“ABIDING” is an ACTION
As we can see by reading John's words in 1 John 2:28, having confidence when Christ returns is not automatic. It is very conditional. The condition that needs to be met is that we must "ABIDE in Him."
"Abide" is the English translation of the Greek word "Mένω" (Meno). Meno is a VERB. In other words, "abiding" is an ACTION. A tremendous action when it comes to God. Because The word of God is alive and ACTIVE (full-of-energy - Hebrews 4:12). And if we are yoking up with JESUS the CHRISTOS, there will be action and WORKS in our lives. The word ménō is a word which describes "enduring a hostile attack" (Donnegan's Lexicon). How much more is that than simply "abide" as we know it in the English?
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death." 1 John 3:14
Do you know how to "love your brother"? You love your brother by loving God with all your heart. It's only natural if you have truly been a recipient of God's love. Anyone who does not love God with all their heart abides in death. They have most likely never been born from above ("born again") or they "have forgotten that they have been cleansed from their past sins." (2 Peter 1:9)
"Whosoever abides in Him sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen Him, neither known Him." 1 John 3:6
Or, Whosoever loves God with all their heart sins not.
And, "He that says he abides in Him is obligated to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6
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"If you ABIDE (Mένω) in My word, [then] you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." "Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not ABIDE in the house forever; the son does ABIDE forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." ~John 8:31b, 32, 34-36
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ~John 15:4-7
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” — John 15:9-10
Jesus loved God the Father with all His heart and teaches us to do the same. And if we truly abide in Christ and Christ abides in us, we will love God with all our hearts too. Jesus fulfilled the law (John 19:30; Matthew 27:50-54; Luke 23:44-46; Colossians 2:13, 14; Revelation 5). And love is the fulfilling of the law.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ~Galatians 5:14
If you "love yourself", it will be because you are loving God with all your heart.
If you love another (your neighbor) it is only through loving God with all your heart. God is love (1 John 4:8).
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but [walk] after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There is “no condemnation” to those who abide in Christ and love the Father with all their heart. Love God with all your heart. Walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. With all your heart. You do that and you will NOT sin (presumptuous sins). If you do sin unknowingly, it will be forgiven. John says this sin of ignorance WILL happen. 1 John 1:8-10
The apostle John distinguished between "sins unto death" and "sins not unto death." 1 John 5
And the Old Covenant distinguishes between these two different kinds of sins. And the New Covenant distinguishes between these two kinds of sin.
"You shall have one law for him that sins through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourns among them." Numbers 15:29
"And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering." Numbers 15:27
"but into the second, only the high priest [enters] once a year, not without [taking] blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance." Hebrews 9:7
"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins," Hebrews 10:26 (According to Thayer's Lexicon, "willfully" here is an antonym of the word "ignorance").
http://kjvbible.net/cgi-bin/search.cgi <-- bible search. Search the Scriptures for yourself. This is a very important lesson!
I've written 3 other messages on this topic over the past 10 years:
John uses the word "fellowship" 4 times within 1 John 1:3 - 1 John 1:7. This is a very important word. "Fellowship" actually means "partnership" (2842. koinónia). John says that through this fellowship "our joy may be full." He tells us here that everything is conditional and that we believers are required to do certain things. "Covenant" also means "an agreement between two parties." So entering the New Covenant is something we agree to. And it means a life of denying one's self. If we truly are yoked up with Jesus in koinónia, If we are abiding in Him, there will be works. And we are all going to be judged by our works. The Bible says this many times (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 20:12; Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12; Colossians 3:25; 1 Corinthians 3:8; Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14). Jesus says those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). Endure what? Striving (75. agónizomai) against sin. Striving against what the flesh wants us to do. The works are the Lord's works when He is living inside us. But we must go along and "walk after the Spirit". That is work my friends. John says, "if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7) "Walk" is the translation of the word 4043. peripateó. Which means "conduct your lives". All these words in the New Testament need to be studied so we understand them clearly. Paul said he subdued his body, treating it roughly, forcing it to do what God wanted Paul to do. Because Paul said if he didn't practice what he preached, he would be disqualified (96. adokimos) (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).
Jesus says; "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17
It's time to receive the true doctrine of the Lord and respond appropriately to it.
May God the Father bless all who strive to love Him with all their heart. in Jesus' Name Amen,
Thomas Richards
You can be saved!
God loves the people in the world so much that He came down to die for us. If God is opening your heart to His message and you feel convicted for your sins which have separated you from a holy God and you feel the need to be forgiven, then say this prayer. This is how I was powerfully converted to the Christ in 1997!
Say, "My Lord and my God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe Jesus the Christ died on the cross and shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of all my sins. I believe Jesus raised from the dead and ascended into heaven and is now on the right-hand side of God listening to this prayer. I open up the door of my heart and I invite You in, Lord Jesus. Thank you, God, for saving my soul and I vow to serve you with all my heart which is the first and greatest commandment. Amen."