HAVING warned his readers of the danger of anit-Christ, John urges them to continue in Christ, and gives instruction as to how this achieved, and the true signs of such achievement.

In verses 28 & 29 of chapter two John urges us to continue in Christ. He addresses us as dear children, as joint heirs with him of the family of God. His argument for perseverance in the faith of Christ is that we might be confident when Christ appears at his return and not ashamed. John goes on in verse 29 to remind us of the truth - that Christ is righteous in himself, and working righteousness for sinners, so that all who are truly born again of the Spirit are those who do right. Chapter 3 commences with the blessed and glorious blessing which comes with being born again. God has loved us with lavished love by being called children of God. What a glory and a privilege this is. God as Father welcomes into his heavenly family. This an eternal love in his eternal family.

Because of this wonderful privilege the world does not know us, because the world did not know him. John goes on the tell us what is the tremendous hope and certainty attached to being children of God. We do not what heaven will be like, but this we do know that we shall be like Jesus. This will occur when Jesus returns, when we will be changed and receive a resurrection body like Christ's which will be completely free from all unrighteousness, perfect in every way. We shall be totally free from sin. Totally free from death and where all the evidence of death of sin is removed where there will be no more sorrow, sickness or anything to spoil perfect joy.

We will also see Jesus in his heavenly splendour which will be more glorious than than the glory the disciples saw him clothed in of the mount of transfiguration. We will be able to behold his glory without any impediment, and be filled with the glory of this divine perfection. Because of this knowledge our great desire here on earth to be pure as he is pure - that is to live in holiness.

What will this mean in our living as Christians in this earthly life. John tells us in verse 4-6. Because sin is lawlessness and expressed disobedience to God and despising of God; and that Jesus came to take away our sins, and that in him is not sin, no one who lives in him will keep on sinning. The new holy life expressed in the soul new born it is impossible for us to keep on sinning, and when we are overcome by some sin, this will so grieve us that we will be repentant and seek to be cleansed afresh by the blood of Jesus. It is characteristic of the true believer in Jesus that when we are overcome by some sin, we are poor in spirit, mourn deeply for our sinfulness, and are meek and lowly as we contemplate how we have let our Saviour down. As Jesus tells us in the beatitudes this results in our hungering and thirsting after righteousness, which Jesus promised would be quenched by forgiveness, and the sanctifying presence and work of the Spirit of God dwelling within us.

John tells us that in this hungering and thirsting after righteousness causes us to seek righteousness above all things, and to be like Christ in his righteousness.

This is the evidence of true Christianity and being born again of the Spirit of God is that we seek righteousness. There are only two bodies of people in the world as far as God is concerned. There is those who through new life in Christ seek righteousness; and those who are still in the family of Satan who do what is sinful.

So John opens up the truth to us in verses 9 and 10. He tells us that no one who is born of God continues in sin, but from the heart turns away from sin in all its forms.

When we ask how this can be so, John tells us the truth of being born again of the Spirit. He tells us in verse 9 that God's seed remains in us. This sees is the life of God planted in the soil of the renewed heart by the Spirit, which grows and floods the soul with the character of Jesus in his holiness. New birth is the resurrection of the soul, which suffered death through Adam's sin.

In verse 10 John tells us that this is the distinguishing evidence of being children of God by new birth. It distinguishes because such new life is not seen in the rest of humanity who are still children of the devil.

We need to understand this. Many human beings still in the world can be very moral, and seen to be caring of others in social activity, but it is all outward and does not touch the soul, because the soul is still dead in trespasses and sin.

So John ends these verses before us with a statement of truth. He says that anyone who does not show this new life in Christ, that is do what is right, is not a child of God. They are still under Satan's dominion, and ends with this cogent statement 'nor is anyone who does not love his brother', and this means a fellow believer born again of the Spirit.