Purification by Hope

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1 John 3:3

And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

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.

1. It is the hope of being like Jesus. Perfect, glorious, conqueror over sin, death, and hell.

2. It is based upon Divine love.

3. It arises out of sonship.

4. It rests upon our union to Jesus.

5. It is distinctly hope in Him.

6. It is the hope of His second Advent.

II. THE OPERATION OF THAT HOPE.

1. The believer purifies himself from —

(1)  His grosser sins. From evil company, etc.

(2)  His secret sins, neglects, imaginings, desires, murmurings, etc.

(3)  His besetting sins of heart, temper, body, relationship, etc.

(4)  His relative sins in the family, the shop, the church, etc.

(5)  His sins arising out of his nationality, education, profession, etc.

(6)  His sins of word, thought, action, and omission.

2. He does this in a perfectly natural way.

(1)  By getting a clear notion of what purity really is.

(2)  By keeping a tender conscience, and bewailing his faults.

(3)  By having an eye to God and His continual presence.

(4)  By making others his beacons or examples.

(5)  By hearing rebukes for himself, and laying them to heart.

(6)  By asking the Lord to search him, and practising self-examination.

(7)  By distinctly and vigorously fighting with every known sin.

3. He sets before him Jesus as his model.

(1)  Hence he does not cultivate one grace only.

(2)  Hence he is never afraid of being too precise.

(3)  Hence he is simple, natural, and unconstrained.

(4)  Hence he is evermore aspiring after more and more holiness.

III. THE TEST OF THAT HOPE. Actively, personally, prayerfully, intensely, continually, he aims at the purification of himself, looking to God for aid.

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