A Note from Michael Gossett
Eternity in Mind
If you focus on eternity, it makes you ponder the question, am I ready to meet Jesus? An eternal focus has a way of keeping us grounded as we attempt to live a life poured out for the sake of Christ.
History provides countless examples of powerful individuals brought low by the reality of death. Among them, few were as influential as Philip II of Spain (1527–1598), whose empire stretched across Europe and the Americas, commanding vast wealth and military power. Yet, despite his prominence, Philip’s final days were marked by the same frailty and vulnerability that every person faces. As he lay dying in the grand monastery of El Escorial, surrounded by clerics and relics, his mind could not escape life’s greatest question that has confronted humanity since the beginning of time: Was he ready to stand before Jesus?
The Apostle John, writing to the early church, helps us wrestle with this question with urgency in 1 John 2:28-29:
“So now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right has been born of him.” (CSB)
John’s admonition places before the believer a stark choice: to stand with confidence at Christ’s appearing or to shrink back in shame. This passage underscores a fundamental tenet of Christian eschatology—the certainty of Christ’s return, the necessity of perseverance, and the ethical implications of living in light of His coming.
The doctrine of Christ’s second coming is among the most popular themes in Scripture, appearing in over 300 passages in the New Testament alone. It is presented as both a moment of divine culmination and a call to moral vigilance. Jesus Himself articulated this truth with unmistakable clarity: “Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:42) The Apostle Paul reinforced this reality, warning the Thessalonian church that Christ’s return would be like “a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2), an analogy emphasizing its unpredictability and the necessity of constant readiness.
The early church lived with a profound expectation of Christ’s return. The Didache, an early Christian document dating to the late first or early second century, ends with a fervent plea: “Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Maranatha! Amen.” This eschatological anticipation shaped the behavior of the early believers, compelling them toward holiness, evangelism, and communal care.
However, as Christianity transitioned from a persecuted minority to an institutionalized religion within the Roman Empire, it seemed to be less urgent among the people of God. The urgency that characterized the first-century church gave way to theological formalization. Augustine (354–430), in The City of God, argued that the Kingdom of Christ was presently being realized through the Church, a view that would later influence a millennial thought.
During the Reformation, figures such as Martin Luther and John Calvin rekindled an eschatological awareness, though with varying emphases. Luther famously declared, “I live as though Jesus Christ died yesterday, rose today, and is coming again tomorrow.” Calvin, while emphasizing God’s sovereignty over eschatological matters, nonetheless maintained the necessity of readiness: “The first coming of Christ was for our redemption; the second will be for our glorification. We who now see Christ by faith shall then behold Him in His unveiled majesty.”
This watchfulness for Christ was not rooted in fear but in a sincere desire to live faithfully before the Lord. John’s command to “abide in Him” (1 John 2:28) encapsulates this attitude. Abiding is not a passive state but an active, ongoing pursuit of Christ through prayer, obedience, and worship.
The Three Appearances of Christ: Past, Present, and Future
John’s exhortation in 1 John 2:28-29 does not exist in a vacuum. Rather, it is embedded within a larger biblical and theological framework concerning the threefold appearances of Christ. These three appearances—His past appearance in the incarnation, His present appearance as our intercessor, and His future appearance in glory—form the foundation of Christian eschatology.
John’s command to abide in Christ (μένω, menō) is the key to understanding this passage. This Greek verb denotes a continuous action, signifying an enduring and active relationship with Christ. This is not passive belief but an ongoing dependence upon, and obedience to, the Son of God. The confidence or shame that believers will experience at His coming is directly connected to their response to these three appearances of Christ.
1. Christ’s Past Appearance – The Incarnation and Atonement
The first appearance of Christ was His incarnation, wherein the eternal Son of God took on human flesh in order to redeem fallen humanity. This event marks the cornerstone of redemptive history, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament and inaugurating the New Covenant. The author of Hebrews summarizes this first appearance with striking clarity. Hebrews 9:26 says, “But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” The phrase “once for all” in this passage is significant in the way we understand how to live . In contrast to the ongoing sacrifices by the Old Testament priests, which could never totally eliminate sin (Heb. 10:4), Christ’s sacrifice was definitive, complete, and singular. His mission was not solely to act as an ethical teacher or moral exemplar, but to serve as the Lamb of God who removes the sin of the world (John 1:29).
