HOPE AS PLATFORM FOR PURITY

“And everyone who has this HOPE in Him PURIFIES himself, just as He is pure” – 1 John 3:3

Believers can experience the Purifying Power of Hope – HOPE as PLATFORM for PURITY: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1Jh.3:3). God empowers His children walk in the Purity of Hope! He wants us to experience Hope as a Hallmark of Holiness! Because we have Hope, and anticipate being with Jesus for eternity, we pursue a pure life. The goal of living a pure life is to be like Christ. He is pure, and believers seek to live like Him. This lays groundwork for John’s latter comments, depicting sin as incompatible with fellowship in Christ. The Lord Jesus taught on Purity: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt.5:8). Believers are to “be pure and blameless for the day of Christ" (Phi. 1:10, NIV). We are to pursue and manifest “chaste conduct”, which stands out to unbelievers (1Pet.3:2).

A person who loses hope loses any reason to live right or do right. With lack of Hope, especially the Hope of Eternal Life, rather than pursue righteousness, the reckless attitude would be: “let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die” (1Cor.15:32). If there is no hope, humanity might as well continue to go after strange gods: “But you said, ‘There is no hope. No! For I have loved aliens, and after them I will go’ (Jer.2:25b). Without Hope, people will simply follow the vain imaginations of their evil hearts: “And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart” (Jer.18:12). This explains the state of humanity in the days of Noah (Gen.6: 5-6).

Hopeless people are usually reckless people. Vision is an indication of Hope. Without vision “crime runs wild” (Pro.29:18, Living Bible). If there is no resurrection, judgment after death, or Hope of the Lord’s return, why should we be concerned with living pure? But we should, because the Lord is coming soon, and every soul will stand before Him to give an account. And all those who have this hope will purify themselves, “even as He [the Lord] is pure.” Hope makes all the difference!

Paul taught Titus to teach Believers to live right in the light of the Blessed Hope: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the BLESSED HOPE and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you” (Tit.2: 11-15).

Peter gave similar warning: “Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2Pet.3:3-4). Peter reassures Believers: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in HOLY CONDUCT and GODLINESS” (2Pet.3: 9-11).

In word and in deed, we must live as people who treasure this Hope in the Promise of the Lord’s return: “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2Pet.2:14). Then, “when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1Jh.2:28).