I John 2

29 verses that shares with the reader who Jesus is, what He did and does, how we can be sure we know Him, what our spiritual state is, an exhortation to love God more than the world, and a glimse of the end of days so that we need to let the truth of God abide in us.

As I read through this passage, I am reminded how wretched I am. We are given precious, truth-filled words full of hope so that we can reject the lies and sinfulness of this world. Still we sin. We choose the wrong things often. How wonderful it is to know that we do not walk alone through this life. Verse 1 tells us we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ who came to save us and sanctify us for Himself. He is propitiation, or atonement, for our sin.

So, we know He is the Savior, but how can we know that we know Him, really know Him? A test here in this passage shares that we can know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. Many people claim to know Him, but don't really. Does this mean we can keep His commandments perfectly? No. If we were able to do that we wouldn't need a Savior. We are lost in our trespasses and sins. We need a Savior because we were born dead in those sins. By God's grace, through Christ we can be re-born spiritually. In Christ we can do what was impossible before. We can keep His word, follow His commandments, believe in Him and in His truth, and walk through this life with our eyes fixed on Him. Apart from Christ that is not possible.

We are challenged in this passage to love our brother, to put away hatred. Many people claim God for their own, but have hatred in their hearts for others. It is not possible to hate others and love God. Why? God is Love and in His is no darkness at all. The world is filled with false Christ's. People who seek to deceive us. We are warned not to listen to them. We have been given the truth, God's Word to direct us, give us hope, and so that we cannot be deceived by liars and false prophets. Those who are the children of God will seek to abide in Him, and to look toward His appearing confidently because we belong to Him.

Go through this passage very carefully and answer the following Questions.

1. What do you believe about the Bible? Is it God's Word, or a good book with some great teachings?

2. Who causes you grief in your life that has caused you to hate them? Maybe there are people who haven't caused you grief, but you just don't like them. Who does God say they are to you? How important is it for you to learn to love them?

3. What is your spiritual state? What needs to happen so that your spiritual state reflects Chris?

4. In this last hour who do you follow in this life? Are there teachers that speak false words that keep you occupied with things of this world to your detriment? Who's teaching do you need to stir away from so that you cannot be deceived?

5. Do you look forward to His coming, or does it give you a sense of dread? If dread, what can help you to turn this around so that you are eagerly awaiting the return of the Lord?