When Christians talk about the need for purity, it can easily sound like a guilt trip. If part of our goal in ministry is tangible life change, does that make ministry a glorified guilt trip? Or is there a more powerful motivation available?
1 John is a glorious letter written by Jesus’ disciple, John, to a church that was shaken by a church split. The group that had left claimed to have a superior spirituality, but the genuine believers left behind were feeling bruised and doubtful about the authenticity of their faith. Were they somehow missing out on the “real thing?” John wrote this letter to assure them of their standing with God, their fellowship with the Trinity, and the reality of their less spectacular spiritual experience. He writes gently and with a pastoral sensitivity. But still, he writes with plenty of theological truth and perspective. Then comes the beginning of chapter three, when suddenly there seems to be an emotional explosion:
“See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” 1 John 3:1a
In the first three verses of chapter three, John gets them to look back and to look forward. Looking back, it is clear that we are already extravagantly loved as God’s children. Looking forward, we discover that our revelation as the bride of Christ is still to come. God’s “exotic” love for us provokes a purifying love in us. Here is a motivation that far outstrips any guilt trip. Let’s look at these three verses.
Looking Back – We are already extravagantly loved as God’s children (v1). It is striking that as John is pondering great truths, it is as if the riverbanks of his intellect burst, and his heart gets flooded. We must remember that intellectual curiosity alone is never the goal of theological or biblical study. The truth of the gospel should regularly flood our hearts and bring its cleansing power to our motives, values and affections. The Bible is not pushing us towards a sterile intellect and will-centred faith. Behold the love of God! As the hymnwriter put it: The love of God is greater far, than tongue or pen can ever tell!
The word John uses to ask the question in verse 1 is intriguing. See what “great love” God has given us. He uses the word that carries the sense of “Where is it from?” After the Second World War, I imagine what it was like when some foreign foods were reintroduced after years of restrictions. What it must have been like for those children to see and taste a banana for the first time, mango, or whatever. “Where is this from?!” Everything must have seemed so exotic and exciting. That’s the thrill of looking at God’s love for us –an out-of-this-world exotic love!
For example, what would we see if we looked through John’s Gospel and thought about what God’s “exotic” love had given to us? He gave us the right to be his children (1:12). He gave us his Son (3:16) and the Holy Spirit (14:16). Through Jesus, God gives us living water that satisfies (4:14) and the bread of life that fills us (6:32). He gives us eternal life (10:28); his peace (14:27), and his word (17:14). We also receive his Son’s name (14:27), and whatever is asked in that name (15:16; 16:23). God gives so generously!
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
And this is not something we are working on or trying to achieve. We either are God’s children, or we are not. John continues to underline the fact for his readers, “And we are!” What a privilege to be loved with this out-of-this-world love as God’s children!
Looking forward – we are not yet revealed as the bride, but the wedding is coming (v2-3). Here, we have one of the most thrilling verses to ponder. When he appears, we will see him, which will do something to us that reveals something astonishing.
Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)
These verses describe the final and complete sanctification experience that lies in store for every believer. Right now, we are living in the midst of a process. It is described in 2 Corinthians 3:18. As we look at Jesus, we are gradually being transformed from one degree of glory to the next. But when we see him, that ultimate vision will be so glorious it will mean a total transformation for us!
Notice that in 1 John 2:28, John writes about shrinking in shame from Jesus at his coming. That would make sense, since we are all still marred by sin. But he is writing to give them assurance, not condemnation.
So, what is it about seeing Jesus fully that will bring about such a total transformation? I believe the full realization of every longing will burn away every possible alternative. Just imagine every appetite you have, every craving, every hope, every desire, every taste, every hint of what is good. Try to picture how our hearts have been stirred by creation – a stunning sunset, a breathtaking thunderstorm, a beautiful frosted spider web. Try to imagine how your very human heart has been stirred by feasting with friends and family, by the touch of poetry, by travel shows on TV, or by picturesque country living magazines—a lifetime of longings. But then we will see him as he is and discover that Jesus is more than enough to satisfy every last longing of our hearts! After all, he has satisfied the Father’s loving heart for all eternity; how much more will he satisfy ours? Seeing Jesus is our ultimate hope!
The anticipation of seeing him is the motivation we need to put our energy into living a pure and godly life now in this age. It is not a guilt trip – ‘you should do, or else!’ It is a motivated heart – ‘I get to because my hope is in seeing him, not in any of the idolatrous replacements I can invest in now.’
The motivation for this hope is like when a guest comes to visit your home. You are excited to see them, so you clean and tidy the house before they arrive. Actually, it is greater than that – it is like your grown child coming home from a year abroad. No, more than that, it is like when your spouse has been away for a few days, so you invest time and energy into cleaning the house before they arrive. Actually, biblically speaking, our hope motivates us in the same way that someone is motivated by the approaching reality of their wedding day! After all, we live as children of God now, waiting for the return of our bridegroom to take us to be with him – the marriage supper of the lamb and the arrival at the home prepared for us, and being together forever.
“Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself.” (1 John 3:3)
____________________________________________________________
Please see Peter’s book, from Christian Focus, looking at the great theme of God’s marriage throughout the Bible:
Biblical Preaching 