BASIC BIBLICAL PRECEPTS WITH HOLY SPIRIT GUIDANCE!

Basic biblical precepts with Holy Spirit guidance



This is a very interesting study because the Apostle John delves into different realms but they tie in with each other based on the backdrop of the subject regarding seduction. One of the verses is not very complicated but very difficult to break down in simple terms. There is another verse that is one of the most popular verses in the Bible but it is almost always taken out of context.

In verse 24 John mentions the word " That " twice. I would agree it is an extremely simple word but powerful because the Apostle is urging them to go back to the simple for a variety of reasons. At the end of verse 24 a true Christian is defined in biblical terms.

I will be going over 1 John 2: 24-29. I must confess this is one of the most difficult articles I ever wrote because John puts together two subjects that are the same yet different.The key is to understand the progression so we can follow the order and stay strong in Jesus Christ.

In verse 25 we are promised eternal life through Jesus Christ if we meet the conditions of verse 24. In verse 26 he reminds them of the seducers/deceivers in the various fellowships. In verse 27 which is an extremely difficult verse to break down (I promise I will make it simple) if we meet the standards of verse 24 we will have an anointing straight from God in our hearts which serves multiple purposes. Verse 28 talks about the believers judgment seat in heaven but it is almost never spoken of in proper context. This scripture verse is quoted all the time. Verse 29 reminds us that God is righteous and we should be living the same way in our journey through life.

(24) "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (25)  And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life. (26) These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (27) But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. (28)  And now, little children, abide in Him that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (29) If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him." 1 John 2: 24-29. 

In verse 24 "That" is used twice. The first time is a strong urge to stay or go back to the origin of the original doctrine and teachings that the Apostle John and other great Bible expositors taught them regarding doctrine and biblical precepts. For example doctrine would be Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day. A teaching would be John going over John chapter 15 which is the great abiding chapter in the gospel of John. Obviously these are two examples he went over with his congregation but there were many more that he and others elaborated on in great detail. "That" is mentioned again in the same verse and this is a promise from God in that they remained in the basic biblical teachings and refused to be deceived by some sort of lie that had nothing to do with Jesus Christ. At this point they would be continuing in the Son and the Father. These are the true genuine Christians.

In verse 25 God promises eternal life to these Christians. Technically speaking eternal life starts when we first became born again Christians but in this context since these believers in Christ chose to be biblical sound on a daily basis they were continuing in the Son and the Father. Eternal life here probably means heaven. It is not referring to the person that accepted Jesus Christ in his or her heart 20 years ago and just does not care about God.

In verse 26 John once again reminds them about the seducers in the various fellowships. A seducer is one that entices someone or a group away from the original truth. Not only do they have to live with this lie but will be responsible and accountable for deceiving others into a pit of darkness. John is extremely concerned with these people because he did not want his work to be in vain but that was not what he was primary concerned with because he cared for them as little children and desired them to have a continual fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Verse 27 could be perhaps one of the most difficult verses in the Bible but remember it is only for those Christians that are meeting the guidelines of verse 24. If you need to review these verses it is in the fifth paragraph of this article.

These true Christians received an anointing from the Holy Spirit Himself and it abided in them. Yes they were taught by the greatest teachers but no man taught them this "Anointing." This gift from the Third Person of the Trinity taught them all truths (present tense) and it was pure truth which means there was no lie in this teaching. The seducers were liars so John was reminding them that they should be able to discern their false theology because they chose to remain in the basic biblical teachings that were originally taught to them which gave these Christians true instruction from heaven.The result was these unbelievers got saved through the Person of Jesus Christ. They were blessed and had such joy in their hearts.

The Apostle John adds an extension to this verse by saying, ..."Even as it taught you, ye shall abide in Him." John gets very detailed in John chapter 15 but he adds another insight on how to abide in Jesus Christ because he is saying this anointing is in you, teaches you in the present tense because you chose to persevere in sound biblical principles. He was saying this will prop you to abide in Jesus Christ. The moral is "Stay" with basic Bible precepts with an earnest spirit, understand the Holy Spirit is witnessing in our spirit and continue to abide in Jesus Christ as a lifestyle.

