We Shall See Him Face to Face

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. . . . How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

1 John 2:28, 3:1, 3

We have been discussing the issue of the second coming of Christ in relation to 1 John 2:28-3:3. We said first that we are beloved of God. That is the origin of it all. Everything else will follow, because God has loved us from all eternity. Second, because we are beloved of God, we are born of God. We become God’s children by new birth and adoption. Third, as children of God, we will behave in a godly way because our nature has been changed and we have begun to bear the image of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Then we said that those who are beloved of God, born of God and behave in a way that pleases God are given a blessed hope.

In this study we want to speak about having boldness when Jesus Christ comes again. In 1 John 2:28 we read, “And now, dear children, continue in him. . .” What does it mean to continue in Christ? John is saying, “Keep on abiding in him, keep on loving him, keep on doing the word of God and submitting to him.” In other words, we must continue to live righteous lives before God in the present “so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”

John uses two Greek words in this verse, parousia and parrêsia. These words will help us remember what the goal of our lives should be. Parousia means coming, and the technical meaning has to do with the second coming of Christ. Parrêsia means boldness, confidence. We must abide in Christ, love Christ, and do his will so that we may have parrêsia, boldness, to face him at his parousia, when we shall see him face to face.

The Parousia of Christ

The church has been waiting for about two thousand years for the second coming of Christ. In Acts 1:9 we read that Christ ascended into the heavens and is now seated in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. From there he will come again on the last day.

The first and only time John uses the word parousia in this epistle is in chapter 2, verse 28: “And now, dear children, continue in him so that when he appears, we may be confident (parrêsia) before him at his coming (parousia).”

In Greek literature parousia referred to the visit of an emperor to a part of his empire. For example, suppose Emperor Hadrian, who traveled quite a bit, was coming to Egypt. Oh, what preparations would have to be made! Streets would be swept clean, appropriate gifts would be secured, speeches praising and lauding the emperor would be written, and colorful banners would be sewn and displayed. Throughout the time of preparation, a glad and joyful atmosphere would prevail, anticipating the day when the emperor would finally arrive with great pomp and festivity.

Parousia was also used in Greek literature to refer to the visits of gods into the midst of men. So the New Testament uses this word parousia in reference to the coming into this world, God’s realm, by the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. The church has been waiting for two millennia for the parousia of her King.

Preparing for the Parousia

In Hebrews 9:28 we read that Christ is not coming again in weakness to bear our sins, but in great glory “to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” The church has been eagerly preparing the way of the Lord, as Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 40. In Revelation 19:7 John also speaks of this preparation, saying, “For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”

We must prepare ourselves to meet the Lord, so John writes, “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” That is why we are zealous for good works and want to abide in him. That is why we are serious about obedience. We are looking forward to the glorious appearing of our great God, when we shall see him face to face.

In Luke 12 Jesus Christ tells us that we should do certain things in view of his second coming. In verse 43 he said, “It would be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns,” and in verse 47 he said, “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.” As God’s servants, we are responsible for knowing God’s will and doing it. In this interim we must be very eager to do these things because that is our way of getting ready.

Boldness at His Coming

The true church must abide in her King and his word just as branches abide in the vine. Having been born of God, the church will show her love to God by doing his will; she will be righteous and will do what is righteous. If we are careful to abide in Christ, we will have confidence at his coming. Additionally, we will have great confidence in this life. So John uses this word parrêsia in chapter 2, verse 28; chapter 3, verse 21; chapter 4, verse 17; and chapter 5, verse 14, to speak of the confidence of the true Christian.

How do we become bold? By living in obedience to God’s will. Proverbs 28:1 tells us, “The righteous are as bold as a lion.” I remember during my school days that after we took examinations, there would be a day when all the examination papers were graded and distributed. Now, some people trembled in anticipation of that day, but I looked forward to it. Why? Because generally I was either first or second in the class I was very confident for the simple reason that I had done the work and didn’t fool around.

The word parrêsia is formed out of two Greek words: pas, which means total or all, and rhesis, which means speech. So parrêsia means all speech, total freedom of speech, fearless communication. In ancient times parrêsia was the highest privilege a citizen could have in a Greek city-state. It meant one could speak one’s mind in the assembly, a privilege slaves did not have. A man with parrêsia would be unafraid to speak. As a citizen of the state, this right of free speech gave a man the courage to speak with candor in the assembly or city council. In the same way the church has great freedom and confidence in speaking, both in this world and at the second coming of Christ.

In Philippians 3:20 Paul said, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Because we are citizens of heaven, we have been given the right of speech before God and his Son. Thus, as beloved children of God, saved by the blood of Christ, we are not afraid of our King; rather, we love him. That is why we will be busy making preparations in our own life for his coming. We will be careful to hate wickedness and love righteousness, and just as we are able to speak to him in prayer now, then we will be able to speak to him when he comes again.

Confidence from the Blood of Christ

What is the basis of our boldness as Christians? First, true Christians are bold because they are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. In 1 John 1:9 we read, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” You see, sin and guilt cause us to be ashamed. But thank God for Christ’s atonement in which we trusted! That is why the apostle Paul said he did not want to know anything other than Jesus Christ and him crucified.

