Jesus Is Coming Again Pt. 35 Having Full Confidence When Jesus Returns

The apostle John speaks of several important truths before he teaches us about the second coming of Jesus Christ. The apostle was nearing 100 years old, when he wrote letters to the churches and the book of Revelation.

Tender words from the last Apostle.

1 John 2:1-6  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2)  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3)  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

John begins by reminding all believers that we must always be on guard against the culture, against our flesh and against our wicked enemy. 

First he tells us to "sin not." Avoid sinning to the best of our abilities, but when we do fail God and sin, we have a strong defender. 

Jesus Christ is our advocate when we sin. He is our defense counsel who pleads His own blood on our behalf. 

Through the intercessory work of Jesus as our Great High Priest, the Father is propitiated and always forgives us, when we confess and forsake our sin.

John makes it clear that only those who keep Jesus Christ's commandments, are the ones who truly know Him, who are truly born again. 

Those people who make a profession of faith in Christ, but who do not keep His commands, are liars. 

We might say that they are "fake" Christians. They live no differently than they did before they made a profession of faith.

A true Christian who abides in Christ, is going to walk as Jesus did. 

John follows these truths by warning us not to love the world, for love of the world is enmity with God (1 John 2:15-17). 

Next, he warns us about antichrists that will emerge and how to detect them (1 John 2:18-27).

Jesus will return. Take care to live for His glory. 

1 John 2:28-29  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29)  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 

John was the last of the apostles and the only one who died of natural causes. At this point in his life, John certainly spent time contemplating his own death, and homegoing to Christ. 

We can be certain that this disciple was longing to be with his Savior and Lord once again.

He writes to us with much tenderness. 

"Little children" is an expression full of much love, conveying parental affection. John has no wavering regarding the return of Jesus Christ. 

"When He shall appear" is John's strong and clear declaration of faith. May we too, as we grow older, maintain a strong and vibrant faith in Christ, until Jesus calls us home. 

The words "He shall appear" mean that Jesus will physically appear, at the resurrection of life and the rapture of the church. 

Jesus will be fully manifest to all the dead in Christ and the Christians caught up in the air. 

Since Jesus is returning to take His church home to heaven, John tells us we must continue abiding in Christ until the day He appears. 

This connects with Jesus' command to His disciples to abide in Him (John 15). Jesus said that we cannot do anything, in terms of serving Him, unless we abide in Him. We are the branches, but He is the vine and the source of our spiritual and physical life.

Abiding in Christ means communing with the Lord by reading His word, and asking His Spirit to teach and guide us into all truth. We abide in Christ by praying to Him and by seeking to know Him more and more.

The words "we may have confidence" come right after the truth that Jesus Christ will return. 

The word "confidence" means to have a free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, and  assurance. This is the way that each Christian should think in anticipating the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

He has given to each believer all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. We have full assurance that Jesus will fulfill every promise of God to us, when He returns. 

Great confidence and boldness in Christ.

Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15)  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

The same word translated "confidence" in 1 John is translated "boldness" in Hebrews. 

Jesus is our eternal great high priest who knows all about human suffering because He suffered for us. 

Since this is true, we can come boldly to the throne of grace, asking God for mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. 

A believer in Christ is saved by the blood of the Lamb (Romans 5:9). 

All of our sins were nailed to His cross (Colossians 2:12-15). 

The righteousness of Jesus Christ has been imputed to us (Romans 4:8; 4:16-25).

Every one of our sins have been removed from us as far as the east is removed from the west (Psalm 103:10-14).

Our sins have been cast into the depths of the ocean because Jehovah has compassion on us (Micah 7:19).

Therefore, when we see Jesus at the resurrection of life or the rapture of the church, our sin is not the issue. Our love and service that we did for Christ, will be judged by our Lord. 

Did we serve Him because we loved Him, or because we loved the praise of men? Did we serve Christ because we felt like we had to? 

Did we approach serving Christ like it was a chore to check off our list, or because we found joy in serving Him? 

This is the judgment Paul tells us about in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15). 

Thus, we should have the utmost confidence when Jesus appears to take us home to heaven. Our eternal life and salvation will be realized to the fullest. 

1 John 2:28-29  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29)  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

This is why John ends the chapter by reminding us that God cares about how we live. If we live a holy and separated life, then His name is glorified. If we live for self and are lax in our spiritual duties, then His name is dishonored.

God did not save us so that we could continue to live the same old life that we always have. He saved us so that we can walk in newness of life. He saved us so that we can rejoice that the old life is passing away as He makes all things new. 

Thus, John tells us those who are truly righteous, do righteousness. They live out the gospel in their daily lives. They make choices that honor God.

1 John 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

John then communicates to us the blessing of being born again. We are adopted into the family of God (See John 1:12-13; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:19; Romans 8:14-19).

A Christian is also called a son or daughter of God (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). This is why the world cannot understand us. The world cannot figure out why a Christian does not pursue the same lusts and sins as the culture does. 

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

John's last reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ in his letters to the churches is this text. We are sons (or daughters) of God. Right here and now where we live, we are children of the Living God.

Yet, we do not know what we will be like in heaven, when we are in the presence of God. We do know that God has prepared a new tabernacle for us to have, a new glorified body (Philippians 3:21). 

John tells us we will be like our Lord Jesus Christ, who had a wonderful resurrected body that was physical, yet could pass through things. He could eat fish, loaves of bread, and honeycomb, and the disciples could touch His body. Yet, He could appear in their midst.

Thoughts to Ponder...

Jesus will most certainly return. It is as sure to happen as anything can be. The return of Jesus for the resurrection of life and the rapture of the church, is the very next thing on God's prophetic calendar. 

Let John's words fill us with hope. We shall be like Jesus and we shall see Him as He is.

Bob