ABIDE, REMAIN/1 JOHN 2:24-28

John, in these verses, is teaching us that we need to learn to wait on the things of eternal significance. "In other words," John says, "don’t get impatient and throw away your only real hope." "Don’t abandon the truth, the truth that does not change, as did the others I spoke to you about." Some in John’s original audience were wondering what hope there was for them to persevere, especially since others among them believed the false teachers and departed. Some were asking, "What hope is there for me?" John gives them hope in the verses we are considering this morning. We begin with ...

I) THE FOUNDATION OF HOPE–Vv.24-25

A) John comes to verse 24 on the heels of verse 23 to give us hope that we are not like those who have departed the church. He says, "As for you ..." In other words, you are not like those who have departed, nor are you like those who deceive. He then tells us that the foundation of our hope, that we too will not fall away from the faith, is rooted in sticking to the basics. The basics are defined as "What you heard from the beginning." It is the teaching about the person and work of Jesus Christ given in the Gospel preached by the Apostles. John says three times in this verse to "abide" in this teaching. In other words, be patient, have confidence in what you have learned and don’t get impatient so as to abandon the truth for a lie, a lie that will lead you away. John gives us real assurance that if we "abide" in the Apostolic teaching about Jesus, then we can know that we are in Him and in His Father. In other words, we are assured that we have a saving relationship. And, with this saving relationship comes a promise, a promise Jesus Himself makes–eternal life (John 3:15-16, 36).

B) Here are some of the obvious implications of what John is teaching in this verse: 1) All genuine believers should have confidence that they are joined to Christ and to His Father. 2) Such confidence is based on the teaching of the Apostles about the person and work of Jesus Christ. "Through the Word, the Son and the Father have fellowship with the believer and are able to communicate with him." 3) To treat the Word of God as optional reading, or less than precious is to undermine one’s faith, and hence one’s confidence. The reason for this is that "[f]ellowship with the Father and the Son ... is assured those in whom the Word of God abides." So, we must ask, Does the Word of God abide in me? 4) Such truth leads to a promise realized in part now, and fully at the end of time–eternal life. This is worth waiting on. So, are you willing to stand in the longest line and wait patiently to receive it? Are you willing to endure great and sustained difficulty to receive it? Your answer will expose your true spiritual condition. John says that those willing to wait, and to endure great difficulty can have confidence in their profession of faith in Christ. John moves on to ...

II) ANOTHER REMINDER–Vv.26-27

A) We cannot escape the need to be constantly reminded about what we know. Too often, we get tired of being reminded, but John never tires of reminding us of the need to be reminded. John knows that there will always be those who try to deceive us, and we must be constantly aware of this demonic tactic. Verse 26 makes clear that there will always be, till the end of time, those who are actively seeking to deceive us. That doesn’t mean that there will not be those who are deceived themselves, and are oblivious to their own state. These just pass off what they hear. John has in mind those who are out to purposefully deceive.

B) In either case, we must be reminded of the protection God has given to believers, and this He does in verse 27. John comes back to the anointing we have received. This is a reference to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. We, briefly, considered the Holy Spirit’s ministry last week cf. John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:13. John adds a piece of information about the ministry of the Holy Spirit that comes from Jeremiah 31:34. What John wants us to know is that we can rely on the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. This ministry is carried on through the preaching and teaching of Apostolic doctrine, as opposed to the teaching of the deceivers. As believers we have the internal witness of the Holy Spirit as it relates to what is true and what is not. Again, we are to check out whatever is being taught against the Word of God, and anything that leads us away from Christ should be shunned. The Spirit of God will never lead us away from Christ, as His ministry is to exalt Christ. We conclude today by considering ...

III) THE BENEFIT OF ABIDING–V.28

A) The benefit of abiding is that we can have confidence at the return of Christ. Jesus asked an important question in Luke 18:8. John says that those who "abide in [Christ]" will be found in the faith. John wants to give assurance to those of us who know Jesus Christ by faith, and are living obediently to His teaching. Such assurance guarantees that we will not "shrink away from [Christ] in shame at His coming." Is this your confidence? Cry out to Christ to save you from sin! Trust confidently in God’s Word! Live obediently to its teachings! Believers respond to the news of Jesus’ return by obeying God’s commands, continuing in Christ, and are confident at the prospects of Jesus’ return.