Why Should I Abide in Christ? For the Second-Coming and Now!
Notes
Transcript
These two verses do a great job of bridging the second and third chapters of this letter. The idea of abiding in Christ is very similar to what was presented in the previous verses about what relying on the presence of the Holy Spirit, which abides in the follower of Jesus. Now the encouragement is to also abide in the Lord.
So that we will have confidence at the second-coming of Christ
So that we will have confidence at the second-coming of Christ
There are two reasons why the author of this letter gives for abiding in Christ. As a reminder, the idea of abiding points to continuing or staying. It is clear that John has a strong belief in the spiritual well-being of the believers he is writing to which is why he encourages them to continue in that place.
There are two words that lead us to believe that John is referring to the second coming of Christ. First, it is said “when he appears” and utilizes a verb that most often refers to the invisible becoming visible. It is used in Mark 16 twice when Jesus makes Himself known to His disciples after the resurrection. It is also translated in various places in the New Testament as ‘revealed’, indicating divine interaction.
We can come to a logical conclusion here that John is referring to the return of Christ in using the word ‘appear’ based on the other places where the word is used on the New Testament.
The second word that references the second-coming of Christ, which you can likely guess, is ‘coming’. Besides the other uses of parousia, I want to refer to the most common use of this word in the first century: the arrival of royalty. Is this not how we ought to think about the second-coming of Christ? Our King will arrive and judgment will take place.
There seem to be two possible responses from a person when Jesus returns to this earth. We see first that those who abide in Christ will have confidence. When Christ returns, we will remain in boldness and with courage. This is the same confidence that we can pray with in 1 John 5:14 and in the face of judgment in 1 John 4:17.
The other option here is to ‘shrink from him in shame at His coming’. This aligns with what Jesus says in Mark 8:38 except Jesus there begins with a person’s shame of the words of Jesus while He was here on earth: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” John provides the path for a person to be confident both as a representative of Christ here on earth as well as standing confident before Him at His second-coming: abide in Him. If a person abides in Christ first, they will not be ashamed of Him here on earth nor will they shrink away in shame when He returns.
But we also need to ask the question, why would a person shrink away at His return? There are two reasons, though I would say that the source of both of those reasons is the same. First, because they will be confronted with His righteousness, which we’ll cover extensively in a bit, and feel the weight of their own unworthiness. This points to a lack of assurance in a person’s salvation. While we are unworthy, we also must stand confident before Christ and remember that our debts have been forgiven. And we are reminded of this when we abide in Him.
Second, a person might shrink away in shame because of what Jesus says in Mark 8, that they were ashamed of Him here on earth and are therefore ashamed at His final return. If a person is ashamed of being a disciple of Jesus now, what reason would they have not to be ashamed at His second coming?! Abide in Him now!
Above the explanation of the different words, I want the main point to come through so clearly: abide in Christ. Allow His word to dwell richly in you. Dwell among His people often. This has long term effects! We have a tendency to be so short sighted, only worrying about what will affect our lives in the coming moments when it is eternity that matters the most. To abide in Christ is not easy but if you will do it, there will be no shame when Jesus comes back in all of His glory.
Next, we abide in Christ
So that our righteousness will be from Him.
So that our righteousness will be from Him.
In the final verse, John uses terminology referring to those who have been born of God. I want to start with the end of this verse and work our way backwards to what is said about abiding in Christ. To be born again is a theme in the gospel of John if you think back to the interaction that Jesus has with Nicodemus in the third chapter. Pay careful attention to the answer that Jesus gives here.
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’”
This Pharisee is making allegations that many others in his camp would have never dared to touch. Yet, he knows that Jesus has come from God. Jesus plainly states that Nicodemus needs to allow the old self to die so that he can be born again. This is what happens when a person is saved. Their understanding of everything in the universe is significantly altered. They can understand difficult situations with new vision. They realize that there is more to life than just fulfilling their own desires. And John points out here in verse 29 that they will begin practicing a righteousness that is not of this world. I am emphasizing that this righteousness is otherworldly because Paul makes clear in Romans 3:10 that “there is none righteous.”
We know that a person who has been born again puts on this righteousness based on what Paul writes in Ephesians 4:24: “...to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Yes, the new creation that is a follower of Jesus Christ will be made new with true righteousness.
Now, of course a person is not without sin or fault immediately. The process of sanctification is applicable here. But what I want to emphasize here is that the one who abides in Christ will become more like Him over time.
Think back to your parents or the parental figure in your life. We put on some of the attributes of these individuals. I’ll use my wife as an example here with her mother. Danielle loves to do for others because she saw that modeled by her mother, Prudence. She loves to have a clean house, though this seems to be more difficult with youngins who tend to make a mess faster than you can clean it. Danielle places a high value on caring for her family because this was the example set for her. This was because she abided with her mother.
In the same way, we put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ when we abide with him. We live in the right way because we dwell with Him and desire to be obedient to Him.
Finally, you’ll notice that John uses the word ‘know’ and ‘to be sure’. There are some versions of the scriptures that translate ‘to be sure’ as ‘to know’ as well. Here is the difference between those two. The first know is just recognition of a fact while the ‘to be sure’ or ‘know’ is something that is observed and learned. I tell you this because we know that Christ is righteous because it is what we have learned in the scriptures but we are sure of it because of the testimony put forth by the apostles who witness His life on earth. But a second reason we are sure of His righteousness is because we have witnessed it in our own lives, being that we have been born of Him.
This is the gospel! I have been born again and there is a righteousness in me that is not of myself!
I urge you this morning, with everything you have in you, to abide in Christ. Do it for confidence in at His second-coming and for righteousness right now!