1John 3:3: Everyone Who Hopes in Him (Christ)

1 John 3:3
[3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (ESV)

Have you ever had a hero in your life? When I was a teenager I began learning how to play the bass guitar. I remember listening to the band Yes. I heard the bass guitar in their music. I was blown away by the sound that Christopher Squire (Yes' bass guitarist) was getting out of his bass. I began to try to make my bass sound like his. But, there were two problems. One, I was nowhere near as good as my musical hero. Additionally, I did not have a Rickenbacker Bass.

For years of playing the bass guitar the standard was set. I wanted to play like Christopher Squire. I would need to have a bass guitar like his and I would have to work harder at my skills. Well, I know that my skills are nowhere near to those of my hero, but after waiting almost thirty years my sweet wife bought me a Rickenbacker Bass!

You may be wondering what my bass guitar hero story has to do with today's verse. Consider that we have now become children of God. We know that one day we will be transformed into the likeness of Christ. He is our hero. He is our Savior. He is the one whom we all long to be just like. The Apostle John is telling us that while we await our transformation there are actions that we take now.

Everyone who hopes in Him (Christ) actively purifies himself. Now, we understand that Christ is part of that process of purification. Only his precious blood provides the forgiveness that we need to wash away sin. But, we are called to lay aside our sins and pursue different priorities. If we truly long to be like Christ we will want to change our behaviors so that they begin to resemble those of our Savior, and hero.

The Apostle Paul reminds us:

2 Corinthians 7:1
[1] Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)

Is Jesus Christ your hero? Do you want to be like him? As you await your ultimate transformation when he returns, begin to cleanse yourself from the things that are not like him. Ask him to help you. He is very willing.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog