Confidence or Shame? How to Abide in Yeshua

Imagine the day when Yeshua the Messiah returns to this earth. The heavens declare His coming, and you finally stand before Him. What will you feel at that moment? Will you have confidence, or will you be ashamed before Him?

This is not merely an interesting question to ponder. It is something every follower of Christ should seriously consider.

The Bible reveals that our preparation for the return of Yeshua involves more than simply believing that He exists or acknowledging Him as our Savior. We must learn to abide in Him.

In 1 John 2:28, the apostle John gives us a powerful reminder:

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

Notice the two possible responses John describes: confidence and shame. He also identifies the important factor that makes the difference: whether we abide in Christ.

But what does it mean to abide in Yeshua? How can we know whether we are truly abiding in Him?

Let’s examine three essential biblical principles that can help us answer these questions and prepare for the return of our Savior.

1. Abide in the Vine

One of the clearest explanations of abiding in Christ is found in John 15:4-5. Yeshua said:

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Consider the picture Yeshua gives us.

A branch cannot survive and produce fruit independently of the vine. It depends on the vine for nourishment and life. Once separated from the vine, it eventually withers.

In the same way, we cannot develop the character God desires through our own strength alone. We need to remain connected to Christ, depending on Him as we learn to live according to God’s will.

But how can we determine whether we are truly abiding in Him?

One important way is to examine the spiritual fruit we are producing.

Galatians 5:22-23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

These qualities should increasingly become evident in our lives.

Are you becoming more loving toward people who are difficult to love? Are you learning to exercise patience when circumstances frustrate you? Do you show kindness even when nobody is watching? Are you developing greater self-control over your words, thoughts, and actions?

These questions help us examine whether our relationship with Christ is producing meaningful change.

Of course, spiritual growth takes time. We will not become perfect overnight, and struggling with a weakness does not automatically mean we have abandoned Christ. What matters is whether we continue to seek His guidance, repent when we sin, and strive to grow.

However, if we claim to follow Christ while consistently refusing to develop His character, we have a serious reason to examine our spiritual condition.

Abiding in the vine is not merely claiming a relationship with Yeshua. It means remaining in Him and allowing that relationship to produce spiritual fruit.

2. Abide in His Word

The second way to abide in Yeshua is to remain in His Word.

In John 8:31-32, we read:

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'”

Notice that Yeshua was speaking to people who already believed Him. Yet He explained that genuine discipleship required something more than an initial profession of belief.

They needed to abide in His Word.

The Greek word translated as “abide” in 1 John 2:28 is menō, which conveys the idea of remaining, continuing, or dwelling. Abiding in Christ involves an ongoing relationship, not a temporary experience.

The same principle applies to our relationship with His teachings.

Reading the Bible once, attending a church service, or listening to a sermon is not the end of our spiritual responsibility. We must continually learn God’s Word and put it into practice.

Think about some of Yeshua’s teachings.

He taught us to love our enemies. Do we genuinely seek the good of those who mistreat us?

He taught us to forgive. Are we willing to release our resentment and stop allowing past offenses to control our hearts?

He taught us to serve others. Do we willingly help our brethren, or do we avoid responsibilities whenever serving becomes inconvenient?

He warned against the love of money. Does our pursuit of financial security overshadow our commitment to God?

These are not merely questions about biblical knowledge. They are questions about obedience.

We can memorize numerous Bible verses and explain complicated doctrines, yet fail to practice what we have learned. Knowledge is valuable, but it should lead us toward a transformed life.

Abiding in Christ’s Word means allowing His teachings to influence our decisions, priorities, relationships, and conduct.

It also requires us to examine our beliefs carefully. Instead of automatically accepting a teaching because it is popular or has been practiced for generations, we should compare it with Scripture and be willing to correct our understanding when necessary.

The goal is not simply to know what the Bible says. The goal is to let God’s Word shape the way we live.

If we want to have confidence when Yeshua returns, we must make His teachings an enduring part of our daily lives.

3. Abide in the Light

The third way to abide in Yeshua is to walk in His light rather than remain in darkness.

