness. Bottom line: the first key component of new life (of what it means to abide in Christ) is righteous/faithful living.
Verses 3:11-17 (Love)
I John 3:11 For this is the message which you all have heard from the beginning, namely, that we should love one another;
Next, John turns to show us the second key component of what it means to abide in Christ. Important: remember the false teachers who are troubling John’s flock claim that the way that you treat others does not matter. Instead, salvation for them is a purely inward and ethereal matter. As such, it has no bearing on the outward/transient everyday life. Therefore, John reminds his readers that love for one another no less than righteous living is a key component of what it means to abide in/belong to Christ. Why? Love along with righteous living are the two key components of what grace and salvation are doing in each believer.
Notice then, John says, that love is the message that you have heard from the beginning. Importance: in the face of the false teachers’ claims to have new insights into who God really is and what God really expects, John reminds his readers that the message to love one another is something they have heard from God continually throughout history. Why? First, love describes the very heart of God. Therefore, as His children we are to love what our Father loves in the way that He call us to love it. Second, love is the single reason/explanation for our salvation. Therefore, as salvation takes hold in us, our new heart will reflect its source (the love and grace of God) more and more. In other words love, like righteousness, is what grace is doing in each believer.
I John 3:16 By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Finally, after alerting us that love is one of the two chief components of what grace is doing in every believer, John turns to show us what true love actually is: That is, John turns to Jesus as the definitive example of the essential nature and the full extent of true love. John says that Jesus laid down His life for us. That is, the essential nature of true love is that it forgoes its own rights, comforts, and interests to seek the wellbeing of others. However, that’s not all. Notice the extent of love’s selflessness. John says that Jesus laid down His life for us. In other words, love’s commitment to others is a total commitment of the whole self to its fullest extent. As such, love never stops being love nor does it reserve some areas of life for selfishness. However, notice the corrective: while dying (laying down your life) for another person is certainly a chief expression of love’s nature and extent, verse 17 does not allow us to relegate true love exclusively to such extreme/dramatic instances. Instead, the same selflessness and the same commitment to the wellbeing of others that would lead one to lay down his life are to define the whole of our everyday interactions.
Bottom line: John says that the way we are to respond to the world’s false teachings is by believing Christ, by following Christ, and by loving as Christ first loved us. Why? The salvation that God sent Christ alone to accomplish is a salvation that both forgives and heals. Therefore, anything that denies Christ or distorts the true nature of the salvation He provides is not from God nor will it lead you to God. Notice then the point: John wants his readers (both then and now) to be able to distinguish that which is from God and that which is according to the world. Why? John wants you to know the difference so that you can avoid the world’s vacuous spirituality (both in what you practice and who you follow).