The Necessity Of Abiding In Him

The Daily (NASB) Reading: 1 John 2:1-6

Why is John addressing us as “little children?” (v.1)

Is he not speaking to our humility first, as though our very presence before his words is a recognition of our child-like faith to be willing to learn at his feet what the Apostles all witnessed in Jesus Christ?

1 Peter 5:5–7 (NKJV)

5 Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

James 4:7–10 (NKJV)

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Romans 6:16–17 (NKJV)

16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

And what was the introductory theme of chapter 18 in Matthew’s Gospel? Wasn’t Jesus establishing what it means to be a “little one” that he has welcomed into the kingdom of heaven?

Matthew 18:2–5 (NKJV)

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Matthew 18:6 (NKJV)

6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 18:10–11 (NKJV)

10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Matthew 18:14 (NKJV)

14 Even so, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Therefore the church is made up of people of all ages who humbled themselves and have become like a little children to learn at the feet of Christ.

Romans 12:1–2 (NKJV)

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Therefore why do these “little children” come to God by the Light that was in Christ? Isn’t it because these alone have been made to dwell in the presence of the righteousness of the Almighty and were made willing “to fight the good fight” by which sinners may lay hold on eternal life?

1 Timothy 6:12–16 (NKJV)

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Christ supplies us with the grace that is needed to dwell in the unapproachable Light. Should we seek to dwell in God’s presence by our own light, we are promised to surely perish. Therefore how great was that exchange that Adam made to clothe himself and his posterity in the image of the beast by which he forfeited his right to the image of the federal headship of Christ!

Genesis 3:4–5 (NKJV)

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Romans 1:22–23 (NKJV)

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Romans 1:25 (NKJV)

25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:23 (NKJV)

23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)

26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Therefore it is these “little ones” who are redeemed out of this great exchange and are made heirs with the glory of Christ’s Light who are being called to this holy life by which Jesus Christ has become their Advocate against the Accuser who deceived them. It is these little ones who come to Jesus confessing that they have sinned (in Adam), the unrighteous federal head, who did not fight the good fight and keep the garden pure from sin.

But Jesus is the Advocate because He is righteous and has come to give eternal life to all who seek this immortality and Light.

Romans 2:6–11 (NKJV)

6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

The God-man, Jesus Christ the Righteous, is the satisfaction for our sins. Satan can no longer accuse these “little ones” before the Father because Christ has satisfied their debt, which is why there is a great debate that surrounds the extent of this atoning sacrifice of Christ’s life and death.

What is meant here by “the whole world?” (v.2)

The sufficiency of the cross is demonstrated to us in the new covenant by (the thanksgiving) of the elect body to walk in Christ’s steps and give themselves (as one body) for an offering to the world (1Cor.11:26). This is why Christ left the church behind and gave to her the Holy Spirit, sending her out in his power and strength. Therefore her celebration around the table is not the offering of redemption itself but the invitation to partake of (the fellowship) in God’s sufficient intentions to save his people from their sins (Matt.1:21; Lk.2:10-14). Therefore the (actual) propitiation of the elect is shared among and with the whole world that is perishing in their sins (2Cor.3:3). In our thanksgiving (of the elect), it is a temporal satisfaction as a means (for those) who need to hear the whole counsel of God’s Word (Rom.10:13-18), but it is the actual death of Christ, not the elect’s fellowship with the death of Christ (1Jn.2:1-2, 6), that is the satisfaction for sin. Again, our fellowship is only the means by which the work of propitiation is applied to the world that is alienated from God in their wicked works (2Cor.5:20-21; Col.1:21). Therefore, the extent of the goodwill and intention of God is in the thanksgiving of the elect to the actual atonement as the old hymn states: I sacrifice (give thanks) to his blood. And that goodwill is shared by all around the table to be “tested” by his blood, that is, the actual atonement (1 Cor.11:27-29; 1 Cor.11:17-20). Therefore we must separate from those who insist that the atonement in the fellowship of our thanksgiving is the satisfaction (paid in full) for all people down to every individual according to the decree and will of God. Surely there is grace from God the Father that is common to us all in the goodwill of the purpose of the church, but that actual atonement is for those who abide in Christ as the elect and are predestined of God and written in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world. So in the church, there is a temporal satisfaction and reconciliation (for everyone) to “taste and see” the goodness of the LORD (Ps.34:8; 1Pet.2:1-5), but the actual atonement and reconciliation are in Christ alone (1Pet.2:6-8).

Therefore, the whole world is not referring to every individual of the souls being born of the world but of every individual who believes that Christ is the Advocate who is called out of every part/culture of the world in all of its seasons.

