In his first letter, John has a goal to identify the people of Christ and what differentiates them from those outside of Christ. He’s talked about walking in the light, confessing sin, and loving our brothers. In this section, he examines the habits of those who are opposed to Christ, and then identifies the church’s proper reaction to them. Not surprisingly at this point, the word “abide” figures centrally. Another way to say that is this: Cling to Christ. Listen to the way John delivers that message.