WILL YOU BE ASHAMED AT HIS COMING? (PART 2)
TEXT:
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1st John 4 verse 17, King James Version).
Every serious minded Christian should endeavor to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, having his thoughts fixated regularly on the Lord's return (see Titus 2 verses 11 to 13). Actually, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in us, we have been graced by God to live to His pleasure in this sin riddled world! Incidentally, this is only possible with those that have had an encounter with God's Spirit and His Word.
The Scripture reading for today can be better appreciated as we consider it from the New Living Translation. It says:
"And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world." (1 John 4 verse 17, NLT).
In part 1 of this series, we are enjoined to abide in Christ, "that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." (see 1st John 2 verse 28). In other words, abiding in Christ secures our confidence and boldness at His appearance. Again, like I said in part 1 of this series, the Lord's second advent is for judgement, amongst other things.
The Scripture reading for today teaches us further that being made perfect in love will equally secure for us "boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." Like I referred to, herein before, the New Living Translation says, "as we live (abide) in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world." (Emphasis added)
It's interesting to know that "as we live (abide) in God, our love grows more perfect"; and because of this, "we will not be afraid on the day of judgement, but can face him with confidence (boldness) because we live like Jesus here in this world." (Emphasis added). This is to say, in other words, that being made perfect in love secures for us boldness (confidence) in the day of judgement, aside from abiding in Christ as 1st John 2 verse 28 tells us. But the crucial question everyone has to answer is, do you "live like Jesus here in this world"? Brethren, love is the principal thing!
Yes, John, the apostle of God's love tells us that God is love (see 1st John 4 verse 16). He goes further to tell us that "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." (1st John 4 verse 12).
Brethren, let's have it settled in us that love is of the essence should we desire not to be ashamed when the Lord shall appear for the second time. This is so because love "shall cover the multitude of sins" (1st Peter 4 verse 8). As faith is important to get through to God, so is love, should we desire not to be ashamed at Christ's second appearance. I remember the Lord Jesus telling us in John 13 verse 34 as follows:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (see again John 15 verse 12). He went further to say in John 13 verse 35 that "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Truth is, no genuine Christian can say that he doesn't have God's love in him or her to share. This is so because the Bible clearly says in Romans 5:5 that "... God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." (New International Version). It goes without saying therefore, that if we truly are God's Children and as God is love, then we should be seen to manifest God's love to others here on earth.
This morning's message comes at an opportune time to recall us from darkness unto light because he that loves his brother dwells in God's light (see 1st John 2 verses 8 to 12). It's time to make reconciliations with estranged brethren to forestall the danger of being ashamed at Christ's second coming, which is most imminent. Let's begin to forgive those that have offended us and also ask for forgiveness from those we have offended. This, we must do!
As we run the Christian race, let's keep in mind that "... God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1st Thessalonians 5 verse 9). We can't afford, therefore, to frustrate God's appointment of us as His beloved who have also been graced and destined to see His glory.
PRAYER:
Thank You Father for making my love perfect that I may have boldness on the day of judgment: because as the Lord Jesus is, so am I in this world, in Jesus name.