David speaks of this in Psalm 51. In verse 1 he prays, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” In verse 7 he prays, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” It is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from sin.

John also speaks of this in 1 John 3:5. Referring to Christ’s first coming, he says, “But you know that he appeared. . . .” There are two appearances. The first was to deal with our sins; the second will be to deal with the disobedience of his enemies. So John writes, “But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.” That is what gives us parrêsia. The sin issue is dealt once and for all by the blood of Jesus Christ.

This idea is brought to extreme clarity by the writer to the Hebrews in Hebrews 9:14, where we read, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death!” Our consciences were polluted and filthy, full of guilt and condemnation, but the blood of Jesus Christ cleansed us.

Hebrews 10:19 connects this cleansing with confidence: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. . .” This is the confidence we have as Christians. We can now come into the presence of God because there is nothing to hide; it is all made clean by the blood of Jesus.

What if you have not trusted in Jesus Christ and have not depended wholly on the blood of Christ to cleanse you? Then you will have no parrêsia when he comes again. Instead of being confident, you will be ashamed and shrink away from him. That is why I urge you even today to trust in Christ and be cleansed by his blood.

Confidence from Having Union with Christ

Second, we are bold because we are already united with Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!” In John 15:5 Jesus himself said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” In Colossians 3:3 Paul wrote, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

When we trusted in Jesus Christ by saving faith, we were linked with him forever. At that time we died with him, were buried with him, were raised with him, and were seated with him. We are linked to him forevermore; that is why we have confidence. Is Jesus Christ a stranger to us? Is he our enemy? No. He is our Savior with whom we are united. The mother of all doctrines is that we enjoy vital union with Jesus Christ. That is why we have confidence in this world and will have confidence at his coming.

Confidence from the Holy Spirit

Third, we have confidence because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. In Romans 8:15 we read, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'” Paul uses an interesting word, krazomen, for “cry.” It does not mean muttering or timid groaning, but a loud, clear, definite articulation that leaves no room for doubt.

As children of God, we have the Holy Spirit living in us-not a spirit of fear or timidity, but the Spirit of adoption. By this Holy Spirit we cry, “Abba, Father.” That is one source of confidence-the Holy Spirit is in us.

But we also have the Holy Spirit coming upon us. Just read through the book of Acts. There we see the centrality of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8 Jesus told his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” In this world we need power, and we receive it when the Holy Spirit comes upon us.

What did the apostles need? Boldness! Confidence! Fearlessness! Courage! How did they get these things? They were given the Holy Spirit. For example, in Acts 4:13 we find Peter speaking before the Sanhedrin: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” People notice the courage and boldness we have when the Holy Spirit comes upon us.

In Acts 4:31 we read, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” That is the boldness of the Holy Spirit.

Confidence from Obedience

Fourth, we have confidence before God because we obey him in the present. We already read in 1 John 2:28, “Dear children, continue in him so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed at his coming.” Additionally, in 1 John 3:21-23 John writes, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

Confidence is engendered when we love and obey God. Have you ever seen your children not wanting to come to you when you come home from a trip? Why do they keep their distance? It is because they did something sinful while you were gone. PGM And if you are a father or mother with some kind of sanity, you will know right away that there is something wrong with your son or daughter. You are able to discern that these children did not do the right thing because they lack confidence in your presence.

Expressions of Confidence

As Christians we are bold because we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, are united with Christ, have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and are obedient to God. We express this boldness in a number of ways.

First, we express boldness before God in prayer. Those who do not pray are people who have no boldness because they are sinning and not doing the will of God. Show me a man who wrestles effectually in prayer and I will show you a man who loves God and does his will. Nothing will separate such a man from God. He will come to God boldly in prayer, and God will listen.

Sin destroys our boldness. In John 3:2-22 we read, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us. . . .” Why do our hearts condemn us? Because we sin. Have you ever been in this situation? But John writes, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.” Effectual prayer is based on confidence, which, in turn, is based on doing God’s will.

In 1 John 5:14-15 we read, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him.” This is confidence in prayer. Remember, the Greek word for confidence means freedom of speech. Before whom are we free to speak? Ultimately, before God. As citizens of heaven and children of God;, we are given authority and freedom to speak.

Second, our confidence is expressed in witnessing to the world. In Acts 4:13 we read, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished. . . .” The Sanhedrin were surprised at the boldness and confidence with which Peter spoke as he was filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 4:31 we read, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The disciples were told not to speak about Jesus Christ. But because it was God’s will, they obeyed God and continued to preach the gospel with great confidence and boldness.

Do you pray with great confidence and boldness? If not, perhaps you are not being obedient to God’s will in your life. Do you witness to others? Is it clear to everyone that you are a Christian? If not, perhaps you are not walking in obedience to God.

We like to see gray, not black and white, don’t we? But there is no gray in God’s kingdom: there is either light or darkness. If we are the light of the world, we will speak boldly concerning these things. We will be unafraid-unafraid of the devil, unafraid of the powerful, unafraid of the mighty.

