Encourage believers to live confidently and unashamedly in Jesus, continuing in obedience to God's Word, so that they may stand unashamed before Him at His coming.
Good evening, brothers and sisters in Christ. We are gathered here today to dive into the Scriptures and listen to what God has to say through His Word.
In the wise words of A.W. Tozer, "To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men." As we settle into our seats, let's turn our hearts and minds to the powerful words penned by John in his first epistle, specifically 1 John 2:28-29:
"And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him."
These verses remind us to remain unashamed before the Lord, to live confidently in Jesus, and to continue in obedience to God's Word.
Let's pray as we open our hearts to understand more deeply what John was conveying to us.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this time together, for the freedom to gather and study Your Word. We ask that You would open our hearts and minds to fully understand the message You have for us today. Help us to take these words and apply them to our lives, to live confidently in You and remain unashamed. We pray that Your Word would guide us in our obedience to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Let’s get started!
Remaining unashamed before the Lord is a call to live openly and honestly before God, acknowledging Him as the ultimate authority and judge. This idea is not about being perfect or without sin, but rather about having a heart that is willing to be transparent before God, confessing our sins and shortcomings, and seeking His forgiveness and grace.
Understanding the nature of God: God is omniscient, meaning He knows everything about us - our thoughts, our actions, our desires, and our secrets. Nothing is hidden from Him. Therefore, trying to hide our sins or pretend they don't exist is not only futile but also disrespectful to God. Instead, we should be honest about our sins, confess them to God, and seek His forgiveness. This is the first step towards remaining unashamed before the Lord.
Understanding the nature of sin: Sin separates us from God. It creates a barrier that prevents us from having a close relationship with Him. However, God has provided a way for us to overcome this barrier through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When we confess our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior, our sins are forgiven, and the barrier is removed. This allows us to stand unashamed before God, not because of our own righteousness, but because of the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to us.
Understanding the nature of our relationship with God: As children of God, we have been adopted into His family. This means that we have a special relationship with Him. He is not just our God, but also our Father. As such, He loves us unconditionally and wants the best for us. Therefore, we should not be afraid to come before Him, even when we have sinned. Instead, we should approach Him with confidence, knowing that He will forgive us and help us to overcome our sins.
Understanding the nature of grace: Grace is the unmerited favor of God. It is not something we earn or deserve, but something that God gives us freely out of His love for us. This grace covers our sins and allows us to stand unashamed before God. It also empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to God, despite our weaknesses and shortcomings.
Understanding the nature of repentance: Repentance is not just about feeling sorry for our sins, but also about turning away from them and turning towards God. It is a change of heart and mind that leads to a change in behavior. This is what it means to live unashamed before God. It is not about never sinning, but about always repenting when we do sin, and striving to live a life that is pleasing to God.
It’s a lifelong journey, but one that is worth undertaking.
Living in confidence in Christ is not a self-assuredness based on our own abilities or achievements, but a steadfast assurance rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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