Once you become a born-again Christian, your spiritual journey doesn’t stop there. On the contrary, it’s just beginning! In this next chapter, John describes the different stages of spiritual maturity. He tells us what is the main commandment and to watch out for antichrists. They are here and you must turn to the Holy Spirit to help you seek the truth. Let’s take each section one-by-one…
1 John 2
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Can You Please Stop Sinning?!
Why is it so hard for us humans to stop sinning? It has to be because we are so rooted in this fallen world that even when we know we’re doing something wrong, we do it anyway. And, I put myself in this category!
If you really love God and want to obey Him, then you have to do a complete 180. That’s true repentance. When you surrender your life to Christ, you must try to live like Jesus did. Then with the Holy Spirit’s help, you can strive to be Christlike.
A New Commandment
7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.
9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.
Loving one another — and not just fellow Christians — it means showing the love of Christ at all times!
Related: Are You Just Noise in the World🌎 or is God’s Love❤️ in What You Say?
Spiritual Maturity
12 I am writing to you who are God’s children
because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
13 I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
because you have won your battle with the evil one.
14 I have written to you who are God’s children
because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
and you have won your battle with the evil one.
Where are You in Your Spiritual Journey?
2021 will be my 15th year of being baptized and truly born again. I consider myself a mature Christian. As a “baby” Christian, I still needed to learn how to study the Bible, how to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, recognize my spiritual gifts, and be comfortable talking with God about everything (praying). I depended on small group Bible studies in my church and the mature Christians in those groups. I could ask them questions and I’d get the truth and a true understanding of how to discover God’s will for my life. Keep reading and I’ll tell you how you can start your spiritual journey to true salvation.
Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
It’s your choice — love the world or love Jesus — you can’t do both. If you try to live with one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom of God, it won’t work. Believe me! I’ve tried it. Pay attention to this next part as it’s happening in the world right now!
Warning about Antichrists
18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
There are many people in this world who want to lead you astray. Even in your church! Check out the video at the bottom.
Yes, you — a mere mortal — can have the Holy Spirit in your heart and all the gifts, power and benefits that come with it. He — the Holy Spirit — is the gift from God that we don’t deserve, but Jesus gives it willingly to those who invite Him into their lives.
Only the Holy Spirit can protect you from the Antichrist and the antichrists who are in this world today. Check out the study on 1 and 2 Thessalonians for more details on the Antichrist.
Living as Children of God
28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
29 Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.
1 John 2 NLT
Who are the TRUE Children of God?
We are all created by God in His image, but only born again Christians are the TRUE Children of God. Anybody who tells you different is lying to you!
Friend, the only way to become a child of God, receive the Holy Spirit, and to start on your spiritual journey of truth with Jesus, is to invite HIM into your heart. There is no other way!
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
Soli Deo Gloria! To God Alone Be the Glory!
How to Recognize if Your Church is Becoming Progressive with Alisa Childers…
- A lowered view of the Bible — it’s God’s inspired and authoritative Word.
- Feelings emphasized over facts — I disagree with …
- Essential Christian doctrines are open for reinterpretation — it’s outdated…
- Historic terms are redefined — love really means…
- The Gospel shifts from sin and redemption to social justice — good works…
Hmmm, a lot of this sound Catholic.