In John 12:44-46, Yeshua identifies Himself as the light who came into the world so that those who believe in Him would not remain in darkness.

Light provides illumination. It allows us to see what was previously hidden. Spiritually, Christ’s light reveals God’s truth and shows us the way we should live.

Darkness, by contrast, can represent spiritual ignorance, deception, and conduct that conflicts with God’s will.

Therefore, abiding in Christ requires us to respond when His light reveals something in our lives that needs to change.

Be willing to correct your beliefs

Sometimes, we discover that a belief we have held for years does not agree with Scripture. This can be uncomfortable, especially when the belief is deeply rooted in our family, church, or culture.

Nevertheless, we must be willing to follow God’s truth wherever it leads.

For example, if our study of Scripture reveals something important about God’s commandments, the Sabbath, His Holy Days, His food laws, or other biblical teachings, we should approach the matter honestly and prayerfully.

We should not reject a biblical teaching simply because it challenges our traditions or requires us to change.

Our responsibility is to test what we believe against God’s Word and remain teachable.

Be willing to overcome sin

Abiding in the light also means confronting sin rather than making excuses for it.

Perhaps you struggle with anger, dishonesty, jealousy, lust, bitterness, or another weakness. Over time, you may have become so accustomed to that behavior that you have started treating it as an unchangeable part of your personality.

You might even say, “That’s just the way I am.”

But should we use our weaknesses as an excuse to stop growing?

God does not expect us to become spiritually mature in a single day. However, He does call us to repent, resist temptation, and continue pursuing righteousness.

When we stumble, we should not surrender to sin. We should seek God’s forgiveness, learn from our mistakes, and continue striving to overcome.

Walking in the light is not about pretending that we never sin. It is about refusing to make peace with sin when God calls us to change.

Be willing to accept correction

Finally, walking in the light requires humility.

God may reveal our weaknesses through Scripture, a sermon, a conversation with a fellow believer, or the wise counsel of someone who genuinely cares about our spiritual well-being.

Our first reaction may be to defend ourselves or become offended. But what if the correction exposes something we genuinely need to address?

Instead of immediately rejecting it, we should examine the matter prayerfully and compare it with God’s Word.

If the correction is valid, we should acknowledge our mistake and make the necessary changes.

A person who abides in Christ does not insist on being right all the time. Such a person remains willing to learn, repent, and grow.

Walking in the light means allowing God’s truth to change us, even when that change is uncomfortable.

How Can You Have Confidence When Yeshua Returns?

We have examined three essential ways to abide in Yeshua:

1. Abide in the Vine. Remain connected to Christ and allow your relationship with Him to produce spiritual fruit.
2. Abide in His Word. Continue studying His teachings and put them into practice in your daily life.
3. Abide in the Light. Reject deception, turn away from sin, and humbly accept God’s correction.

These three principles give us a practical way to examine our spiritual condition.

Are we growing in the character of Christ? Are we living according to His Word? Are we willing to change when God’s truth reveals that we are wrong?

These questions are especially important as we consider the return of Yeshua the Messiah.

The Day of Trumpets points our attention toward that coming event. It reminds us that our Savior will return and that we should be preparing ourselves spiritually.

We should look forward to His return with hope and anticipation. At the same time, we must not become complacent about our spiritual lives.

John’s words in 1 John 2:28 are both an encouragement and a warning. We are called to abide in Christ so that we may have confidence rather than shame at His coming.

This confidence does not come from believing that we are perfect, that we have never sinned, or that we can earn salvation through our own efforts. Our hope rests in Christ and what He has accomplished for us. We must continue trusting Him, repenting of our sins, and faithfully walking in His ways.

So, ask yourself this question today: If Yeshua returned today, would the way I am living demonstrate that I am abiding in Him?

Do not wait until tomorrow to begin examining your life. Start today. Strengthen your relationship with Christ, return to His Word, and allow His light to guide your steps.

The goal is not merely to know that Yeshua will return. It is to be spiritually prepared when He does.

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Remember, brethren, the return of Yeshua is not something we should merely talk about. It is something we should prepare for.

Abide in the Vine. Abide in His Word. Abide in the Light.

And when He appears, may we have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.