The Test of Lawlessness: 1 John 2:28-3:10

In this passage, John gives us yet another test to come to a better understanding of our relationship before God, whether we are born of Him or not. If we are lawless, we will fail the test.

If we pass this test, it is dependent on our present condition. Three things are true about Christians: they remain in Jesus (v. 28), they are born of Jesus (v. 29), and they are children of God (3:1-3). Remaining in Jesus reminds us of John 15, where Jesus tells us that He is the vine, and we are the branches. This remaining in Him is a relationship where we desire to know Him more fully, and the result of this is that we have greater confidence in Him. It would be impossible for us to practice righteousness if we were not born of Him. His work is essential, and because of this we are able to practice righteousness. Our relationship as children of God is like that relationship between father and child; it does not mean that we are God. Because we are children of God, we ought not fit in with the world. In fact, the world will not and cannot understand us if we are children of God.

Being in Jesus, then, is contrasted with lawlessness, and lawlessness is living without the law. If we abide in Christ, then we are not lawless. But we all sin, so how can any of us pass this test? Some of the nuances of the verbs are lost in translation, but the emphasis here is on continuing in sin. No true child of God will live in a state of sin. A person cannot be lawless and be a Christian at the same time. A person cannot be a Christian who continues to improve his or her skills in stealing, for example. We will sin, and we may even repeat sins from time to time, but true Christians will never delight in their sin. A true Christian will repent, and as we are told in 1:9, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We should not despair; God will purify us.