The confidence of youth depends on what we imagine we can do, and the confidence of maturity often rests on living within our limits.  But the Christian's confidence is totally based on Jesus Christ: who He is, what He has done and where He is leading us (John 8:14).  As John comes towards the end of this little letter to Christians who had been unsettled by false teachers, he reminds them of the key truths about the Lord Jesus – so that they might have confidence in a hostile world.

God has come to earth – John knew the truth because he was a close companion of Jesus.  During that time, John and the other trainee apostles heard His teaching and understood what God was really like (John 1:14; 1 John 1:1-3).  The disciples were not just Jesus' bag carriers and followers; they were on a training course to be able to explain God's gospel to the world, and they had met the true God in the form of Jesus (1 John 1:1).  

As we heard the gospel, repented of our sin and received Jesus, we were also made children of God (John 1:12) and included in His family business.  Trusting in Jesus is not like being a supporter of a sports team, watching while the action is remote from us; it places us inside Jesus Christ, and therefore in God - active members of His ‘team’ and participants in the work of the family of God.  He has given us understanding of what He is doing and how He wants us to cooperate with Him (Ephesians 1:7-10).  We are not people who are trying hard to reach God; when we came to Jesus, we were incorporated into God.  There is no safer place to be.

Although the false teachers tried to claim that Jesus was only a human prophet, John knew the truth that He is God.  The Son of God always was and always will be God.  He is eternal and the giver of eternal life.  To know Jesus Christ is to know God and be with Him for ever.  He alone is the basis of our confidence: while our sins accuse us, the world persecutes us, and the devil slanders us … we are safe in Christ.  So whatever your circumstances, rejoice that you are shielded by God's power until Jesus comes again (1 Peter 1:3-5).