There are two words in our passage to consider. In 3:19 “before” means to be in front of someone, literally to be before their face. In 3:22 one word is translated by the phrase, “in the sight of.” Both words view the person in whose presence we are as being an interested observer. In our society these days, we can pass people on the street without making any kind of eye contact or recognition of any kind. It might be because we’re looking at our phones, but even with that distraction we are briefly in the presence of many people in a typical day without actually noticing them or being noticed. It is intentional. I guess we’re all comfortable with that.
Such is not the case
with God. These two words, each of which
can be translated “before,” appear numerous times in the Bible with respect to
God. I’m going to dwell in the NT but I
will tell you the OT Hebrew has a similar term, having the idea of being before
someone’s face.
There are two
primary settings to be in God’s presence.
One is at a future time of judgment.
Jesus predicted a time when all the nations would be gathered before God
(Matt. 25:32). We shall all appear
before (in the presence of) the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Other passages include Lk. 21:36; Rom. 3:20;
1 Th. 2:19; 3:13; Rev. 15:4; 16:19; 20:12. God, as Judge, is an “interested
observer” and we there will be no ignoring Him in that day.
The other setting is
today. Peter had this in mind
when he told the Sanhedrin, you judge whether it is right in God’s sight to
obey you rather than God (Ac. 4:19), he was acknowledging that he and the
leaders were all making decisions in the sight of God. When we go to God in prayer we are “in the
presence” of God (1 Th. 1:3). Caring for
widows (1 Tim. 5:4) is an act that God sees now and pleases.
John, in 1 John, is concerned
about both when he talks about “confidence.”
On one hand, we long to be confident in the day of judgment (4:17). On the other, we desire confidence that He
will hear us when we come in prayer (5:14).
Thus, let us
consider what it means to be “confident.”
Again, there are two words in our passage. In 3:19 we shall “assure” our hearts in His
presence. This means literally that our
hearts are at rest. We are not anxious
or fidgety but are at ease. In 3:21, if
our hearts are at ease (do not condemn us), we have “confidence” in our
attitude toward God. This word means we
have boldness, an ability to speak with God without fear.
This confidence is something we want and need now. This is not just for the judgment seat of
Christ. Heb. 10:19 tells us that Christ,
by His blood, has given us boldness (confidence) to enter into the holy of
holies in heaven. In this we stand. Then Heb. 10:22 tells us to draw near now,
with a true heart in full assurance of faith (at rest). This is fellowship with God today. This is what John is addressing in this
wonderful letter. Our lives are lived in
God’s presence and sight now. Let us be
in the place where we enjoy that relationship with God.
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