1 John 2:24, commentary and pictures

Let what was heard at the first stay living in the heart, and those in whom that first word remains stay in the Son and in the Father. That first word is the truth about the Father and the Son and their personality, held by continuing belief and obedience. Keeping it is shown by keeping His commandments and His word, by walking as He walked, and by loving the brother and staying in the light. Such continuing brings fellowship with the Father and the Son through the indwelling of Christ by the Holy Spirit, who teaches all truth and guards against deceivers. Remaining in this way secures the promise of eternal life and confidence at His appearing, but it is a condition of acceptance to be closely examined, for profession without keeping His word forfeits it.

Keeping the Original Message

Let what was heard from the beginning abide and remain living within, and as that original message remains believers continue in the Son and in the Father. The teaching received at the first must stay in them, not as a fading memory but as an abiding presence in the heart. Remaining in that original teaching is continuing in fellowship with God and Christ.

That message heard from the beginning is the truth and faith about the Father and the Son, to be kept by continuing belief and obedience. It is especially the truth first received about the personality of the Father and the Son, and holding to it joins believers with the Father and the Son in love. Letting that faith abide and remain within is what keeps them in the Son and in the Father. This keeping requires shunning profane and vain babblings and refusing to put trust in witchcraft for help or healing, but having faith in the living God. The path that leads to Endor or to Ekron is cursed and forbidden ground, where feet stumble and fall and the God of Israel is dishonored while Satan's power is exalted, yet there is a God in Israel with deliverance for all that are oppressed, and righteousness is the habitation of His throne.

The word from the beginning is the old commandment, and remaining in that original message keeps believers in the Son and in the Father. It is shown by keeping His commandments and keeping His word, by walking even as He walked. It is shown by loving the brother and abiding in the light rather than hating the brother and walking in darkness. That continuing brings the promise of eternal life and calls them to abide in Him so they will have confidence and not be ashamed when He appears.

The second chapter gives the knowledge of the truth by which a person walks in the light and becomes a partaker of the divine nature. It presents what Jesus teaches in plain requirement, to be understood without crowding the mind with many other things. It is the best sermon for bringing into practical life simple, trusting faith in God and not in human weakness. It calls for a genuine present experience of walking humbly with God that is more valuable than gold or silver, as God's little children led and guided by the Lord in every step. It means seeking God, trusting God as helper and the source of all wisdom, walking in the light of the Word of God, and holding steadfast faith in God without being led astray by any man's supposed wisdom or decoyed to follow any other man's judgment, with false science abolished.

Continuing in Father and Son

Continuing to believe and obey the truth first received about the personality of the Father and the Son joins believers with the Father and the Son in love. As what was heard from the beginning abides and remains within, they continue in fellowship with the Son and the Father. That remaining is remaining faithful to Jesus' words.

This continuing is God dwelling with His people through Jesus, in whom God is revealed. It fulfills the promise that those who love Him and keep His words will be loved by the Father, and the Father and the Son will make their abode with them. That abiding presence is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is the life of Christ in the soul, as near in one place as in another, working in and through everyone who receives Christ.

Those who have this unction from the Holy One know all things because they know the truth, of which no lie is a part. They reveal the indwelling by love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith. The anointing received abides within and teaches all truth, so they are guarded against those who would seduce them without needing deception.

Remaining in this way secures the promise of eternal life. It gives spiritual dominion over the powers of darkness and is kept by cultivating love. It calls little children to abide in Him so they will have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming when He appears.

Abiding is proved by knowing that He is righteous and that everyone who does righteousness is born of Him. It is proved by keeping His word, which perfects the love of God in the believer, and by walking as Christ walked. Knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent in this abiding way brings gladness to the soul, even unspeakable gladness.

Examining Heart and Holding Fast

The condition laid down is one of acceptance with the Father and must be closely examined, for many forfeit it and are weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and found wanting. Those who love self and do things that dishonor Christ have no true assurance and Christ cannot confess their name before the Father. To profess to know Christ while not keeping His word is deception, whereas keeping His word perfects the love of God in the believer and walking as Christ walked proves abiding in Him. Continuing in this way in the Son and in the Father secures the promise of eternal life.

What is heard from the beginning must therefore abide and remain within through urgent self-criticism and setting the heart in order instead of exalting self and disparaging others. A work of confession and forsaking of sin and diligent repentance must be done now, because souls are in peril in the great day of atonement. Yet by confession and repentance sinners can be cleansed from sin and made ready for the Lord's appearing, with not a moment to lose. Workers are to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit through earnest prayer and united prayer, with heavenly wisdom to plan and do God's work.

For those living in the last days this abiding means holding fast to the first love with the love of Christ in the heart, which gives fragrance to words and works, rather than resting in beautiful theories. Loss of this love is loss of all things, so those who have fallen must remember, repent, do the first works, be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain. Abiding means having the image of Christ's love stamped upon the mind so it can never be effaced, having Jesus evidently set forth crucified, becoming a partaker of the dignity of His suffering, and finding that the interpretation of this great mystery is love. It means holding steadfast faith in God without being led astray by any man's supposed wisdom or decoyed to follow any other man's judgment, with false science abolished. It requires shunning profane and vain babblings and refusing to put trust in witchcraft for help or healing, but having faith in the living God. The path that leads to Endor or to Ekron is cursed and forbidden ground, where feet stumble and fall and God is dishonored while Satan's power is exalted, yet there is a God in Israel with deliverance for all that are oppressed, and righteousness is the habitation of His throne.