And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
Abide – to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): — abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand
1) Practice righteousness. The one who is abiding in Christ is seeking to do what is right first and foremost. He longs to be like Christ in every way. His practice is to do right not look for ways to ‘get away’ with doing wrong.
2) Understand that we are God’s children now and know that someday when He appears we shall be like Him. Our hoping in His return and our transformation purifies us and is an integral part of abiding in Christ.
3) Those who are abiding in Christ are not abiding in sin. They are not those who are practicing and pursuing sinful things. They are pursuing God and longing for His appearing.
As the apostle James wrote, ‘…keep oneself unstained by the world.’ James 1.27b. For the one who is standing in Christ, abiding in His truth, avoiding the ugly stain of sin is crucial. We’ve been washed clean and pure. The blood of Jesus cleanses us as we abide in Him.
Keep the Faith.
Ventanas 