Welcome back to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Eastern.
In Lesson 29, we are going to study 1 John 2:6. You are going to learn how to abide in Christ and how to walk as He walked.
Let’s read our verse.
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to abide in Him ought to walk as Jesus walked.
Let's start by focusing on the first part of the verse: Whoever claims to abide in Him…
Whoever claims (3588. ho, hé, to, 3004. legó) refers to an individual who speaks, affirms, or asserts with words consistently.
Abide (3306. menó) means to remain in, stay in, continue in, dwell in, and wait in. It implies a condition that is lasting, uninterrupted, and without end (JFB).
In Him means in a relationship with Christ.
This part of the verse is referring to a person who consistently speaks about, affirms, and emphasizes with words that they remain in, continue in, wait in, and stay in a relationship with Jesus without interruption and without end.
In John 15:4-5, we read that Jesus calls us to abide in Him or remain in Him. To abide in Christ, we must continually be connected to Jesus, similar to how a branch is connected to the vine. If the branch becomes disconnected from the vine, it will be unable to bear fruit.
In order to abide in or remain in Christ, we need to be continually united together with Him.
John 15:4-5 (NIV) Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
In John 8:31, we read that in order to be His disciple, we are to continue in His word. The disciples were constantly with Jesus. We can be with Jesus by reading and studying about Him. He lived a life of love, compassion, humility, and obedience. Meditate on His teachings about forgiveness, selflessness, and caring for others.
John 8:31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.
In John 6:35, we read that Jesus wants you to come to Him. He wants to provide you with spiritual nourishment, so you never hunger and never thirst.
John 6:35 Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.
In John 15:10, we read that in order to abide in Christ or remain in His love, you need to keep His commandments. Keep in mind that when you are in His love, He will give you the strength to do so.
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
Now let’s focus on the final part of the verse: ought to walk as Jesus walked.
Ought (3784. opheiló) means to owe money, be in debt for, or be under moral obligation.
to walk (4043. peripateó) means to tread all around, to live, to maintain a certain walk of life or conduct (Bill Mounce), or to be occupied with habitually or continuously.
as (2531. kathos) means according as, just as, or even as.
Let’s bring the first part of the verse and the second of the part of the verse together.
1 John 2:6 says that whoever claims to abide in Christ or remain in Christ without interruption is under a moral obligation to live and conduct themselves according to the way Jesus lived and conducted Himself.
This doesn't mean that if you're not walking on water, healing the sick, or raising the dead, you're not abiding in Christ. It doesn't mean you have to walk perfectly, without sin, like Jesus did.
God knows that we still have a sinful nature.
Rather, we are called to walk in the likeness of Christ.
Martin Luther said, "It is not Christ's walking on the sea, but His ordinary walk, that we are called on to imitate.”
You are to look to Jesus as an example or pattern. You should live according to the principles and values that Jesus demonstrated during His earthly ministry.
Let’s take a look at how He walked.
In Philippians 2:6-8, we read that Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient, even to the point of death.
Philippians 2:6-8 Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
In John 8:28-29, we read that Jesus lived to please the Father and was completely dependent on Him. He always did what pleased the Father.
John 8:28-29 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. 29 He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
In order to walk as Jesus walked, you need to humble yourself, be obedient to God, even to the point of death, be completely dependent on Him, and do what pleases God.
In Acts 10:38, we read that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. It is the Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus to walk.
Acts 10:38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
In order to walk as Jesus walked, you will need the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s read some verses about the power that comes from the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Stop right now and ask God for the Holy Spirit to give you the strength and power to walk as Jesus walked. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Ask God to help you walk by the spirit, so that you do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
In Luke 11:13, we read that our Father in heaven, will give you the Holy Spirit if you ask Him.
Luke 11:13 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
As you walk through life, in the power of the Holy Spirit, your life will be more and more transformed into Christ’s image. This means that you will live in a way that reflects the life of Christ.
Jesus wants you to know that there are two paths you can take.
There is the narrow way and the broad way.
When you walk on the narrow way, you will find life.
When you walk on the broad way, you will find destruction.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
In Proverbs 4:25-27, we read that you are to carefully watch the path of your feet, and fix your eyes directly in front of you.
Proverbs 4:25-27 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.
In Psalm 119:105, we read that in order to stay on the path you need the light of the word of God, to light your path.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read that when you trust in the Lord, and in all your ways acknowledge Him, He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
In Hebrews 12:2, we read that you need fix our eyes on Jesus. We typically walk in the direction we are looking. When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you will walk as Jesus walked.
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In Ephesians 5:2, we read that we are to walk in love. Jesus taught us how to walk in love by loving others sacrificially. He loved us by giving Himself sacrificially to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross.
Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
In conclusion, God desires for you to have a deep and abiding relationship with Him and be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit so that you can walk as Jesus walked.
In order to abide in Christ and walk just as Jesus walked, remember the following:
Be deeply and continually connected to Jesus, just as a branch is connected to the vine.
Continue in His word.
Keep His commandments.
Humble yourself before God.
Be completely dependent on God.
Ask God for the Holy Spirit.
Be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Walk on the narrow way that leads to life.
Let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet.
Let the word of God light your path.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart.
Acknowledge God in all your ways.
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
Love others sacrificially.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to abide in Him ought to walk as Jesus walked.
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Thank you and God bless you,
Jeff M Newman
(Image by Mark Harper. Berean Standard Bible)
(NIV - Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.)
Lesson 29 - 1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to abide in Him ought to walk as Jesus walked.