“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.” (1 John 2:28)

What sweet comfort this precious promise of God gives to the heart of the believer. Our Lord shall return with glorious splendour to receive us to Himself forever (John 14:1-3). Now, and in that blessed day we shall have absolute and eternal confidence to stand before the holy throne of God totally justified and complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10; 1st John 4:17). True saving faith has all confidence in Christ, not in self (Hebrews 12:2). We say with the Apostle, “We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3)

Believers not only have all confidence in Christ, but we also shall never be ashamed of His gospel now, nor before Him at His glorious coming (1st John 3:12). Every believer can boldly say with the Apostle, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

Christ Jesus is not ashamed to love us (1st John 4:10), to own us (Hebrews 2:13), to die for us (Hebrews 2:17) and to present us faultless before His holy throne (Jude 1:24). “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Hebrews 2:11)

How could we ever be ashamed of Him? 

“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)

Therefore, those who rest in the Lord Jesus Christ shall have great confidence in Him and shall never be confounded, confused or ashamed to own Him as Lord and Saviour, now and forever. (1st Peter 2:6; Romans 9:33; Isaiah 28:16).

T. Harding