I John 2:28-29

​Children of God
​28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

At the end of Chapter 2, John summarizes his thoughts to this point.  Since this is kind of a short passage today, let's also go back to the words of Jesus that I believe that John is reflecting on from John 15.

I Am the True Vine15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

In light of this passage, do you see how the fruit that we bear does not cause our salvation, but is evidence of it, both that we are connected to the vine and that we are a healthy branch.  This is how Jesus said that we prove that we are His disciples--we abide in Him, keep His commandments and as a consequences, we will bear much fruit to the glory of God

We are only able to do this because of God has made His revelation known to us and has chosen (elected) us and appointed us (the idea of anointing that was discussed earlier).  The Law is not enough to save us, but it does show us that we need to be saved.  Once we are born again, we are no longer to be law-breakers, but should be transformed into law-lovers and law-keepers because we love the Law Giver.