Practicing Righteousness (1 John 2:28-29)

PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS (1 JOHN 2:28-29): 

The author continues to write to the believers to abide in Christ. Then the author writes to some believers addressing them as little children, to abide in Him, so that when He appears they may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. The author after addressing the believers in common may be specifically addressing the young believers in order to encourage them to live a God-pleasing life for which the initial step is abiding in Him. When a person abides in Christ, the person gains confidence as he gains the inheritance in God. Because of the Confidence in God, a person will not go away from God though there may be stumbling times. A person easily reconciles with God by repenting and pleading for forgiveness, with the authority of being God’s Child. Once the relationship between God and the person is bridged, there will be a strong commitment to live for God and the person strive his best to make his living for God and not for anyone or anything else, thereby finding the balance of things in the world. A person who abides in God thereby will not be shameful at the coming of the Lord Jesus as a righteous judge.

The author continues to write that if the believers know that He is righteous, they may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him. Christ is perfect in His words, thoughts, and actions that no one who is genuine could find blame on him. Christ is impartial and He had set the standards and values for everyone to have a good attitude that is pleasing unto God. He did the talk, even while He was suffering at the cross, without sin in the midst of a sinful race. When a person who had accepted Christ and follows Him with a sincere heart, the person surely gets to know that He is righteous and strives hard to practice the same righteousness. A believer who is born of Christ needs to practice righteousness for affirming the new birth and if it is not so, then there needs a serious questioning of one’s own self about the belief and righteousness or rebirth in Christ.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.      What does Apostle John wants the little children to do?

2.      Why does Apostle John address the believers as little Children?

3.      Why the believers ought to abide in Christ?

4.      How we can abide in Christ?

5.      What believers ought to do? When?

6.      How do you think Christ is righteous?

7.      How can we practice righteousness?