Jul. 06, 2025

“WALKING IN THE LIGHT”

“THE FATHER LOVES US”

1 JOHN 2:28-3:3

2 Peter 3:3-4 “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:7 “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

The Second Coming of Christ is part of the body of truth not only taught by Jesus Himself but also by His apostles, the early church, and every generation of true believers throughout the last two millennia.

How Should We Live In Light Of Christ’s Return?

1.  Abide In Christ- 1 John 2:28-29

1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

vs.28 “abide in Him”- is the same Greek term (meno) that was used regarding our response to false teachers in 2:24, 2:27:

vs.24 “…you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” By letting God’s Word abide in us.

vs.27 “…you will abide in Him.”- by the power of the Holy Spirit, our Teacher who abides in us “…But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you…” vs.27. When John tells us to “abide in Him” vs.28, we know this involves walking in the light, keeping God’s Word, attending to the foundational truths of the faith.

You abide in Christ by believing the truth, obeying the truth, and loving other Christians “the brethren.”

“…we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” vs.28 The Greek word translated “coming” is (parousia) which in this context refers to Christ’s Messianic Advent in glory to judge the world at the end of the age.

The return of Christ is a great inspiration for godly living.

• 1 John 2:29 “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”

Acts 17:31 “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

So, for those who have walked in the Spirit and strive to serve Him with their lives, the righteous judge will reward justly:

2 Timothy 4:8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Paul makes this point crystal clear when he refers to the judgment seat of Christ

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

This should prompt all those who are “born of Him,” to practice righteousness. 

By the righteousness of Christ vs.29, God has provided two things:

*The Internal Ability

*The External Motivation

2.   Our Standing In Christ- 1 John 3:1-3

The regenerating work of Christ freely grants believers a right standing before Him and enables them to live rightly for Him. In light of this truth, John caps off his exhortation to live in light of Christ return:

*With An Outburst Of Wonder:

1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

“Behold” vs.1- I think this captures the wonder in John’s words better than “see or look.”

Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 

Galatians 4:5 “to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Ephesians 1:5 “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”

This is a great blessing to be reckoned as one with Him and to be ushered, purely by grace, into the family of God.

*A Glorious Promise:

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

“…but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” vs.2 The notion that “we will be like Him” is clarified by Paul:

Philippians 3:20-21 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

But what does John meanly the explanatory clause, “for we shall see Him as He is.” vs.2 

How does seeing Jesus “as is” affect what we will become?

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

*A Fixed Hope:

1 John 3:3 “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

So What Should We Be Doing As We Wait For The Return Of Christ?

*First, We Should Purify Our Lives- 1 Jn. 1:9

*Second, We Should Focus On The Future- Col. 3:1-2

*Third, We Should Share Christ While There Is Still Time.