Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 2:24

"As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father." — 1 John 2:24 (ASV)

At this point John shifts his attention to his readers. They, in contrast to the antichrists, are exhorted to make certain that what they heard “from the beginning”—i.e., the true apostolic declaration concerning Jesus as Son and Christ—“remains” (GK 3531) in them. If it does, they may be assured that they will also “remain” in the Son and in the Father. The use of “remain” gives weight to the warning. The word of the Gospel must not only be heard but be given a vital place in one’s life. The message must continue to be active in the lives of all who have heard it. They must reflect on it and let it affect their lives.

While John’s exhortation here is clearly to faithfulness to the Word, it is also an exhortation with an assured promise of fulfillment. Where the Word abides, there also the Son and Father abide in intimate fellowship. The Word is not the goal of the fellowship but rather a means to the goal of fellowship. The listing of the Son before the Father may emphasize the fact that access to the Father becomes possible only through the Son (17:2; 20:31).