One reason actors are attractive has nothing to do with their looks. The main thing that draws us to actors is their self-confidence. They are fearless in front of a camera. Think of Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Emma Stone, Chris Hemsworth, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, Amy Adams, and Hugh Jackman. They capture us with their bold portrayals.  

We would all like to be confident, yet we often struggle with insecurity. That is especially true when it comes to eschatological judgment. After this life is over, we will all be judged by Christ. But most people do not know what they need to do now in order to have confidence then.  

In a word, the answer is LOVE. Love is the antidote to insecurity. In the last verses in the body of the letter of 1 John—that is, chapter 4, verses 17-19—John explains the key to confidence at Christ’s coming: Loving Others Leads to Confidence at His Coming.   

Did you know that in 1 John, the apostle uses the word love a whopping forty-six times in just 105 verses? Half the verses in the letter directly mention love, and nearly every verse alludes to love. Just look at 1 John 3:16-19, for example. 

1 John 4:17-19 is saying that to have boldness at the Bema, we must have mature love in this life. We must be people who love others.  

“Boldness in the day of judgment” is an inclusio with 2:28.  

The word translated boldness or confidence is parrēsia. It sounds like parousia, the Greek word for Christ’s coming. There is a play on words here. We are to have parrēsia at the parousia.  

“The day of judgment” in 4:17 is parallel to “His coming” in 2:28.  

If we abide in Christ, the One who is Love, then we will have confidence in the day of judgment. But what does that mean?  

Many commentators misunderstand what John is saying.  

Many, if not most, commentators believe that there will be only one eschatological judgment—that is, one judgment of all people after this life is over.  

They call this one judgment final judgment. See, for example, a 1985 sermon by Dr. John Piper on this passage at desiringGod.org. He says that “the day of judgment” refers to final judgment, when we will find out whether our destiny is the kingdom or hell.  

Most think that Jesus will evaluate our works and that if our works are good enough, then we will be granted access to His kingdom. If not, we will be sent off to the lake of fire.  

In John 5:24 the Lord Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will not come into judgment. So how do we explain this discrepancy? 

John 5:24 is all about everlasting life. The believer “has everlasting life” and “has passed from death into life.” The middle statement about the believer’s not “coming into judgment” concerns judgment regarding everlasting life. Believers will not come into judgment to determine our eternal destinies. 

The eternal destiny for every believer is set the moment he believes. See John 3:16 and John 5:24.  

While most commentators believe the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema) is another name for the Great White Throne Judgment (GWTJ), they misunderstand. The Bema occurs before the Millennium and is for believers only (2 Cor 5:1-10). The GWTJ is after the Millennium and is for unbelievers (Rev 20:11-15). At the GWTJ, those not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). Even at the GWTJ, no one will be condemned due to his works. The issue will be his failure to have believed in Jesus Christ in this life.  

Going over many verses on the Judgment Seat of Christ is beyond the scope of this blog. But here is a list of passages about the Bema that you might study: 1 John 2:28; Matt 6:19-21; Luke 19:16-26; 1 Cor 3:10-15; 2 Cor 5:1-10; and 2 Tim 4:6-8.  

What we learn from these verses is that the Bema has nothing to do with our eternal destiny. It has to do with the Lord’s praise, His approval, eternal treasure and eternal rewards, the possibility of ruling with Christ, and boldness or shame for those judged.  

In verses 18 and 19 of 1 John 4, John tells us how we can have boldness at the Bema.  

The translation perfect love in 4:18 or love perfected in 4:17 and 18 is misleading. No believer has perfect love. What we can and should have is mature love.  Mature love gives us boldness at the Bema. Since God is love (4:8, 16), to be like Him is to be loving. 

We all fail to love at times. But mature love is love that characterizes our lives.  

Take every opportunity to demonstrate love to others. It might be a Post-it note you leave for your spouse. Sharon leaves me one nearly every day, and they mean a lot to me.  

It might be an email reply, talking on the phone with someone, giving money to a friend in need, taking food to a grieving family, or showing up at the ceremony or service.  

Piling up little acts of love gives you confidence at His coming.  

If we are not loving others, then we experience inner turmoil, which John calls torment. He says that “fear involves torment” (v 18). Scrooge was not a happy camper. Don’t be like Scrooge.  

Verse 19 ends the letter on a very high note: “We love Him because He first loved us.” The vast majority of manuscripts read: “We love HIM…” Unfortunately, since a few early manuscripts omit Him, some English translations read, “We love because He first loved us.” 

This is the first time in the letter that John directly speaks of our love for God. See also 4:21 and 5:1.  

I believe John ends this discussion of the Bema with a reference to His love for us producing our love for Him because loving other believers is a natural outgrowth of loving the Lord Jesus. 

Many have said that the Christian life does not revolve around knowing all the commandments and focusing on them, but on falling more and more in love with the One who first loved us. The cross spurs us on to love Him who loved us so much that He died for us.  

You can’t be confident when you think about the Bema unless you are certain you will be there. If you fear your eternal destiny, then your issue is not confidence at the Bema. Your issue is where you will spend eternity.  

The readers of I John were mature believers (2:11-14) who knew that they had everlasting life (2:24-26). Compare 5:13.  

When one is unsure of his salvation, then trying to love others in order to gain confidence before Him is silly. First, settle the matter of where you’ll spend eternity. Second, focus on winning His praise and approval at the Bema.  

If you wish to have confidence at His coming, think about two things.  

First, think about His love for you. Second, think about ways you can demonstrate your love for Him by loving His children. Boldness at the Bema is found by loving Him and loving His children.  

Pastors, elders, deacons, missionaries, and Bible scholars cannot have confidence apart from loving others. Service for Christ is not necessarily the same as loving Him and His children. That is where confidence comes from.  

Keep grace in focus and your love for others will blossom and you will have confidence concerning the coming of Christ.