Waiting for the day of Christ

Reading through Philippians recently I noticed the reoccurrence of the phrase "day of Jesus Christ" or "day of Christ."

1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

1:10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

2:16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Keeping in mind that Paul is writing to the "saints in Christ Jesus" at Philippi, he explains later what the day of Christ means for those in Christ (it will mean something terrible for those not in Christ).

3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Paul speaks of the day of Christ in different ways elsewhere. It's sure coming is both a warning and an encouragement.

1 Cor. 3:13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

John expresses the now/not yet tension of our status as God's children and reminds us of the practical implications this "blessed hope" is for the Christian life now.

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Hoping in Christ means waiting expectantly for his day.