1 John 3:3 And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. I. ITS OBJECTS. 1. The second and glorious appearance of Christ. 2. Complete resemblance to His image. 3. The contemplation of His glory and the enjoyment of His love as the means of perfecting this resemblance. II. ITS CERTAINTY. 1. Think on what it rests: not on the schemes of men, which a thousand unforeseen events, and even the failure in a single instance of the means which are employed to accomplish them, may render abortive; but on the purposes of God towards those who are in Christ Jesus — on the determination of infinite wisdom, which no event can thwart. 2. Think of the security of its foundation: this is the work and the grace of Christ. 3. Think, again, what the character and origin of this hope is. It is the hope of seeing Christ, and being like Him; it is the fruit of the Spirit which is shed abroad in the heart. III. THE PURIFYING INFLUENCE OF THIS HOPE. 1. The hope of Christ's appearance must have a purifying effect on all who truly possess it, because without holiness it is absolutely impossible for them to inherit His glory. 2. The very nature and object of this hope have a purifying tendency. Why is it that the Christian longs for the manifestation of the sons of God? Not merely, or chiefly, because then he shall no more struggle with the distresses, or toils, or sorrows of life; but because then his grateful affections shall flow out in perpetual streams of adoration and obedience towards God and the Lamb; not checked, as at present, by any obstruction of temptation and sin. And can the love and dominion of sin subsist in union with such a hope as this? (D. Dickson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.WEB: Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. |
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