Having Confidence On Judgment Day

The question is asked, “Where is our confidence in the day of judgment?” (1 John 4:17). If we pattern our lives after Christ (1 John 2:3-6), we will have confidence in the day of judgment. The previous verse (1 John 4:16), tells us that we must continually “dwell” [abide] in God’s love in order to maintain that confidence.

That successful “dwelling” [abiding] is also contingent upon our confessing Christ as God’s Son (1 John 4:15), and the keeping of God’s commands (1 John 3:24).

Another criteria for our having confidence in the day of judgment is for us to maintain God’s standard of moral purity in ourselves and in our everyday living (1 John 3:2-3; cf. 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:13-16).

All of the above can only be achieved “through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets