Under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit, the Apostle John writes:
“And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.”
1 John 2: 28-29
John speaks as a father to his children about who they are, and how they should conduct themselves as we await the return of Christ Jesus to this earthly realm. John had seen Jesus die, and be raised back to life because He said He would. John had seen Jesus ascend up to Heaven. But he knew Jesus would return because He said He would. John does not say,’if’ He comes back,” he says ‘when’ He comes back.
Everything changed when Christ Jesus, Son of God, came down from the Heavens into this world as Son of Man; fulfilled the old Law and brought the covenant of grace to all who will believe. Everything will change again when He returns to reign on the Throne of David. When that will happen – only the Father knows.(Matthew 24:36) Jesus said, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a hour when you do not expect Him.(Matt 24:44)
John is asking the children of God to be ready. Jesus could come again any day, any hour. John urges us to be doing the things we will be pleased to be involved in when Christ stands before us. Things that He will look upon and say, “Well done, my Friend.” What are those things? John simply says they are: “what is right”.
When we are born of Him, that is ‘born again’, our desire is to do “what is right”. That does not mean we always ‘do’ what is right, but we want to. As we continue in Him, the more we will want to. As we continue in Him, the Holy Spirit continues to work with us as He sanctifies our soul, and mortal body, and grows our spirit man. As we continue in Him, we become more like Him. We realize more and more that He is in us, and we are in Him. He is in us loving, and we are in Him being loved. That inspires us to do ‘what is right’.
As Paul wrote: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Poppa B.
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, On Line