Only Two Spiritual Families

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. - 1 Jn 2:2–7

John is speaking here of the fact that those who truly know God will continue to abide with Him in His presence. That is, they will live with Him, with His conscious presence, under His conscious rule, in His kingdom, even in the midst of Satan’s world order and his rule and deceit. You are either living by God’s rules or you are living by Satan’s rules. Christians are not supposed to sin since we are abiding with the Lord even here in this wicked world. We are living in His house now, under His rule, with His fellowship, as opposed to Satan’s world and rule and deceit.

However, if a Christian sins, the Holy Spirit immediately convicts him of that sin, and his fellowship with God (not his relationship) is directly affected. But the true believer can claim 1 Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” By the way this passage was written for believers, those who are abiding in Christ. But even as a true believer encounters sin in his own life, he continues to abide with Christ, and sin, as it is confessed and forsaken, becomes more and more unnatural for a believer the longer He abides with His Lord.

However, there are many today who profess that they are saved or born again and thereby abiding “with Him”, yet their testimony betrays them. They live much more like they are abiding under Satan’s authority, under his world order, under his rules of conduct and deceit and duplicity. There's something very wrong with a person’s life that professes Christ as their Master with their lips, but actually live their lives as though they served Satan as their master. Their lifestyle and their lying tongues almost always betray them, because what is in the heart, inevitably comes out at the mouth.

Jas 3:8–12 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Reminder; This was spoken to professed believers also. A true believer is different from the world and as a believer grows in the Lord he becomes more and more like his Spiritual family. However, there are multitudes being deceived today by the master deceiver, Satan, the wicked one.

1 Co 6:9–10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Heb 10:29 But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Concluding Passage:

1 Jn 3:1–3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Christian, can you honestly say today that you are living a life of purity even as He is pure? Maybe you need fall to your knees before a kind and merciful God and admit your sin. And after you confess your sin to God, then forsake it.

There may be some reading this that are trusting a prayer prayed when you were a child for salvation. But you know in your heart that you have really never been born into His family. And you need to step in prayer and ask for His forgiveness and turn from your sin to follow Him, to begin to abide with Him.

There may be families here that that need to pray as a family together.