Notes of Faith May 12, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
February 16, 2003
“ABIDING IN CHRIST”
I John 2:24-29
John the Apostle stresses the doctrine of abiding in Christ, which is absolutely essential for the believer if there is to be any power and effectiveness in their life. Questions may arise in our minds, however, such as: “Why is abiding in Christ necessary? What are the dangers of abiding in Christ? What is the result of abiding in Christ?” These pertinent questions are answered in our passage this week.
The need to abide. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father (v. 24). Abiding in Christ is inseparably linked with abiding in the Word. Abiding in Christ is absolutely essential to the enjoyment of fellowship with God and with God’s people (2:10), overcoming the evil one (2:14), and answered prayer (John 15:7).
The truth that abiding in Christ reveals. And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life (v.25). If we are abiding in Christ, we have eternal life in Christ. Life that never ends. Life with the eternal God. His eternal life! What a promise!!
The danger to abiding in Christ. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you (v. 26). The danger to those who are abiding in Christ is deceit. There are always those who are out to deceive the Christian so believers are to be on guard against the enemies of the cross.
The power for abiding in Christ. And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him (v. 26). The Holy Spirit teaches us how to distinguish truth from error (I John 4:2, 5-6). He may use human teachers to accomplish this (Ephesians 4:11-16). “As He has taught us” becomes the standard for our abiding in Christ (Philippians 3:16).
The fruit of abiding in Christ. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him (vv. 28-29).
Confidence before Him at His coming. If our associations in this life are of such a nature so to exclude Jesus, then how can we expect to be confident before Him when He comes for His church?
Conduct that is consistent to our calling. We practice righteousness because we know that He is righteous.
Bottom Line: Abide essentially means: to stay, to live, to dwell, to last out, to endure or to continue. We might summarize the meaning of “abide” as a confident determination to let His Word control us and to follow Him in His ways. This results in a serene, confident sense of at-home-ness in our relationship with God and His people.
God bless as you set your heart and mind on abiding in Christ our Lord.
In His love,
Pastor Charles Covington
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 3:7-8
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
1 John 3:14
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.
1 John 3:17-18
whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
1 John 2:3-6
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
Let us strive to abide in Christ and think and act like Him!
Pastor Dale