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The New International Version records 1 John 2:6 this way. It says: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus lived. Another translation says it this way: Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did (TLB).
The charge given in 1 John 2:6 is so simple. As believers, we are to live as Jesus Christ lived. Looking to the scriptures, we see that Jesus lived in obedience to God. For example,
John 6:38 states: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And John 8:29 states: The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him (NIV).
Living lives in obedience to God can be challenging. As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 7:19, For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing (AMPC). Try as we might to do good, good is not always what we do. This is why we need the Holy Spirit’s help.
John 16:13 states: But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come (NIV).
The beauty of John 16:13, particularly in terms of us being guided into “all the truth,” is that the Holy Spirit reveals to us who Jesus is. As believers, we need this! Why? How can you live like someone you do not even know?
On our own, we don’t have what it takes to live as Jesus Christ lived while he was here on earth. But with the Holy Spirit’s help, it is possible.
The Holy Spirit does, however, need our cooperation. That is, we must willingly submit to following the leading of the Holy Spirit. And as we submit, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live as Jesus lived – living a life in obedience to God.
Except where indicated, scripture references are from the American Standard Version (ASV), Darby Translation (DARBY), or King James Version (KJV) – all public domain.
