My dad confessed to me later in life that he grappled with whether or not he was saved. He finally decided to carve the date he put this fear to rest in our oak tree in the backyard. I could have told him he was secure based on these verses in 1 John. He did the right thing enough times in my presence for me to establish a pattern of him keeping the Lord’s commandments, and this wasn’t in a pharisaical way, but according to the truth written in his heart from his youth.
No one is saved if he or she does not exhibit a pattern of obeying the word of God, or so we might think from reading 1 John. He or she is a liar. This is blunt for sure, “but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.” (1 John 2:5)
The importance of this principal is not so much that others will know, but that we will have assurance of our salvation. We should be constantly reassessing ourselves that I would never have done a thing like that outside of Jesus. And it’s not so much our obedient acts, but our faith in times of trial. If you are at peace under severe pressure, there’s only one explanation, and that is you possess the peace of Christ.
John talks about what should happen “if anyone sins.” To the mature, this is as simple as the exhalation of air void of oxygen. Righting the ship is a real time confession to God that you’re truly sorry, and confession to others if one is necessary.
John goes on to talk about young men who’ve fought the battles in their youth to gain enduring faith and to know right from wrong. “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:14) As it says in Hebrews, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)
Now that I’m an older man, there are many scenarios in which my rote response is “been there, done that.” The hacking is over and you’re walking a well-beaten path.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary (Isaiah 40:30–31)
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