1 John 2:28, "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

     Notice the words "at His coming". This is refering to the return of Jesus Christ to earth one day. John uses 4 words about the coming of Christ that instruct us about our belief and behavior in regards to Christ's return.

     ABIDE. In John 15, Jesus Himself instructed us to abide in Him. The word "abide" is a verb meaning to stay in a given place, relation, or expectancy. It means to dwell in and continue with, and endure. In other words, because Jesus is returning, and it could be today, we should get as close to Jesus as we can and stay there!

     APPEAR. As Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection, two men in white apparel appeared and said "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

( Acts 1:11) Jesus is coming! We just don't know when!

     ASSURANCE. John called it confidence. This confidence comes by being sure of your salvation through faith in Jesus' shed blood. It refers to being faithful and diligent in His service, and abiding in Him. It also refers to a boldness in faith that confidently believes that Jesus will return as he promised. 

     ASHAMED. John said in 1 John 3:2-3, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." He is instructing us to be living right, trusting, obeying and serving Jesus, when Jesus comes so that we are not embarassed by our lifestyle, disobedience or lack of faith.

     Jesus is coming again! Are you watching, waiting and a saved child of God?   

     

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