Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
"Abide" (Gr. meno) appeared no less than seven times in 1 John 2:12-27. The exhortation to abide here in 1 John 2:28 is the outworking of John’s concern to abide in 1 John 2:12-27. "If" might better be translated "whenever." The fact of the Lord’s appearing is certain even though its time is indefinite. [Note: See Gerald B. Stanton, Kept from the Hour, ch. 6: "The Imminency of the Coming of Christ for the Church," pp. 108-37.] John meant that Christ’s return for His own might be while his readers were still alive. [Note: Westcott, p. 81. See also A. E. Brooke, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Johannine Epistles, p. 65; Charles H. Spurgeon, 12 Sermons on the Second Coming of Christ, p. 134; George G. Findlay, Fellowship in the Life Eternal, pp. 232-33; and Robert S. Candlish, The First Epistle of John, p. 213.] Other passages that teach the imminency of Christ’s return include 1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Philippians 3:20; Philippians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12; Titus 2:13; James 5:7-9; and Revelation 3:11; Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:17; Revelation 22:20. "Confidence" (Gr. parresia) is freedom or boldness of speech that comes as a result of a clear conscience. John’s idea was that if we walk in fellowship with God now we will not feel embarrassed to meet Him whenever we see Him (cf. Mark 8:38). The prospect of seeing Jesus Christ one day soon should motivate us to abide in Him now (cf. James 5:8).