Treasuring God's Truth in Your Heart

The Ready Children of God

1 John 2:28-29: 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. [1]

 John uses verse 28 to summarize chapter 2 and verse 29 to prepare us for chapter 3. [2] Verse 28 reminds believers that they long to see Jesus Christ’s physical return, and have assurance of salvation when He returns, because He has redeemed them from their sins. [3] True Christians respond to Jesus’ eminent return by obeying God’s Word and proclaiming the resurrected and returning Christ. [4] Verse 29 teaches that if people have been born of God they will “practice righteousness” because their heavenly Father is righteous. [5]

 These verses help us see two truths. As Dr. Lane Tipton teaches, “Saving faith rests [on Christ] and is restless [to serve Christ].” [6] Salvation is exclusively through Christ’s gracious redemptive work and the Holy Spirit producing faith in us. [7] The truth that Christ has earned our salvation is the motivation for biblical living. [8] While our actions do not earn salvation, faith in Christ leads to serving Him. [9] May the Holy Spirit give us grace to rest and be restless for our Lord.

This blog was written by Seth Dunn

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Logos Bible Software. All Scripture references will be ESV unless noted otherwise.

[2] Simon J. Kistemaker. New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986), 287.

[3] Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John, 287-288.

[4] Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John, 288.

[5] Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John, 288-289.

[6] Lane Tipton. “Christ as life giving Spirit, the law gospel distinction, distinction between archetypal and ectypal communion bonds.” (Lecture: Westminster Theological Seminary. Glenside, PA, March 18, 2017).

[7] Ephesians 2:1-10.

[8] Philippians 2:1-11; Colossians 3:1-17; etc.

[9] James 2:14-26.

Treasuring God's Truth in Your Heart

1 John 2:5-6: A True Relationship

1 John 2:5-6: But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. [1]

 Verse five reminds us that Christianity is not a list of rules to white knuckle through: to truly keep God’s Word requires loving God. [2] If we want to know we have a relationship with the Trinity we must have love, otherwise we do not have true fellowship with the Triune LORD. [3] Verse six also helps prepare us for a discussion on how loving Christian siblings is a necessary evidence of real faith. [4] True believers love God and other Christians.

 But Scripture and experience tell us that no one can live these two loves flawlessly. Pastor John Calvin reminds us that when we strive to keep these laws “according to the measure of grace given unto [us]” we are living faithfully. [5] If perfection were left for us to reach, we would not need Christ’s perfect work. Christians: our calling is to keep loving God and other believers with the Holy Spirit’s help.

 If you are reading this blog and are convicted that you are trying to obey God’s laws without loving Him you need to pray for love. Certainly, past trials and present circumstances may make loving God hard. But if you are just obeying Christ’s laws because you have to and not because you love Him, please confess your need for love. Love for the Triune God is needed for true obedience, whereas loveless obedience is self-focused self-righteousness. Prayerfully, you will grow in a relationship with the Trinity that results in life-long love rather than relation-less servitude.

This blog was written by Seth Dunn

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Logos Bible Software. All Scripture references will be ESV unless noted otherwise.

[2] John Calvin. Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles. Trans. & ed.: John Owen. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1979), 175.

[3] Calvin, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles, 176.

[4] Calvin, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles, 176.

[5] Calvin, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles, 176.