I John 2:28-29
Ready for your finals?
Would you open your Bibles to…
1Jo. 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
1Jo. 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
Pray
Intro
√ I saw a bumper sticker that read…
“Prepare for finals, read your Bible!”
…that’s good advise!
In our studies in the last few months in 1st & 2nd Peter, and now in 1st John we find that both Peter and John would have probably had that bumper sticker on their chariots if they owned one!
Both apostles call us to test ourselves to make sure we’re in the faith.
√ Transitional section
Verses 28 & 29 are a bridge between two sections of John's letter. You'll remember that the purpose of his writing was to assure believers that real life is found only in a relationship with Jesus.
However, John was also writing to warn Christians against the false doctrines being taught by the antichrists.
One of John’s concerns was that a person might be deceived into believing that they were saved when in reality they were not!
Or, that they might be saved – but because of false doctrine become unfruitful in their faith.
So, John gives us tests by which we can examine ourselves to make sure that we’re saved & that we live fruitful lives.
The tests of true fellowship Chapter 1:1 - 2:27
The tests of true sonship Chapter 3:1 - 4:19
Absolutely imperative that we heed the Bibles warning to test ourselves while we still can!
Paul’s exhortation to the church at Corinth…
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves as
to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know
yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.
Jesus’ sober warning to the disciples regarding those alive when He returns…
Mat. 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Mat. 7:22 “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
Mat. 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Ap. Called to be a watchman! (Ez. 33)
Ex. Teaching that Jesus is the only way to eternal life
Many people get upset with me (and other pastors) who teach the “whole counsel” of God. They don’t want to hear about sin, or hell, or that Jesus condemned the religions of Man.
Here’s the problem. If we seek to make people comfortable by never teaching those Biblical Truths that define the Christian faith…
…then we send them comfortably straight to hell and their blood will be on our hands!
Read the Gospels and you’ll find that Jesus made a lot of people uncomfortable!
So, while it may not be popular to speak the truth in our day I’m going to continue to do so because even if I make you uncomfortable…
…I care too much about you to just tell you what people want to hear and send you straight into eternal judgement!
√ The bridge
So, in verses 28 & 29 John bridges his instruction on fellowship with God to sonship in Christ by three words to encourage us to live in fellowship with Jesus and to grow in our relationship with Him.
The three words…
Abide
Appear
Ashamed
…let’s look!
Abide in Christ (vs. 28a )
1Jo. 2:28a And now, little children, abide in Him…
√ Abide
John really likes this word! Of the 112 times the word is used in the New Testament…
…John used it 66 of those times! He really got a hold of the Lord’s teaching about the “vine and the branches!”
“abide”
3306. menw meno men'-o; a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):-- abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.
Abiding in Christ is a main theme of John’s letter. How is it that you and I abide in Christ? By doing those things that John has been writing about in the first two chapters!
Obeying the Truth (walk in Light)
Loving one another (walk in Love)
Believing the Truth (walk in Truth)
Remember that John is writing to Christians – people who are saved. Why then would he encourage Christians to abide?
Because a person can be a child of God (saved)…
…but out of fellowship with God!
Ex. A child who is estranged from his parents
He will always be a son, yet, he may have walked away from the fellowship of the family.
Ap. The backsliden Christian
The believer who is out of fellowship with God may still be saved…
…but, they are missing out on all of the benefits in this life of walking in fellowship with Jesus.
They live in fear and doubt of their salvation
They don’t experience the peace and joy of God
They’re never satisfied in life because they’re living on the spiritual fence!
So, you are a believer and find yourself out of fellowship with God it is because you’ve…
Disobeyed His Word (not walking in His Light)
Lacked love for another (not walking in His Love)
Believed a lie (not walking in His truth)
What should you do if you’re out of fellowship with God!?
Confess your sin!
1Jo. 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Repent!
Obey His Word (walk in the Light)
Love your brother/sister (walk in Love)
Reject the lie (walk in Truth)
Then you’ll find yourself once again enjoying the fellowship of God!
Appear before Christ (vs. 28b )
1Jo. 2:28b And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence
√ Appear
This is the first time in his letter that John has made mention of the Lord’s return.
The Revelation (which John penned) gives us the details of the soon return of Jesus Christ to the earth.
John’s letter simply makes mention of the return of Jesus and the coming judgement of His saints at which every believer will appear before Jesus.
√ Judgement!?
When people hear the word…
“judgement”
…they often begin to panic! You might be thinking…
“But I thought that Christians aren’t going to be judged!”
If you thought that, you’re half right! There are two judgements spoken of in the Bible…
One for unbelievers
One for believers
Unbelievers:
Judged for their sins at the end of the 1000-year reign of Jesus – called the “Great White Throne Judgement”.
Rev. 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
Rev. 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
Rev. 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Rev. 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev. 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Believers:
Judged at the beginning of the 1000-year reign of Jesus on the earth – called the “judgement seat of Christ”.
We will be judged for our faithfulness to Christ. Those who have been faithful will receive rewards…
…those who have not been faithful will lose rewards.
2Cor. 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
2Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
“judgement seat”
The “bema” seat or throne from which the Olympic athletes received their rewards.
Those competitors who did not win the race were still athletes, but they did not receive a reward for their efforts.
Ap. You & I will stand before Jesus!
Which throne do you want to stand before? The White Throne where people are judged for their sins, or the Bema Seat where people are judged for their faithfulness?
If you’re not a Christian this morning – chose Jesus now!
Believer, how well are you running the race that Jesus has given you to run?
Will you receive rewards, or lose rewards?
Jesus has a storehouse filled with rewards for you – He wants to say to you…
“Well done, good and faithful servant;
you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.”
It’s your choice –
how do you want to appear before Jesus when He comes again?
Ashamed before Christ (vs. 28c)
1Jo. 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
√ Ashamed
Some Christians will be…
“be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
All Christians are accepted – we’re made acceptable by our faith in Jesus Christ. However, some Christians will be ashamed of themselves when the Lord returns.
Why? Because when Jesus returns He will find them out of fellowship…
Living in disobedience to His Word
(not walking in His Light)
Not loving others
(not walking in His Love)
Believing & practicing false doctrine
(not walking in His truth)
Bottom line - the believer who will be ashamed when they stand before the Lord is that person to whom the Lord has given a solid foundation to build on and the tools to build with…
…but never lifted a hammer! (Ref. I Cor. 3:10-15)
The Bible (and life) is full of stories of people who never got around to using their God-given gifts the way that God designed them to be used.
Ex. Samson
Was there ever a more gifted man to deliver the people of Israel from their enemies?
Yet…
He is only recorded as praying one time – at his death
He used his great strength for his pleasure
He didn’t improve the lives of God’s people nor point them to the Lord
Instead of living for the Lord he spent his time pushing the limits of God’s Grace living like a heathen and pursuing the lusts of his flesh.
Saved – you bet. Ashamed, I would suggest so.
Ap. What about you and me?
If we were called to stand before the Lord this morning would we have Godly confidence…
…or would we be ashamed to stand before Him?
Close
√ Three words
There are three words you and I need to remember…
Abide
Appear
Ashamed
Let’s do all that Jesus has called us to that we might receive all that He has prepared for us in His Kingdom!
Are you ready for your finals?