Menu
I John 3:3
3:2 Beloved, even now we are God’s children, though it has not yet appeared what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall recognize Him just as He is.
3 And indeed everyone who has this hope in Him
purifies himself,
just as He is pure.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of John’s first epistle.
Now remember John began this section of his letter by showing us that we are to respond to the world’s false teachers and their teachings by abiding in (remaining faithful to) the Gospel.
However, remember the false teachers who are troubling John’s flock are doing so by both their teaching and their living. That is, they not only deny Christ and claim to have the true path to spiritual enlightenment, they also claim that it does not matter how you live outwardly in the body (salvation for them is a purely spiritual matter).
Therefore, John has underscored the fact that faithful living is a central aspect of what it means to abide in Christ.
Not only that, John has shown us the singular basis/foundation upon which faithful living rests. John says that we are God’s children. As such, we do not strive to live faithfully in order to earn or keep God’s favor. Instead, we strive to live faithfully because God’s love and grace are already ours. In other words, new life brings with it new living.
In our text this morning John turns to show us the active result of being God’s child (what it means in everyday life).
Verse 3:3
Notice at once, what John tells believers about their already being God’s children: first notice John says everyone who has this hope in Christ. That is, John begins by stressing the fact that he is talking to every single believer without exception FN#1. Importance: remember the false teachers who are troubling John’s flock claim that true salvation is exclusively a spiritual matter. Not only that they claim to be so spiritually advanced that they are exempt from the petty concerns of a corporal morality. Therefore, John emphatically responds by underscoring that what he is about to say regarding righteous living is true of every single believer. Why? It is true of the very grace and salvation that define every single believer.
Next, notice John says that what he is about to tell us is true of everyone who has this hope in Christ. What hope? John specifically points back to verse 2 and the assurance that we are already God’s children, that God’s love, presence and grace are already at work in us, and that God will not fail to complete what He has begun in us. As such, we know right now (have the certain hope) that when Christ returns we will be like Him. That is, we will perfectly reflect His perfect righteousness and love. Importance: at once, verse 3 reminds me that cleansing/ renewal is the direction that grace always leads.
Next, notice the result of this hope/assurance that every single believer has in Christ: John says that everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself. Importance: at its root the Greek word here for “purify” denotes the Old Testament ceremonial (outward) purification required to come into the Lord’s presence (c.f. Act 21:26) FN#2. However, please note: John is not suggesting a return to the Old Testament ceremonial law. Instead, John is taking direct aim at the false teachers of his day (as well as any other false teaching) that says our walk with God is all an inward matter; or that grace means that it does not matter how you live in the body; or that sanctification is an effortless, mystical, and entirely spiritual matter. Notice then John’s corrective: the idea of outward purification together with the reflexive pronoun (purify yourself) points to the believer’s repeated/ongoing effort. In other words, for John true salvation engenders a true and active response from its every recipient. Problem: is John suggesting some sort of works righteousness or legalism. No! Remember the context: John has just told us that we are already God’s children and that God’s grace is already at work in us. Not only that, our present verse (v 3) has told us point blank that the hope that we have is in Christ (not self or effort). In other words, our ongoing effort is the result of hope (not the basis of hope). Simply put, once again John reminds us that new living is based on the specific nature of the new life that is already ours. In other words, because the grace that saves you is a grace that really changes you, salvation brings with it a growing change in our thoughts, desires, and actions. Therefore, instead of ignoring, neglecting, or resisting God’s grace, we have the growing ability to seek with our lives the very things that grace is doing in our lives. Simply put, every detail of verse 3 is about living in the same direction as grace because of grace.
Next, notice how we are to purify ourselves: John says that we are to purify ourselves just as He is pure. Importance: at once verse 3 reminds us that Christ is the singular focus of pure/right living. That is, Christ is both the source and the standard of our purity. As such, we look to Christ (not self) for the ability to grow in righteousness (Col 2:6) FN#3. At the same time, we look to Christ for what righteous living means. Notice then the point: John turns our attention away from the false teachers and places it solely on Jesus. That is, John reminds us that Jesus (not the claims of any false teachers, the comparative performance of those around us, nor even our own opinions/assessments) is the definitive revelation of what matters to God. Therefore, we look to Christ for the totality of righteous living (both the what and the how) FN#4.
Bottom line: John reminds me that righteous living is a central aspect of the Christian life because it is a central aspect of what grace and salvation are doing in each believer. Therefore, new life brings with it a growing desire and ability to fix our eyes on Jesus and live in the same direction as His grace FN#5.
Footnotes
1] Note: we may not always feel this hope; we may not understand it or its implications as fully as we ought; however, the hope to which John refers is the promise that God has given to every believer in Christ. As such, the phrase “everyone who has this hope in Him” simply refers to believers.
2] The word John uses here for “purify is ἁγνίζω (versus the more common ) occurs only 7x in the N.T. 4 of those times (including John’s only other use) clearly point back to the ceremonial O.T. meaning. At its root, the word denotes the ceremonial cleansing and purification required to come into the Lord’s presence (Ex 19:10; Num 8:21; Jn 11:55; Act 21:26). For John the point is not to suggest a return to the Old Testament Ceremonial Law. Instead, it is to stress the fact that salvation and grace extend to the outward life of the believer and thus include a renewal of his efforts, choices, and actions.
3] Colossians 2:6 Therefore in the same manner that you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.
In other word, we believe what God says about us in His Word and turn to Christ asking that He would accomplish this in us. In turn, we have the assurance that God’s grace is already at work in that area of our life. As such, we respond by following in the very direction that grace is leading us with all the strength that grace as provided thus far.
4] One final point: notice that one of the primary functions of eschatology is on display here in verses 2-3. Throughout Scripture God never tells us about the future simply to give us the itinerary for some distant time. Instead, whenever God reveals the future, it is always in light of His people’s current situation. In other words, the certainty of the future is to direct and inform how we live today. Why? The promised future is what God is already doing. It is what is already directing and shaping the world today. Notice then our current passage is a perfect case in point: the certainty of Christ’s return and the sure completion of our salvation (verse 2) are the basis/hope that is to direct how we live today (verse 3)
5] In fact, for John this change in the fundamental disposition of our life is a sure mark/indication of genuine salvation (it is what God’s children look like)