God's view:
John 8:31
; John 3:15-16
; Acts 10:43
; l Jn. 5:1
-There are 2 conditions
for being delivered from sin: first condition is belief on Christ
and all that He did for us on the cross; second condition is that
of continuing or abiding in the Lord's word, one who continues
both to study and to do the word ( 2 Tim. 2:15
). The proof and
the evidence that a person "really believes" is that
he does continue and abide and dwell in the Lord's word. The proof
and the evidence that a person has made only a false or a superficial
profession is that he does not "continue" in the Lord's
word.
Hope:
John 15:9-11
; Gal. 4:4-6
; Rom. 8:15-17
; Rom. 9:26
-Jesus loves
believers with the same love His Father loves Him. He loves us
because we are God's children, we are brothers of His, we are
of the household of God,
we diligently seek God, and we obey His commandments.
John 15:4-5 ; Acts 17:11 ; 2JN9 -A believer must do something if he is going to follow Jesus' example and keep Jesus' commandments. A person cannot keep His commandments unless he knows them. Simply by keeping His words, one abides in His love.
John 12:23-26 ;14:28-29 ; Rom. 5:2 ; l Pet. 1:18 ; Jn. 17:13 ; Jere. 15:16 -Christ has one purpose for believers: the completion of their joy. Joy and glory come simply by doing the will of God.
Change:
l John 2:6
, 17
; 3:23-24
; 2 Jn 9
-John warns against a person
who does not stay in the teachings of Christ, then he does not
have God. He is not saved; he is not truly born of God.
2 Cor. 6:17-18
; l Jn. 2:15-16
; Jn. 14:21
; Col. 2:6
-"Continuing"
or "abiding" is conditional. A believer can break fellowship
with Christ, cease to keep his thoughts upon Christ, and turns
back to the world and to his worldly friends. The believer continues
in the love of Christ by drawing near and doing good and seeking
to please the Lord simply obeying His commandments. Christ always
loves, but it is up to us to walk "in" that love.