Assurance of salvation and walking in obedience 


1 John 2 ESV
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 

I am writing to you, little children, 

because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 

I am writing to you, fathers, 

because you know him who is from the beginning. 

I am writing to you, young men, 

because you have overcome the evil one. 

I write to you, children, 

because you know the Father. 

I write to you, fathers, 

because you know him who is from the beginning. 

I write to you, young men, 

because you are strong, 

and the word of God abides in you, 

and you have overcome the evil one. 

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 


illustration:


 There was a  man known for his disobedience in a small village. He decided to turn his life around after a deep and personal encounter with God. His act of obedience to love his neighbours and serve the community not only changed his own life but also changed the hearts of those around him. The villagers were astonished to see him sacrificing his time and resources for them. It became clear that his obedience was a reflection of his salvation and transformed character, showing that true faith naturally expresses itself in actions that reflect God's love. The villagers noticed something new and different about him and he experienced an assurance of salvation. 


English Standard Version 1 John 2:1
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.


The author, (who is not necessarily, John, scholars have debated this over the years)  uses the term "little children" because he's not coming across like some kind of authoritarian but as an older father  appealing to his warmly loved  believing audience . 


Ideally he doesn't want us to sin and that is what he is encouraging. But when he says, "But if anyone does sin" He knows we will. That's why we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. That's why when we do sin and confess it before the Lord It is the righteousness of Jesus that God looks at Instead of our righteousness - All our righteousness is as filthy rags as the scriptures teach.


English Standard Version 1 John 2:2
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.


He is the propitiation, meaning the means by which sins are forgiven, not only ours but also for the sins of the whole world that no man shall boast of good works before the Lord. 


English Standard Version 1 John 2:3
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.


Once again, the author is writing that we may not sin. That's how we know we have come to know him, if we are by the Holy Spirit's power keeping his commandments.


We should be walking in obedience. Not being sinless because that would be impossible. But there should be a marked difference in our lifestyles. We should be more obedient to God. Notch by notch, day by day, we should be becoming sanctified by the Holy Spirit's power. We should be growing in the likeness of Christ. Our old ways should be falling off and new ways we should be putting on. We should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We should be no longer gratifying the sins of the flesh. 


And we should be blessed that we are being victorious. But this shouldn't lead to pride. But in an assurance of salvation as we see the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.


English Standard Version 1 John 2:4
Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,


Having said this, if you say you know Him and you don't walk with Him, and are not obedient to Him, and don't make Him Lord of your life, then you are a liar and clearly you don't know the Lord so why say you do? Just be truthful with the Lord. Confess your sins before Him and don't try to pull the wool over His eyes. 


English Standard Version 1 John 2:5
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:


Therefore whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. In other words just be honest with Him. Just walk with Him. Be close to Him. Be obedient to Him. Forsake what this world has to offer and just walk with Him. You will be truly blessed if you do this. You will know Him and you will have assurance of salvation. 


English Standard Version 1 John 2:6
whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.


And if you say you abide in Him, be truthful in your ways and walk in the same way that He does. 


English Standard Version 1 John 2:7
Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.


English Standard Version 1 John 2:8
At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.


John here relies on a paradox. The command to love is both ancient and fresh. The command is old because believers received it from the beginning. It's the word they have already heard. It refers to when they first became Christians and heard the gospel message originally. It's not an additional requirement later. 


It's also a new commandment as well because it is “true” in Him and in you. 


The command finds its ultimate definition and illustration in Jesus, who declared it as a new commandment to love one another as he loved them. The newness isn't in the command's existence but in how it is practiced through Christ's example. 


The command to love belongs to the age of light that began with Christ's coming, not to the old age of darkness. 


English Standard Version 1 John 2:9
Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.


1 John 2:10 ESV
Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.


1 John 2:11 ESV
But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.


If you say you live in God’s light but hate another believer, you’re lying to yourself. You’re actually in darkness. Your words don’t match your actions. That’s not real faith—that’s just pretending.


