Today is a new day with you, Lord and I thank you that Your mercies are new every morning. I thank you for mercifully dying for me and graciously giving me another day to serve you. Open my eyes to every opportunity that You send my way today! Amen.

Scripture Reference:

1 John 2

Today’s Message:

Last week we looked at the first chapter of this epistle and saw that His light gives fellowship with Him and with other believers. And we are to walk in light….it is a way of life! We also were reminded that we are all sinners in desperate need of His cleansing, but the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and a life of unrighteousness.

You didn’t look up the definition of righteousness last week but you need to know the meaning of the word. It is a very precise word in the Greek. It means that one lives according to the standards of God, according to what He calls “right living”. It is impossible to be righteous apart from salvation.

There are many atheists or followers of other false religions that, according to the world’s standards, are “good” people. But this word “righteousness” includes the motivation behind one’s actions. Even though one may do a beneficial humanitarian deed, it is deemed as evil apart from God’s initiative.

This is a very hard thing to understand until one accepts the total sovereignty of God. Even my “good deeds” are evil in God’s sight unless they are done completely for the glory of His Son, Jesus. Therefore, only those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord can perform righteous deeds!

Now…can you see the importance of living a life free of all unrighteousness?

Unrighteousness is living according to what is right in man’s own eyes but it is evil in God’s sight. Righteous living is obedient living! And the Holy Spirit dwelling within every believer leaves us with no excuse for living in darkness and sin.

God not only requires righteousness, He provides the way for us to live in His righteousness. That is the basic theme of Chapter 2 of I John….Obey, Abide, and Know!

Your Turn:

1. Read through Chapter 2 without stopping.
2. Highlight the following key words in the text and list what you learn about them.

• Abide (2:6, 10, 14, 17, 24, 27, 28)
• Know (2:3, 4, 5, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 29)

Add to your list from last week:

• …what you learn in ch.2 about sin. (2:1, 2, 12)
• …what you learned about John and about the recipients of this letter.

Reflection: 

Are you walking in God’s righteousness, or are you simply doing what is right in your own sight/thinking?

Closing Prayer:

Reveal to me Father any ways that are found in me that are evil in Your sight. And help me to be pleasing in Your sight. Amen.