Verse 28 is always quoted but almost never in context. "Before this passage says ... "When He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" the Bible states "And now little children, abide in Him." John just got through explaining in detail these basic truths in Scripture and "Then" he says we will have motive for the right reason to abide in Jesus Christ. 

It is not until we get to verse 29 that reviews God is righteous and we ought to be living pure lives before Jesus Christ. At this point we will be confident at the judgment seat in heaven which is reserved for believers in Jesus Christ as opposed to being ashamed. As strange as this may sound the emotion of shame is possible in heaven even though it is a perfect place. John is comparing the words confident and ashamed in the same verse.

I would like to give some more thoughts regarding this particular passage. This situation is somewhat similar to the Ephesus church in the book of Revelation but they forgot that love was supposed to be residing in their hearts. They would have kicked these seducers out so fast that ten seconds would not have even expired. This other group the Apostle John is talking to had love in their hearts but were very susceptible to a "New" teaching.

Truth is older than error. For example before the fall there was nothing but truth until Eve ate the piece of fruit that she was not supposed to digest and then Adam took a bit. This was a new teaching that was against the will of God and as a result all of humanity had the curse of sin from that point into future generations.

When we got saved with the truth of Jesus Christ we are not suppose to exchange that for a lie. This is when the real problems start. We need to remain in the Bible so we can have holy union with God through His Son Jesus Christ. If you think this is a simple message why are so many Christians defecting from the faith?

Abiding in Jesus Christ helps us abstain from sin because the Lamb of God is pure. The seducing message may look so good on the outside but it will cause much harm on the inside. I hope nobody ever forgets that we were originally saved through Jesus Christ and given eternal life. We should believe and live the way we were originally taught. We did not get redeemed through some strange teaching. Nobody but God can give us eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. No church, no man or some other entity can do this for us. When someone claims to know the "Answers" run the other way if they are not going to the Bible.

I did say verse 27 (this verse is in the fifth paragraph) is very detailed but it is only obvious that if we as Christians do not have inward confirmation of the Holy Spirit witnessing in our hearts with sound biblical doctrine and principles then what good is great teaching from a person who goes straight to Scripture and righty divides the word of God? Just because a singer hits all the notes does not mean they are necessarily reaching the souls of other people listening to the song.

The conviction to stay in the Bible every day with earnestly before God with the sustainment power of the Holy Spirit helps us preserve against seducers/deceivers that are trying to lure us away from the truth in Jesus Christ. 

I wrote regarding a highly quoted verse (28) about first abiding in Jesus Christ so we can have confidence before Jesus Christ when we are judged as Christians in heaven. Jesus Christ persuades us with His love and as a result we do not desire to sin. This will happen after the rapture of the church. The what we did and why we did it will be analyzed and then we will receive our reward. If we continue in Jesus Christ through all our temptations we will have confidence and joy in the sight of Him.  According to verse 28 we will either have confinence or shame as we give account of our life to Him.

If you are an unbeliever in Jesus Christ according to the Bible you will have to face a different judgment at the Great White Throne for all the sins you ever committed in this life because if this is the case you are under the full weight of the law. If you reject Jesus Christ in this judgment your case will be in shambles before holiness and righteousness. It would have to be obvious that you need to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your very own Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and inviting the Son of the Living God into your life. Only God through His Son Jesus Christ can save you and give you eternal life.

I hope you just made that eternal decision so you can learn biblical precepts from the Bible in the power of the Holy Spirit and allow this strength to guard you against sin and discern lying deceivers in this world that want to do you harm by enticing you away from the truth. Trust the Bible because the Apostle John mentions seducers/deceivers on several occasions that are straight from the devil. They live this lie as a lifestyle but I am hoping you will live a lifestyle of abiding in Jesus Christ. He is the truth and there is no lie in Him.

God Bless you,
Bob D.