Here’s why: Love comes from God. If you love someone, it proves you know God. But if you don’t love, you don’t know God. Why? Because God is love. It’s that simple.


You can’t say you love God while hating your brother. It doesn’t work. You can’t love God, who you can’t see, if you won’t love your brother, who you can see every day. One proves the other.


When you hate someone, darkness takes over your mind. You lose your way spiritually. You can’t see clearly anymore because hatred blinds you. You stumble around, confused, with no direction.


But when you love your brother, you stay in the light. You know where you’re going. You don’t trip up or get lost. Love keeps you steady and grounded spiritually. It gives you balance and shows you the right path to follow.


English Standard Version 1 John 2:12
I am writing to you, little children, 
      because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.


1 John 2:13 ESV
I am writing to you, fathers, 
because you know him who is from the beginning. 
I am writing to you, young men, 
because you have overcome the evil one. 
I write to you, children, 
because you know the Father.


1 John 2:14 ESV
I write to you, fathers, 
because you know him who is from the beginning. 
I write to you, young men, 
because you are strong, 
and the word of God abides in you, 
and you have overcome the evil one.


He writes to those he calls "little children" to make them know they are secure in Christ. Their sins are forgiven through Jesus and they know God as their Father.


He writes to those he calls fathers, telling them that they have a deep mature knowledge of Christ from long spiritual experience and they understand who Jesus truly is. 


And to the young men he writes that they are spiritually strong, the word of God lives in them, and they have already defeated evil through their faith. They have a real spiritual power and victory. 


In essence it is reassuring that all three groups possess real spiritual accomplishments and good standing with God, whether it be forgiveness, deep knowledge, or victorious strength.  Which means they can be assured of their salvation. They are being obedient. 


It's worth mentioning, though. Obedience isn’t something they’re being graded on—rather, obedience naturally flows from and confirms genuine faith. Those whose hearts don’t condemn them have confidence before God because they keep his commandments and do what pleases him (Obedience is both the fruit of salvation and the evidence that salvation is real).


English Standard Version 1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


English Standard Version 1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.


English Standard Version 1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.


In 1 John, the author describes three ways the world pulls us away from God. First, there’s physical craving—wanting things our body desires. Second, there’s visual temptation—being drawn to things we see. Third, there’s pride—wanting status, possessions, or power to feel important.


These three aren’t separate problems. They all come from the same root issue: turning away from God and toward the world’s way of thinking instead.


The author makes a hard choice clear: you either love God or you love the world—you can’t do both. This doesn’t mean God hates the world he created. It means God opposes the system of values that says “get more stuff,” “look good,” and “be powerful”—the things that matter to people who’ve forgotten about God.


Why does the author write this way? He wants to help Christians feel sure they really are saved. He’s giving them tests to check if they’re truly believers. One big test is this: what do you actually want? Your desires show what you really believe and who you really follow. If you crave what the world offers, that shows you’re not truly following Jesus. But if you’re turning away from those things and toward God instead, that’s a sign you belong to him.


So the author uses these three desires as a mirror. When you look at what you want most—comfort, appearance, status—you can see whether your heart is really with God or still chasing after the world’s promises.


Conclusion:


The worldly desires we’ve discussed—craving, visual temptation, and pride—reveal what we truly love. But here’s the critical truth: if you really love Jesus, you’re saved. And if you’re saved, you’ll want to obey him.


Salvation comes through faith in Jesus. But we know we are truly saved when our love for Christ shows up in our obedience to him. Think about it this way: if you genuinely love someone, you’ll want to do what they ask. If you claim to love Jesus but have no desire to obey him, you should seriously question whether you’re really saved. Real love for Christ always leads to wanting to follow his commands.


This isn’t about earning heaven through good works. Instead, when Jesus saves you, he changes your heart. He gives you a new desire to obey him. You start wanting to do what he asks because you love him, not because you have to.


So when you turn away from the world’s empty promises—the stuff, the looks, the status—and turn toward God’s way instead, you’re proving something real happened inside you. Your obedience shows that Christ actually lives in you and has changed who you are. That’s how you know your salvation is real.