Getting Results

From 1-3 John - Life in Fellowship

1 John 2:28

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

Results

Once again, it is the uniform message of scripture, that our choice to abide in Him or to abide in our sin nature carries with it consequences.  In the discussion of 1 John 2:3-11 (and again in verse 29) we see the result of abiding in the flesh can be the loss of assurance of salvation.  When a person abides in the Spirit he sees the love and life of Christ flowing forth from him and knows that this is not of Himself, but it is the Spirit of God.  Conversely, the person who abides in their flesh (though they are saved) loses the assurance of being able to say, “I see the work of the Spirit in my life right here and now” which impedes his spiritual growth.

Another result of resting in the Spirit has to do with Christ’s coming.  This is the first clear reference in this epistle to the return of Christ for His church (the Rapture).  We know from John 14:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and other key passages that the believer is to be looking to Jesus Christ and His return for believers which could happen at any moment.  The way a person relates to that coming of the Lord for His church reveals a great deal about his or her understanding of Scripture, as well as their fellowship with the Lord.  Many talk about this time with great fear and trepidation because they are not in fellowship with Him.  Whether from bad theology, or lack of walking in the Spirit (both are sin problems) they think of the Lord’s coming back in terms of something to be frightened of.

It is much like children who have been left to watch over themselves for a few hours while the parents are away.  If they are doing things that their parents would approve of then the return of their parents is something that they would be pleased to see. They want their parents to come back sooner.  However, if they have occupied themselves with activities of which their parents would not approve then they will be ashamed when their parents come home.  It is not a matter of whether their parents will still be their parents when they arrive, but a matter of whether they will be happy to see them or ashamed.  As we walk by the means of the Spirit we will be overjoyed at the thought of Christ’s return as we are meant to be!  For the believer walking in the Spirit they look at the imminent return of Christ as a great comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

The confidence of the believer at His return is found in His life, His work, His grace exercised upon us.  This is not a matter of what we are doing so much as where our focus is placed.