Living in the Hope
Of the “Already/Not Yet”
1 John 2:28-3:10
Biblical hope is the sure and confident expectation of receiving what God has promised His children in the future. Living in that hope transforms our outlook and shapes our behaviour while we live in the reality of what Christ has already done.
Genuine believers:
1. Keep Jesus as the primary focus of their hope (vs. 2:28-3:3)
- Jesus is the centerpiece of biblical hope (cf. 1 Pt. 1:3-5)
- Continuing in Christ, keeping Him the primary focus of our hope, is not to be done passively (cf. Php. 2:12-13)
- Actively abide in Christ while working out your salvation “with fear and trembling.” Then, you will be able to live with the spiritual blessings of His peace and assurance, and you will be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming (cf. vs. 28b; Rom. 8:1)
When you think about Christ’s return, do the words “confident” and “unashamed” describe how you would feel before Him if He were to return even today? As children of God, living in the hope of His appearing, let us prove that we are genuine believers through our actions, by doing what is right (because He is righteous) and purifying ourselves (because He is pure).
2. Do not keep continuing to sin (vs. 3:4-10)
- “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.” Christ came to take away our sins (cf. 6a; Mt. 1:21; Jn. 1:29; Jn. 3:17)
- “He who does what is right is righteous … He who does what is sinful is of the devil.” Christ came to destroy the devil’s work (cf. 7b-8a; Gen. 3:15; Heb. 2:14-15; Rev. 20:10)
- “Because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning.” Christ came that we might be born again, and become new creations in Him (cf. Jn. 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:17-18a)
Does how you live your life give evidence that you genuinely live in Christ and have come to know Him? Does it give evidence that you have been born of God and are a child of His? If so, then praise God because “all this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ.” But, if not, do not be deceived; you cannot claim to be born of God while at the same time keep continuing to sin. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
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