In Acts 20:22-23 Paul told the Ephesian elders, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit wants me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Because of his obedience in preaching the gospel, Paul was ready to die whenever God decreed. This is Christian confidence.

Third, this confidence is expressed in relation to the second coming of Christ. We eagerly wait for Christ’s coming because our citizenship is in heaven, our life is hid with Christ in God, and we are united with Jesus Christ. Every day the church prepares herself to be ready for the return of her Lord because she no longer fears judgment.

In 1 John 4:16-17 we read, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence in the day of judgment.” Yes, the day of judgment is coming, but we face it unafraid. Our boldness and confidence manifests itself in terms of fearless waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why are we fearless? First, we are no longer subject to condemnation by God. In Romans 8:1 we read, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Through repentance and faith we are justified in Christ Jesus. If you are not in Christ, you are a hopeless person who will be ashamed and filled with terror when he comes again. But to us who are in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation because we have been justified. That is the first reason for our confidence at Christ’s coming.

Second, there is no separation between us and God. In Romans 8:35 we read, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” No. As we read further in this passage, we learn that nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of God. That is why, when he comes again, we will be absolutely confident in his presence. There is no condemnation and separation for those who are in Christ.

False versus True Confidence

This confidence John is speaking about is not a false confidence. In the gospel of Matthew alone we find several references to false confidence and the dangers of it.

In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus warned his disciples about false confidence, saying, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” When Christ comes again, there will be many people who think they are going to enter the kingdom of heaven, even though they will not. They will be so sure about it that they will tell the Lord, “We prophesied in your name. We performed miracles. We did all these wonderful things. Lord, Lord, open for us too!” But theirs will be a false confidence and Jesus will tell them, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

In Matthew 22 Jesus told a parable about the wedding of a king’s son. All the invited guests were given wedding clothes, but one fellow sneaked in without them. Oh, he was pretty confident. He said to himself, “You know, I think everything is going to be all right. I am not going to do things the way the king is telling me to do, but I think everything will be all right.” He made it into the hall and obtained a seat, but in verses 11 and 12 we read, “But when the king came to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.” What happened to this man whose confidence was false? In verse 13 we read, “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”

In Matthew 25 we read the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. The foolish virgins were filled with false confidence and thought they would be admitted to the wedding banquet without any problem. But after the bridegroom came, they found they were shut out. In Matthew 25:11-12 we read, “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.'” Their false confidence was their downfall.

I urge all of us to examine our lives and see whether we have true or false confidence. Don’t just pretend that everything is going to be all right because we were brought up in a Christian home or have always gone to a Christian church or that our parents were Christians or that we taught Sunday School. All this means nothing. In fact, such things may mean that we are inoculated against true Christianity and have false hope. But on that day it will be shown whether we are truly in the faith or not.

No Confidence

What about those who have never believed in Jesus Christ? They will not have any confidence at the second coming of Christ. They will be gripped with fear and shame as they realize the truth about God and his judgment, but it will be too late.

In Revelation 6:15-17 we find a picture of what will happen to such people at the second coming of Christ:

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’

In Daniel 12:2 we find another description of people on the day of judgment, “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” Shame and everlasting contempt is the end of those who have not trusted in Christ.

Do You Have True Confidence?

What about you? Are you eagerly waiting for Christ’s glorious appearing from heaven? Are you now abiding in him, loving him, and doing his will? Are you vitally related to Christ, or is Christianity a theoretical, mechanical thing? Have you savingly trusted in Jesus Christ alone? Have you been justified by the righteousness of Christ? Have you been born of him and cleansed by his blood? Does the Holy Spirit dwell in you? Does the Holy Spirit enable you to pray to God in confidence? Does the Holy Spirit give you power to witness to the world without fear?

Many of you may remember seeing the two children of President Kennedy, John-John and Caroline, wandering about in the Oval Office. Everyone else was afraid to be in the office of the President of the United States but these children were not. Why? They had relationship. This was the office of their father.

Confidence comes through vital relationship and the practice of righteousness. Therefore, those who are authentic Christians, who are in Christ by faith and who love and obey him, shall stand with confidence in Christ’s presence when he comes again. Even now we can approach the throne of grace with confidence and are asked to do so by God himself. Even now, whenever we gather together as a church, we are in his presence because Jesus Christ said, “If two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst.” He is in our midst now to bless and comfort us, but then we will see him face to face.

Do you have assurance that if you died today, you will stand before Christ with confidence? It may happen. We just heard of some people who were having a wonderful wedding celebration in Jerusalem on the third floor of a building. There were a lot of guests, and everyone was dancing and rejoicing. But then the foundation gave way and everything collapsed. Twenty-four people died right away, and over three hundred were wounded. Do you think these people expected that to happen? Oh, no. They simply wanted to have a good time and come home afterwards.

Jesus Christ took away my dread, my shame, my fear, my guilt, and my condemnation forever by his atoning sacrifice on the cross. I have put my trust in Jesus Christ alone and know that I die today, I will be with the Lord. What about you? Can you say with the apostle Paul, “For to me, to depart is to be with Christ”? May God help all of us to abide in his Son that we will have confidence now and in the last day. Amen.