Confident Before God - 1 John 2:28-29
Notes
Transcript
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
28 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. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
Introduction
John continues to stress the vital need to continue to abide in Christ.
John reiterates the exhortation he gave in the preceding verse: “Remain in him.” With this use of repetition, John teaches that fellowship with the Son of God is imperative for every believer. Kistemaker
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1. Confidence v28
1. Confidence v28
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28 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.
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a. Little Children
a. Little Children
28 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.
This phrase appears 7 times in this letter, 3 in this chapter.
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b. The Second Coming
b. The Second Coming
28 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.
Having fellowship with the Son is not limited to a spiritual exercise of prayer and meditation, but finds its fulfilment in the physical return of Jesus. John mentions the first coming of Jesus in the flesh—“our hands have touched” in chapter 1 (v. 1). In chapter 2 he writes about the certainty of Jesus’ second coming (v. 28) Kistemaker
How do believers respond to the news of Jesus’ return? They obey God’s commands, continue in Christ, and are confident at the prospect of Jesus’ return (compare 3:21). The word confident actually means that believers readily, frankly, and boldly speak about their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Kistemaker
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c. Unashamed
c. Unashamed
28 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.
Believers do not turn in shame from Christ, for they know that their sins have been forgiven. They are free from shame. But those who have pretended to be Christians cannot stand in the revealing light of his coming. They cannot hide their shame. Kistemaker
John has been stressing the need to reject the lies of the unbelievers.
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Let the truth abide in you, for if it does, that great day of His appearing will not come to you as a surprise. It will not come as a shock or as a condemnation; you will not be offended or ashamed; no, you will rejoice in it, you will glory in it, and you will stand with confidence and look into His holy face. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
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2. Knowledge v29
2. Knowledge v29
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29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
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a. Condition
a. Condition
29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
John is telling his readers that if they know in their hearts “that he is righteous,” they also will learn to know that righteous Christians are born of him. Kistemaker
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18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
b. Result
b. Result
29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
Righteousness, then, is the thing that is essential to fellowship with God; in other words, the great stress of this epistle from beginning to end is the ethical stress. John is anxious that they see that these conditions must be observed. The great blessings come to us freely in Christ, but if we want to enjoy and to continue enjoying them, then we must walk in this righteous manner. LLoyd-Jones
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28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
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21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Conclusion
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10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
