Continue in Him
1 John 2:28 - If Jesus were to return tomorrow, would you show confidence or shame?
Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) using the DALL·E model. “A first-century household servant has kept a lamp burning through the night and is now opening the heavy wooden door as his master approaches in the early morning. The home is orderly, the servant’s work is complete, and he greets the returning master with a warm, confident expression. This illustrates being prepared, faithful, and unashamed when the Lord returns.”
“And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”
1 John 2:28 NIV
God is continuing to point me to John’s first epistle this month; this is the third time He has chosen verses from this letter for me to study.
I must admit that I was a bit confused about what this verse — and the following verse — were all about. Fortunately, Enduring Word cleared up the confusion with one glance at the headline for this section: “What it means to live in Jesus”.
Abide is not a word that we hear a lot in our day and age, which is probably why the New International Version translation of the Bible that I prefer uses the term “continue in him”. The NASB95, ESV, and NKJV translations use “abide in him,” while NASB2020 has “remain in him.” The original Koine Greek word used here is μένω (menō), which has the definitions “to remain, abide”, “to continue to be present”, and (interestingly) “to wait for, await one”. Who are Christians supposed to abide in? Jesus Christ!
John prefaces this command to “continue in him” with a nice fatherly touch — “And now, dear children.” That’s a trait of John’s writing, this affectionate tone towards the believers who will read his letters. Using that term demonstrates a very close and personal relationship, as if he was their father instructing them in their spiritual growth. John used this term throughout his first letter, showing just how close he was to the early Christians.
Next, John gives his readers reasons why they should “continue in him” — “so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” Enduring Word provides a detailed explanation:
a. Abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed: Abiding in Jesus means that we need not be afraid or ashamed when Jesus returns. This is because we have intimately known Him, and therefore we can have confidence at His coming.
i. John brings up a challenging image. When Jesus returns, some people will be afraid because they never knew Jesus at all. But among those who know Him, some will not be afraid, they will be ashamed before Him at His coming. They will realize that they have been living worldly, unfruitful lives. In one moment, the understanding will overwhelm them that whatever else they accomplished in life, they did not abide in Him as they could have.
ii. Paul the Apostle speaks of those who are “barely saved”: he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15). There are those who, for at least a moment, the coming of Jesus will be a moment of disappointment rather than glory.
iii. It is important for us to carefully consider these matters because it is difficult to measure the distance between “barely saved” and “almost saved.” It is dangerous to contemplate questions such as, “How little can I do and still make it to heaven?” or “How far can I stray from the Shepherd and still be part of the flock?” Instead we should be diligent to not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
iv. “What is the way to prepare for Christ’s coming? By the study of the prophecies? Yes, if you are sufficiently instructed to be able to understand them. ‘To be prepared for the Lord’s coming,’ some enthusiasts might say, ‘had I not better spend a month in retirement, and get out of this wicked world?’ You may, if you like; and especially you will do so if you are lazy. But the one Scriptural prescription for preparing for his coming is this, ‘Abide in him.’ If you abide in the faith of him, holding his truth, following his example, and making him your dwelling-place, your Lord may come at any hour, and you will welcome him.” (Spurgeon)
American Baptist pastor W.A. Criswell, cited on Precept Austin, contrasted the two reactions that one might have to Christ’s return:
Christ's return will inevitably cause one of two reactions. For the believer, the response is confidence. The term "confidence" is a translation of a Greek word which literally means "all speech" or "free speech." Confidence is indicated in the believer's ability to verbalize, in contrast to the silent terror and shame of those who must quake before Him at His return.
That’s exactly what John is getting at in this verse. If we abide in Jesus Christ, we will be confident when He returns. If we choose to live “in the world” instead, our behavior and lack of faith will make us ashamed before Him. Here’s a question to ponder as I conclude this devotional: If Jesus were to return tomorrow, would you show confidence or shame? If shame at the way you are living your life is what you’d feel, remember that there is still time to change!
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, help me each day to abide in You, so that I may stand with confidence before You when You return, without shame and filled with Your love. Guide me to trust in Your Word, and to live in a way that is pleasing to You. May my life in You deepen as I strive to follow Your commandments and be a reflection of Your righteousness. AMEN.