Like Father Like Son Series

Like Father – Like Son

1John 2:29-3:3

Review

The first two chapters of John’s letter focus on the God of light. John passed on the message He heard from Christ that was still reverberating in his ears and heart – God is light with any speck of darkness. God is pure, God is perfect, God is truth, God is eternal life. John touched on a number of implications for those who long to connect with Him. He used words like “fellowship”, “abide in”, “be in”,

John touched on just a few requirements for intimate fellowship with the God of light.

1. Live in purity (Walk in the light)

2. Confess sin

3. Go to Christ as an advocate

4. Give attention to His instructions

5. Love His kids

6. Keep growing deeper

7. Stop preferring the world and its stuff over God

8. Avoid deception by the antichrist by letting the word abide in you and you abide in Christ

8. Beware of the Antichrist 2:18-28

a) The prophesied antichrist has already appeared 2:18-19

b) Every believer has a special anointing 2:20-21

c) The antichrist opposes the true nature of Christ 2:22-23

d) Every believer has protection against the Antichrist 2:24-28

(1) Allow the truth to abide in you (anointing) 2:24

When we allow the truth to firmly imbed itself in our life and thinking it motivates us to draw closer and firmly connect to the author of that truth.

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. 1 John 2:24

(2) Abide in the Father and the Son 2:26-28

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. 1 John 2:28

Not only does continual connection with Christ protect us from the deception of the antichrist but it will result in confidence when He physically returns rather than shame because we failed to cultivate our connection with Him in His absence through the available avenues of connection like phone calls (prayer), reading His letters (the Word), writing letters to Him (journaling). John used the term “abiding” extensively in His writing because Jesus impacted John with the same concept.

Jesus clearly taught the necessity of “abiding” connecting with Him. The basic meaning of the word "abide" has to do with remaining, to stay, dwell, live, last, keep on, persevere. The term finds it greatest significance by what or who it's connected to. In this case we are commanded to abide "in Christ" or "in God". John employed three simple words to express one monumental concept.

What does it mean to abide "in him"? When you think “abide” – think connect; think intimate relationship. Jesus used the term to express His own cherished relationship with the Father.

"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. John 14:10-11

Jesus expanded the concept of abiding in John 15

1. Jesus as the true grape vine and source of fruitfulness.

2. The Father as the master gardener or vinedresser who cultivates the vineyard.

3. The connected branch destined for fruitfulness (no fruit, fruit, more fruit, much fruit).

4. The disconnected branch destined for destruction

I. Jesus: the True Vine source of fruituflness15:1a

II. The Father: the Master Gardener stimulator of fruitfulness 15:1b

III. The connected branches destined for fruitfulness

A. The Father’s encouragement produces fruit from no fruit 15:2a

B. The Father’s cleansing produces more fruit from fruit 15:2b

C. Good Connection (abiding) produces much fruit 15:4-5

IV. The disconnected branches: the dried up and fruitless ones 15:6

V. The results of connection 15:5, 8-11

A. Much Fruit 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

B. Answered prayer 15:7

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

If we are firmly connected to Jesus and His words take root in our heart, what we wish will be what He wishes and what we ask will He wishes will be done through our asking.

C. Glorification of the Father 15:8

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

The disciples of Jesus were recognized as “having been with Jesus” because of their life.