Recognising the battle to remain faithful I want to show the congregation our present position in Christ, because of what God has done for us in the past and the need to persevere, in preparation for what lies ahead. We have a glorious hope.

1 John 2:28-3:2 English Standard Version (ESV)
Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.