John's Purifying Hope - May 19, 2024

TEXT: I John 3:1-4

                             This morning, we are going to look at why John calls Christians to live like Jesus.  Our text comes from 1 John 3:1-3 where he wrote:    "(1)Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew Him not.  (2)Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.  (3)And every man who has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure."  As you read all three of John letters to the early Christians, you can see that he is calling them and us today to Christ-like living in each letter.  Let's look at why John chose to live like Jesus and why we should do the same.

                             Beginning in verse 1, we see that John was amazed about how much love God has for all of us.  He couldn't find the words to fully explain the love of God as shown in the opening words "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us."  We know from John 3:16 that because of how much God loved us, He sent His Son Jesus to die for us so that we could have everlasting life.  John had been with Jesus in the upper room for the last Passover feast and after the resurrection.  We learn in John's gospel in 13:1-17 how Jesus washed John's feet, and then in chapter 19:25-30 that John stood at the cross when our Lord was crucified.  No wonder he wanted to please the One who loved him so much.

                             John shows how he appreciated his position as a child of God in verse 1 and 2 because he now knew that sinners could become children of God.  He was a simple fisherman clearly imperfect.  But now, he cherished that he was a child of God.  But he also knew that being children of God causes conflict with the world because the world doesn't know or about the love God has for them and doesn't care to understand those that do.  Christians today  must understand that living like Jesus and being children of God is not going to be easy.  We will be misunderstood and rejected just as Jesus was.  But the  moment we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are born again as children of Most High and All Powerful God and are assured of eternal life in His kingdom.  Believing in Jesus as the Son of God begins the process of becoming more like Him. Paul tells us in Romans 8:29 the process of becoming more like Jesus will continue until the day we see Him face-to-face. 

                             John was anticipating seeing Jesus again because at that time He would be reunited with the Lord he knows so well and would finally see as He is in His glorified body.  At that would be the time John knew he would be like Jesus.  Every Christian has that same thing to look forward to.  We don't know exactly how we will be like Him, but we do know that we will have eternal, resurrected bodies.  We will be free from sin and pain, and we will have a much greater understanding of God and His plans than we do living on earth. 

                             Knowing what our ultimate destiny will be is what motivated John and that same destiny should be what motivates us to live as morally pure and free from the corruption of sin as is possible.  It's what give us hope as we struggle with sin because we know that one day we will be sinless like Jesus. God purifies us, but we must also take steps to remain pure.  First Timothy 5:22 tells us we are to keep ourselves pure.  James 4:8 tells us when we purify our hearts, God will come near to us.  And 1 Peter 1:22 shows that we purify ourselves by obeying the truth of God which then give us a sincere love for each other.  This is a love of selfless giving because a self-centered person can't truly love others.  It's God's love and forgiveness that frees us to take our eyes off ourselves thereby enabling us to meet the needs of others.  By sacrificing His life, Jesus showed that He genuinely loves us.  Now, we can wholeheartedly love others by following His example and giving of ourselves to others.

                             John knew all about the failures of this life.  And like us, he also had regrets in his life.  He wrote in 1 John 1:8 that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.  Paul wrote about the daily struggle to live a sinless life in Romans 7:14-21.  But each and every time we resist a temptation or turn away from sin, we become more like Jesus.

                             John happily and joyously looked forward to a better day.  He knew when that time arrived, all the mysteries will be cleared up, he would literally be a changed in a way that would make him like, and he would be able to see Jesus as He really is.  That same better day will come for every Christians.  But until it does, we must continue to work to be like Jesus so others will see Him in us.  Like John, all true Christians know that God loves them, that they are His children, and the day is coming when they will be like Jesus.  These are the promises that motivate us all to live a life for Jesus.  And when the day finally arrives when we meet Jesus face to face, He will say to us, well done, thou good and faithful servant.

                   Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.