The Motive for Purity (1 John 3: 1-2, “...We shall be like Him...”)
July 17, 2003
"BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HAS BESTOWED
ON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD!
THEREFORE THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW US, BECAUSE IT DID
NOT KNOW HIM.
BELOVED, NOW WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD; AND IT HAS NOT
YET BEEN REVEALED WHAT WE SHALL BE, BUT WE KNOW
THAT WHEN HE IS REVEALED, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, FOR WE
SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS." 1 John 3: 1-2
In the Scripture passage under consideration, as brief as it is,
there are important life changing principles. These principles may
not be stated exactly in other Scripture, but can be confirmed in
other places in the Word. The first statement is an observation by
the author, John the beloved Apostle, who reminds us of a unique
privilege we have in being called Children of God. We know we
do not deserve such designation. It is afforded us because of His
great love for us. We are reminded further that we cannot expect
approval by our fellows in the world since like minded men did not
know him. We have fellowship in His alienation from this world.
(A high privilege, indeed.) This takes us to Ephesians 2, where we
are (already) seated in heavenly places with Him. Here is the
magnitude of our eternal estate; “...we shall be like Him.” This
one statement boggles the mind since we know Jesus Christ is
Lord; God the Son, and has been given highest honors in Heaven
with God the Father.
Finally, we find the practical aspect of this hope. As we realize
this, we have the motivation to purify ourselves and in essence
become more like our Lord Jesus Christ even while on the earth.
This is one experience God uses to purify you and me, along with
other believers who make up His church, the Bride of Christ. (A
bride is expected to to be chaste, or pure, having a single minded
devotion to her groom,)
Sin, and the Child of God? (4-9)
As we continue, we see sin, lawlessness as foreign to a Child of
God. While we may not hold out for the doctrine of “sinless perfec-
tion,” we do recognize clear teaching in Scripture, here and other
places. One who is a Child of God does not practice willful disobe-
dience to God’s Word. In one place the term is used, “ life above
reproach.” So, in addition to our hope of eventual likeness to the
Son of God, there is the awareness from Scripture that if we know
Him, we can measure up to lofty and unimpeachable standards. If
our standards are not high, there is no evidence of a changed life.
Having been born of God, we have the new nature within keeping us
from sinful practices. (As in all aspects of humanity, nothing is done
with perfection. That quality belongs only to the Godhead.)
Love and the Child of God (10-15)
The two great commands of Scripture have to do with love; love
of God and love of our brother. In the Decalogue, the first 3 com-
mandments have to do with our relationship with our God, the
fourth has to do with wise, balanced living by observing the Sab-
bath, while the balance have to do with our relationship to our
fellowman, or brother. We cannot love God our Father and fail
to keep the former. We cannot love our a fellowman and fail to
keep the latter. You see in verse 13; the “world” hates, there-
fore, those who are of the world rebel against God and mistreat
others. Since we, as God’s Children, show them truth, the world
hates us just as they hated and mistreated God the Son. It is still
a significant statement uttered by Christ on the Cross, “Father
forgive them for they know not what they do.” Those of the world
are deceived and incapable of making right choices in relating to
God or man. Since they are “wise” in their own eyes, they cannot
countenance being shown up by a person living truth. You and I
will have persecution in this world as we show love for God and for
each other. The Apostle Paul says; the troubles we encounter
here hardly compare with the glory to be ours throughout eternity.
Love working in the Life of Believers (16-23)
Finally, John the Beloved ties this up in a practical bundle when
he says, “...let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in
truth.” Here he removes us from the ivory tower of theoretical
theology and brings us “up,” (not down) to living the Christ life.
It is obvious that Jesus Christ lived His life for his “brothers and
sisters” according to the flesh and never gives up on them. He
healed, raised the dead, met needs of all He encountered and was
ever a positive force wherever He was seen. His life was not flash
and image, for He was known to live in the real world, meeting peo-
ple at their point of need. His life was not just a good example or a
model to follow. He was not just the greatest teacher ever known.
He did not leave us a job to do for which we are ill-equipped. We
We have the unprecedented privilege of being indwelt with, and
empowered by and given the wisdom of God to carry out otherwise
impossible tasks on this earth. He even stated His disciples, left in
the world, would do even greater works than He. There is a possible
understanding of this statement by our Lord. Since He was here in
the flesh, during His incarnation, he could be in but one place at a
time. With power and wisdom of His Holy Spirit on and in the life
of the believer, the work is multiplied.
What then is our motive for purity? As the Child of God lives in
the world, he is no longer living for himself. Jesus Christ is involved
in everything we do. If we are crucified with Christ and the life we
now live is in the power of His life in us, we make Him part of every-
thing we do in this body. Knowing this and our eventually becoming
like Him in truth, we are highly motivated to live an exemplary life-
style. We will refuse to bring reproach on the one who has loved and
given so much.
http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2014/07/thou-shalt-not-take-name-of-lord-thy.html
donporter 12.23.12 edited: 5.05.17
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