Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

3 December 2025

Reading From I John 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. 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.”

—I John 2:1-6

     I am beyond grateful that Jesus knows my every weakness and yet He still meets me where I’m at, loves me just the same, forgives, and helps me move forward in faith.  He is the Friend who sticks closer to me than a brother, perfectly and totally faithful in all regards.  Not only does He know when I sin, He knows why and how to help me resist temptation in the future.  We need His knowledge, guidance and wisdom as we navigate life on Earth. He is our propitiation with the Father, meaning He took all of humanity’s penalty of sin upon Himself and thus appeased the wrath of God for all those who accept His substitutionary sacrifice.

     As we experience the love and goodness of God the Father through God the Son, we respond to the promptings of God the Spirit, confess our sins and that Jesus is Lord and are born again as we turn away from our old ways of life.  To walk in the light, continue in the faith and abide in Him is to live as Jesus did.  He is our perfect example of life and godliness.  We need to go to Jesus to see how we should live, and we know how He lived by studying and applying the principles of God’s Word the Bible in our daily lives. This is how we keep His Word. His love is being perfected in our lives as we learn to follow Him and become more like Him through the process of sanctification and spiritual growth.

     Faith must be practical to be real.  We show the world that we have genuine faith in Jesus and have been truly born again by the way we live.  If we live in obedience to God and follow His commands, it proves that we are real Christians, sons and daughters of the Most High God.  Faithfulness to Him does not mean doing everything right all the time, though that is what we strive for.  He knows that we will fail at times.  Part of being faithful to Him is knowing what to do when we sin.  We are to be sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, confess our sin, thank Him for forgiveness, and move forward, striving in His power and strength to do what is right.  With God’s help we will prevail!

“Lord Jesus, thank You for Your great salvation which You freely extend to all of humanity.  Whosoever will believe, repent, confess and receive You as Savior and Lord are welcomed into Your Celestial Kingdom as Your sons and daughters.  We worship You alone for only You can save us, heal us, empower us, and fill us with hope.  Our hope is found in Your resurrection which makes our own resurrections possible on the Last Day.  Help us to walk in the light as You are in the light and endure to the end so that we will be with You forevermore.  In the Name of Jesus Christ who is God the Son I humbly pray these things.  Amen and amen.”

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

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. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

—I John 2:26-29