And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
1 John 2:28 (ESV)
Is Jesus returning someday? The New Testament is clear that he is. The great hope we have as believers is tied to his return. It is the climatic event in human history that we look forward to. A time when the saints, both dead and alive, are gathered to him. And a time of judgment on those who have rejected his lordship.
John tells us to abide in Christ as we wait for that time. To abide carries with it the idea of a dwelling place. It is where you live. To abide in Christ is to live in him.
In John 15:1-17, Jesus talked to his disciples about abiding or remaining in him. He told them that if they obeyed his command to love each other, they would remain in him and his love. And if they remained in him, they would be fruitful.
In 1 John 2:28, John tells his readers that if we abide in Christ, we can have confidence when he appears. We can be assured of our relationship with him and our salvation. It will be a time we can eagerly look forward to.
However, if we do not abide in Christ, John says we will shrink from him in shame when we stand before him. This is more than just embarrassment because of our failures. The passage in John 15 tells us that those who have failed to abide in Christ are like branches that are broken off and cast into the fire.
If we keep his command to love, we will abide in Christ. And if we abide in Christ, we will be fruitful and have confidence when we stand before him at his return.
