by Jerry Senn
“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. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. See (‘with astonishment’) what kind of love the Father has given (‘lavished on’) us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are ... And everyone who hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 2:28-3:1a, 3).
Please consider John’s prophetic future for unbelievers:
“Everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling, … ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,’ for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Rev. 6:15–16) .
This should send shivers up and down our spines for those who are living as non-members of God’s family when Jesus appears. Also, this is a wake-up call for God’s children—a renewal of our HOPE “in him” and a reset of our professed commitment to “purify” ourselves by confessing our constant need for his forgiveness (see 1 John 1:9).”
The world does not know us (believers) because “they do not know him” (1 John 3:1b). Only within the Father’s family can we possibly have confidence now and well as when Jesus returns in all His glory.
Our new birth took place by having “been buried with him in baptism, in which [we] were raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And [we] who were dead in trespasses and sins … God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” (Colossians 2:12–13).
Please notice that our “new birth” as children of God was the result of our “faith in the powerful working of God,” who raised [Jesus] from the dead.”
Our submissive obedience placed our faith in God’s powerful working, not in our human effort (see: Eph 2:8–9).
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found,
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
(Edward Mote, w 1834)