254. Purification By Hope.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. - 1 John 3:3.

THE Christian is a man whose main possessions lie in reversion. Most men have a hope, but his is a peculiar one; and its effect is special, for it causes him to purify himself.

I. THE BELIEVER'S HOPE. "Everyone that hath this hope in him."

1. It is the hope of being like Jesus.

· Perfect, Glorious, Conqueror over sin, death and hell.

2. It is based upon divine love. See verse 1.

3. It arises out of sonship. "Called the sons of God:"

4. It rests upon our union to Jesus. "When he shall appear."

5. It is distinctly hope in Him. "We shall be like him," etc.

6. It is the hope of his second Advent.

II. THE OPERATION OF THAT HOPE. "Purifieth."

It does not puff up, like the conceit of Pharisees.

It does not lead to loose living, like the presumption of Antinomians.

It shows us what course is grateful, is congruous to grace, is according to the new nature, and is preparatory to the perfect future.

1. The believer purifies himself from:

· His grosser sins. From evil company, etc.

· His secret sins, neglects, imaginings, desires, murmurings, etc.

· His besetting sins of heart, temper, body, relationship, etc.

· His relative sins in the family, the shop, the church, etc.

· His sins arising out of his nationality, education, profession, etc.

· His sins of word, thought, action, and omission.

2. He does this in a perfectly natural way.

· By getting a clear notion of what purity really is. By keeping a tender conscience, and bewailing his faults.

· By having an eye to God and his continual presence.

· By making others his beacons or examples.

· By hearing rebukes for himself, and laying them to heart.

· By asking the Lord to search him, and practicing self-examination.

· By distinctly and vigorously fighting with every known sin.

3.He sets before him Jesus as his model. "He purifieth himself, even as HE is pure:"

· Hence he does not cultivate one grace only.

· Hence he is never afraid of being too precise.

· Hence he is simple, natural, and unconstrained.

· Hence he is evermore aspiring after more and more holiness.

III. THE TEST OF THAT HOPE. "He purifieth himself."

Actively, personally, prayerfully, intensely, continually, he aims at the purification of himself, looking to God for aid.

· Some defile themselves willfully.

· Some take things as they are.

· Some believe that they need no purifying.

· Some talk about purity, but never strive after it.

· Some glory in that which is a mere counterfeit of it.

The genuine Hoper does not belong to any of these classes: he really and successfully purifies himself.

What must it be to be without a good hope?

How can there be hope where there is no faith?

Grace adopts us; adoption gives us hope; hope purifies us, till we are like the Firstborn.