Revelation 5:8–10 (NKJV)

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

But how do we know that we have been “called out” from the world to participate in the nature of His Light and Advocacy by the propitiation of His blood? (v.3)

But if some be disobedient to the words which have been spoken by him through us, let them know that they will entangle themselves in transgression and no little danger; but we shall be innocent of this sin, and will pray with eager entreaty and supplication that the Creator of the Universe may guard unhurt the number of his elect that has been numbered in all the world through his beloved child Jesus Christ, through whom he called us from darkness to light, from ignorance to the full knowledge of the glory of his name.1

Let us fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ, and let us know that it is precious to his Father because it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.

~Clement of Rome

It is clear that Clement is not talking about the invisible ekklesia but the visible church institution that symbolizes Christ’s blood (1 Cor.11:25; Acts 3:4, 12). We know that not all of the visible church is the actual elect of God, but nonetheless, she is the means by which repentance comes to the world for those appointed to trust in Christ’s substitutionary death (1Jn.1:7; 2:2; Acts 13:48). So now, this does not change the doctrine of particular redemption, but provides the means by which the whole world may come to repentance and know the assurance given to the ekklesia (called out) of God (1Pet.4:17; Heb.10:19-22).

In other words, we know that we are called out of the world by obeying the commandment to come to the table that his blood is affirming by the keeping of the commandments. The table that he has chosen to be his sign of the new covenant will affirm all of his commandments. And the first one is to love because it is the core of the nature of his Light, and it brings glory and honor to God.

Revelation 2:18–29 (NKJV)

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed, I will cast her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

Therefore how will this propitiation be in those who reject his commandments? (v.4)

Doesn’t verse 4 make it clear that “the whole world” in verse 2 doesn’t mean every created individual? Should we continue in willful, rebellious sin, we would be making God a liar (1 Jn.1:10). But John refuses to call God a liar here. You are the liar if you continue to sin against this Advocacy of Jesus Christ in any way. Sin would continue to abide in you by your unbelief, and the wrath of God is being stored up for you as you continue to sin against his grace.

Romans 2:2–5 (NKJV)

2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Therefore to receive Christ is to receive the whole Christ. We cannot pick and choose what we like of his character and discard the rest. When God says he chooses by his own free will and grace, we must not add our will to the power of his grace. Those who reject a limited atonement will always elevate their free will above God’s sovereignty in election. Therefore they blaspheme God’s character when they put their will before his own and make themselves idolaters, denying the “Master who bought them.” The commandment is to love him with a pure heart.

2 Peter 2:1–2 (NKJV)

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

1 Timothy 1:5 (NKJV)

5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

Therefore, how do we know that we love him with a pure heart? (v.5)

We will possess the desire to keep all of his words because they are “the Word of Life” (1 Jn.1:1; Jn.6:68). Consider Christ’s dying words before he gave up his spirit:

John 19:30 (NKJV)

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The Greek word used here for “perfected” is the same word used to describe what Christ accomplished on the cross in his life and death. The love of God is accomplished in us when we are enabled to keep the power of his words. We know that we are (in Him) when the word of Christ is formed in us. Therefore when we come to the table that is the representation of his blood, we are seeking to identify with his death and all that his death accomplished (1 Cor.11:26). And God has promised to work His death in us who abide at this table, but we must not miss the other element of the table, which is his body. Not every table that bears the sign of the new covenant possesses the power of his death (1 Cor.11:29). Therefore, the individual is responsible for discerning the body by which his bread is represented. It must be a body that is washed by the water of Christ’s Word lest you eat the bread of hypocrisy and drink damnation to yourself. Now partaking of the bread and the cup, you signify that you want to die in the Lord (Rev.14:13), but it does not identify you with the body until you are washed by the water of the Word (Heb.10:22; Tit.3:5; 1Cor.6:11; Acts 22:16). This is how God promised to serve both the church and the purpose for which the church is left in the world, according to verse 2.

Matthew 16:5–11 (NKJV)

5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” 8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

John 3:5–10 (NKJV)

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

Ephesians 5:25–27 (NKJV)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 3:1–6 (NKJV)

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

1 Corinthians 10:17–22 (NKJV)

17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Therefore, what is the application of these things?! (v.6)

Herein lies your faith. Those who “seek” to identify with the Advocacy and Propitiation of Christ (that is), “the one who says he abides in Him,” are to walk worthy of the calling by which they have been called. In time, God has promised to affirm you by this covenant if you persevere in learning to walk as Christ walked.

Luke 10:38–42 (NKJV)

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

It will be applied to you when you bear the fruit of a pure heart before many witnesses. Therefore do not lose heart and wait upon the Lord. Continue in Him and make yourself known among the brethren. Demonstrate your love before them, and if they are true brethren, they will recognize your love and affirm you as His own.

Acts 10:47 (NKJV)

47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

1 Timothy 5:9–13 (NKJV)

9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. 11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

2 Timothy 2:17–19 (NKJV)

17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Galatians 2:4 (NKJV)

4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),

2 Corinthians 11:24–28 (NKJV)

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

Romans 8:14–17 (NKJV)

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Romans 8:26–30 (NKJV)

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.