When the truth abides in you (2:24), then you abide in Son and Father. So, (exhortation) abide in Christ (v.28). This passage seems to boil down to “abide in Christ, because that’s what those born of God do.”
Is John’s abrupt use of “lawlessness” in v.4 a key to the passage?
The reason for confidence: purpose statement: “so that when he appears we may have confidence” (v.28)
condition: “everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him” (v.29)
explanation of the conditioning of purification and anticipation of future state (vv.1-3)
contrast: “everyone who makes a practice of sinning” (v.4) is not born of God” (v.9)
The reasonable evidence: summary: “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil”
condition: “whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God”
extension (to new topic): “nor is the one who does not love his brother”
