Practice makes perfect

1 John 2:18-3:6 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. ²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. ²¹ I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. ²⁴ As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

²⁵ This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

²⁶ These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. ²⁷ As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

²⁸ Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. ²⁹ If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

3 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

⁴ Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. ⁵ You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. ⁶ No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

Throughout history, ever since Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven those who are followers of Christ have looked forward to His return.  Act 1:9-11 says:   And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”    In Mark 13, Jesus speaks of the day of His return, verse 26 says:   “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”      For many though, this anticipation of the return of Christ becomes a distraction, they become so fixed on what will be, that they miss what is. In today’s text John says:   It is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.      This “last hour,” then has lasted for nearly 2000 years. We should not be distracted, waiting for Jesus to return, but rather the anticipation of knowing that He will return, should be the driving force in all that we do.  2 Peter 3:8-14 says:    But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance…what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God… Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.

Our anticipation of Christ’s return should motivate us to live in a way that would hasten the coming day of God. There are two ways we can do that. First is to, ourselves, be found in peace, spotless and blameless. The second, since it is because of God’s patience, not wishing any to perish, the God has delayed the return of Christ, we should join Him in His work, fulfilling the commission of Christ, who says:    “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)    “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)     There are a variety of deceptions which can hinder people from hearing and receiving the gospel, from becoming disciples of Christ. There are those who doubt or deny God, there are those who follow and worship other gods; even within the church there are those who teach a different gospel, those who misrepresent Christ, who is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Redeemer and Savior of all.

In today’s text, John warns about what is behind all of these deceptions, antichrist. Antichrist is not the devil, but rather as John says:   Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.  Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.   Jesus Himself says:  "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)   "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)  John continues in the text saying:  Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.      It is not enough though to just say Jesus is Lord, the confession of Christ means that we acknowledge and confess our sins. Jesus is Lord of Lords, but He is not truly our Lord, if He is not first our Savior and Redeemer. Jesus Himself says:   “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23)

John says:  Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.  If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.      If we confess Christ, if we abide in Him we must then practice righteousness. That is what our life here and now is about. It is about practicing for the future when Christ returns, when He establishes His eternal kingdom. People practice to become better at what they do. We need to carefully choose what we practice, whether righteousness or lawlessness.   John says:  We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.  Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.      If we deny Christ or if we deny that He is our Redeemer, purifying us, just as He is pure, then we are of the spirit of antichrist. If we abide in Him, if we confess Him as Lord, Savior and Redeemer we are like Him, children of God. We cannot abide in Christ and abide in sin. We cannot practice both righteousness and lawlessness.

Heavenly Father, Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit I confess that You are one. I confess that Jesus You are Lord and Savior. Holy Spirit fill me and empower me, abide in me as I abide in You so that I may practice righteousness, that when Christ returns I will be perfect in His righteousness.    Amen