The Necessity of the Incarnation
This is the necessity of the incarnation. Theologically, without the hypostatic union—the joining of divine and human natures in the person of Christ—redemption would be impossible. The church fathers, particularly Athanasius of Alexandria, ardently defended this truth against heresies such as Arianism, which denied Christ’s full deity. In his seminal work On the Incarnation, Athanasius said, “The Word was made flesh so that He might offer Himself as a ransom for all, surrendering His body to death in place of ours, to fulfill the debt owed to divine justice.”
Therefore, this first appearance of Christ is the foundation of the believer’s confidence in salvation. Because Christ has appeared and has accomplished redemption, those who abide in Him have no fear of judgment. His past work secures our present standing before God and prepares us for His future return.
However, for those who do not abide in Christ—those who merely acknowledge Him intellectually but do not rest in Him by faith—the reality of His first coming remains a testimony against them. If Christ came to redeem sinners, and one rejects Him, then that rejection places them under divine condemnation (John 3:18).
Thus, John’s call to abide in Christ is first and foremost a call to trust fully in His finished work—to rest in the sufficiency of His atoning sacrifice and to live in light of His first coming.
2. Christ’s Present Appearance – His High Priestly Intercession
The work of Christ did not cease at the cross. Though His atoning sacrifice was once for all, His ministry continues in His present appearance before the Father as our High Priest. The Apostle Paul describes this ongoing work in Romans chapter 8. Romans 8:34 says, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
The intercessory work of Christ is one of the most overlooked but essential doctrines of the Christian faith. While His past appearance secures our justification, His present appearance secures our perseverance. The Reformers emphasized this reality, particularly in response to Roman Catholic teachings that asserted the necessity of ongoing priestly mediation. In his Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin said, “Since He is our Advocate and always appears in the presence of the Father for us, He turns the Father’s eyes to His own righteousness to avert His gaze from our sins. This is the assurance of our salvation.”
The author of Hebrews develops this doctrine extensively. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
The phrase “save to the uttermost” helps us understand a total and complete salvation. This removes any idea of partial saving. Many believe that the ongoing efforts of the “believer” gain complete salvation. This completely contradicts the work of Christ, the Gospel of Jesus, and what the Scriptures teach us. Complete salvation extends not only to the moment of justification but also throughout the believer’s life, culminating in glorification apart from the effort of the believer. Our salvation is completed and secured by the work of Christ Himself.
How Christ’s Present Work Strengthens the Believer
Christ’s current role as intercessor ensures that believers will not fall away. This reality is foundational for assurance of salvation—a doctrine so vital that the Puritans wrote extensively on it. John Owen, in The Glory of Christ, explains, “Christ’s intercession is the continuation of His love, securing for us every grace necessary to persevere until the end.” In other words, the believer’s confidence at Christ’s return is not found in personal merit but in Christ’s continual advocacy before the Father. Because He intercedes, believers are preserved in faith, upheld in trial, and empowered for holy living.
John’s exhortation to abide in Christ is thus a call to active dependence on His present work—to seek Him in prayer, to rely on Him for spiritual strength, and to rest in the reality that He is continually securing our place before the Father.
3. Christ’s Future Appearance – The Second Coming and Final Judgment
The final appearance of Christ will be His return in glory—the moment that will mark the consummation of redemptive history. This event is described throughout Scripture, particularly in Revelation 1:7, which says, “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.” Unlike His first coming in humility, His second coming will be in power and judgment. Jesus described this event in unmistakable terms. Matthew 24:27 says, “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
The second coming of Christ serves as the great dividing line of humanity. On that day, every individual will stand before the King—either in joyful confidence or dreadful shame. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) summarizes this doctrine: “At the last day, Christ shall return to judge the world in righteousness, rewarding His saints and condemning the wicked.”
John’s warning that some will shrink back in shame (1 John 2:28) underscores the absolute seriousness of this moment. Those who have lived apart from Christ will not be able to withstand His judgment. As Revelation 6:16 states, they will cry out: “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.”
For those abiding in Christ, however, this day will not be one of terror but of triumph. Paul exhorts believers in Titus 2:13: “Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Those who abide in Christ do not fear His coming—they long for it. The confidence John describes is not arrogance but the joyful anticipation of a child awaiting the return of a loving Father.
Thus, the call of 1 John 2:28-29 is clear: Remain in Him. Cling to Christ. Live in the reality of His first coming, rest in the power of His present work, and prepare with joy for His final return.
