By: Robert Serreyn
Question… In 1 John 2:28 the verse makes the statement… “abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” I’m pretty sure that the phrase “when He shall appear” is in reference to the rapture. My question is, are there actually going to be believers who are ashamed at His appearing? And why would they be?
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.
Answer… To answer the first part, John was referring to the Lord’s statement in John 15:5…
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
that if we abide in Him we will bear much fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing.
Believers who DON’T ABIDE in Him (doing the Lord’s will) but spend their life pursuing their own personal agenda will discover at the Bema Seat Judgment (Judgement Seat Of Christ – 1 Corinthians 3-11-15) that they have nothing to show for the years they spent on Earth as a Christian. Like wood, hay, and stubble their life’s work will be burned up in the fires of judgment. They’ll still be saved, but only watching all their earthly accomplishments burn up in the flames.
To answer the second part… It will be embarrassing for them to realize that in their preoccupation with the things of this world, they essentially wasted their entire Christian life. This is why Paul said that in view of God’s mercy toward us we should not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. Instead we should offer our lives as living sacrifices to God and be transformed by the renewing of our mind to discover His will for our life (Rom. 12:1-2)…
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
SADLY I believe a large majority of born again Christians could find themselves in this situation when they stand before the Lord. They won’t receive any condemnation from Him, for there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). But I don’t know how they’ll be able to avoid feeling some momentary regret that they didn’t devote more energy to putting their faith into action, especially when they finally see everything they’ve been given.
In Retrospect… As christians we need to as Eph. 4:22-24 tells us to do…
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as YOUR savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins – 1 Cor. 15:1-4.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved – Acts 16:31
The moment that you do, YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH