1Jn 2:28-3:10
And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming. Children of God If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him.
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God. The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters.
“Abide in God.” This is the fundamental advice for those who truly want to follow the Lord. We must never let go of His hand! Instead, we should seek to be more united with our Father in love, thus preparing ourselves for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, whether it be a personal encounter with Him at the hour of our death or, if we are still alive, it could be His glorious return at the end of time. May we not be ashamed when we stand before Him, but may we go forth to meet Him with confidence, having done our utmost to live according to God’s will. What joy it will be to meet Him, whom we love and who loves us! The whole Church must await the return of Her Lord with the vigilance of the bride, day after day, hour after hour.
The second chapter concludes with a reference to justice, and at the beginning of the third chapter, the importance of justice is emphasized once again: “All who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters.”
Therefore, the children of God are recognized by their love for their brother. In them, St. John’s exclamation in the opening verse of the third chapter has become a reality: “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.”
This love makes us capable of resisting sin and setting out on the path of holiness. This love can conquer all. It is this love that, if we let it in and give ourselves completely to it, can destroy the works of the devil within us as well. Indeed, “The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
Sin entered the world through the seduction of the devil and the disobedience of man, carrying forward his work of destruction throughout human history. For this reason, all men need God’s forgiveness. We know that, through His death and resurrection, Our Lord atoned for our sins and destroyed the work of the devil. Now, this victory must become a reality for each of us. Through the grace Jesus earned for us, which we accept by faith, we are capable of resisting sin. This is why St. John says, “No one who abides in Him sins.” He is certainly referring to the sins we deliberately commit and do not repent for. These are a sign that the Spirit of God is not at work in us, for, as today’s passage says, “Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.”
The First Epistle of John makes it clear to us once again: “Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God.”
Therefore, we are called to remain in the Lord, cooperate with His grace, and love our neighbor. Then, we will be able to await His coming with full confidence.
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Meditation on the Gospel of the Day: https://en.elijamission.net/2022/03/17/