Are you living in light of eternity? Are you spiritually ready to meet Jesus?
A Prayer for Today:
Lord, help me by your grace to abide in Christ so that I may stand with confidence at your coming. Teach me to live with holy urgency, to set my eyes on things above, and to walk in righteousness. May my life be a testimony to your glory, and may I be found faithful on the day of Christ’s return. Amen.
I hope that you will join us as Pastor and Comedian Ted Cunningham returns for MARRIAGE NIGHT 2025 with more insights and laughter!!! Marriage Night is Thursday February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day, so it is the perfect date with your spouse! The night will be filled with laughter & inspiration, and you might even learn a thing or two! Registration deadline is SUNDAY! Register HERE!
Be a gamechanger and help us tackle hunger on Super Bowl Sunday! This Sunday, February 9, 2025, Missions is hosting a SOUPer Bowl Food Drive on all three campuses. All canned soup will go to the Salvation Army to help feed thousands in our community every week! Donations from our Tyler & Espanol Campuses can be dropped off in the Tyler Worship Center foyer, and donations from our Flint Campus can be dropped off in the Flint Worship Center foyer. Thank you for helping us love our neighbors well.
Have you ever wanted to step into the pages of Scripture? To stand where the Apostle Paul proclaimed the Gospel and witness the incredible sites of his missionary journeys? Now is your chance!
I’m inviting you to join my wife, Katie, and me for a trip of a lifetime as we explore the rich history and profound theology of Paul’s ministry in the ancient world. Together, from October 25 to November 4, 2025, we’ll walk in Paul’s footsteps and experience the lands that shaped the early church and transformed history.
📍 Highlights of Our Journey:
Philippi: Visit the site of Paul’s first church plant in Europe and where Lydia, the first European convert, was baptized.
Thessalonica & Berea: Discover the cities where Paul’s teachings inspired the faithful and stirred the hearts of seekers.
Athens & Corinth: Stand in awe at Mars Hill, where Paul preached the Gospel to Greek philosophers, and explore the vibrant city of Corinth.
Ephesus: Explore the ruins of ancient cities pivotal to Paul’s mission and the spread of Christianity.
Greek Islands & Crete: Sail through the beauty of the same seas as Paul while reflecting on his journey to these historic lands.
🗓 Trip Dates: October 25–November 4, 2025
📖 What You’ll Gain:
- Transformative teaching at every site to deepen your understanding of Paul’s life and theology.
- Opportunities for spiritual reflection and meaningful fellowship with others.
- Memories that will bring the Bible to life like never before.
💬 What Past Travelers Have Said:
“Walking through Philippi and standing in the very places where Paul shared the Gospel was unforgettable. This journey truly transformed how I read Scripture.”
“Standing in the ruins of Corinth, where Paul wrote to the early church, gave me a deeper appreciation for his letters. This trip made the Bible come alive in ways I never imagined.”
“Sailing the Greek islands and visiting Crete reminded me of the challenges Paul faced and the power of the Gospel to overcome them. It was an unforgettable spiritual and historical experience.”
“Hearing the teaching at Philippi and seeing the baptistry where Lydia might have been baptized brought tears to my eyes. This journey deepened my faith and my understanding of Scripture.”
Reserve Your Spot Today!
This exclusive experience is limited, so don’t wait to secure your place. Register HERE or reply to this email with questions.
Let’s make this journey together—learning, growing, and experiencing the powerful story of the Apostle Paul in a way that will inspire your faith for years to come.
P.S. Invite a friend or loved one to join you. This shared experience will be one you’ll cherish forever!
Space is limited, so please sign up as early as possible.
Join us this Sunday for worship! “The King’s Plan and God’s Purpose”
In a world where rulers and governments think they control history and the future, God is always at work behind the scenes. This Sunday, we’ll explore Luke 2:1-7 and uncover how the birth of Jesus Christ wasn’t just a historical event—it was God’s sovereign plan unfolding perfectly to bring salvation to the world.
What You’ll Discover:
Don’t miss this message of hope, purpose, and the power of God’s providence! Bring your family, invite your friends, and come ready to be encouraged in your faith.
This Sunday at 9:30 am or 11:00 am at our Tyler Campus, Español Campus (Crosswalk of Tyler Campus at 11:00 am only) or Flint Campus
Invite someone to join you and let’s worship together!
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett