What is the meaning of 1 John 2:29? If you know that He is righteous – Scripture points unambiguously to the flawless righteousness of our Lord: “Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments” (Psalm 119:137). – The Son shares that perfect moral purity: “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One” (Acts 3:14). – Knowing His character is foundational. God’s nature sets the standard; His righteousness is not an abstract idea but a living reality we encounter in Christ (1 John 1:5; 1 Peter 2:22). – When John says “If you know,” he assumes believers have come to a settled conviction about who God is—through Scripture, the Spirit’s witness, and personal experience. you also know – John moves from doctrine to deduction. Because God is righteous, certain conclusions follow. – Biblically, true knowledge of God is never merely theoretical; it produces discernment (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20). – The apostle’s logic invites believers to connect the dots: what we understand about God must shape how we evaluate people, starting with ourselves. that everyone who practices righteousness – John shifts focus to human conduct. “Practices” (present tense) pictures an ongoing pattern, not an isolated act. – Genuine believers are not sinless, yet their habitual direction is toward obedience (1 John 3:7; Galatians 5:22-25). – Jesus taught the same principle: “You will recognize them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16). – Righteous practice includes: • Obeying God’s commands (1 John 2:3-6) • Loving fellow believers (1 John 3:14) • Walking in truth and purity (Ephesians 4:24) – Such a lifestyle is evidence, not the cause, of spiritual life. has been born of Him – John anchors righteous living in the miracle of new birth: “To all who did receive Him…He gave the right to become children of God…born of God” (John 1:12-13). – Regeneration is God’s work, imparting a new nature that desires holiness (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23). – The phrase “born of Him” underscores family resemblance. Children naturally reflect their Father; likewise, believers reflect God’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17). – This birth is the ultimate explanation for sustained obedience—grace transforms the root, and therefore the fruit. summary 1 John 2:29 links knowledge, character, and conduct in a seamless chain. Because God is perfectly righteous, anyone truly born of Him will demonstrate a life oriented toward righteousness. The verse offers both assurance and discernment: assurance for believers who see evidence of new life in their actions, and discernment to recognize authentic faith in a world of claims. The newborn heart beats in rhythm with the Father’s own righteousness, making holiness not merely possible but inevitable for God’s true children. |
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