Sunday Service
A Purifying Hope
1 John 3:1-3
THEME: John wrote this letter to Gentile Christians while he was pastoring a church in Ephesus. These first century Christians were faced with false teaching )probably against Christ’s incarnation) that was threatening to destroy the fundamentals of their faith. John positively attacks this heresy by reasserting the basics of Christian faith and life. In 1 John 5:13 he makes it clear that he wants to give assurance of salvation to these Christians through a series of tests to measure themselves. True Christians will display the characteristics of genuine Christianity in sound doctrine, faith, obedience and love. Here in 1 John 3:1-3, we are provided three reasons why we should be eagerly waiting for Christ’s return, which is an indicator of true, Christian faith.
1. WHAT WE ARE: CHILDREN OF GOD (v. 1)
2. WHAT WE SHALL BE: PERFECTLY LIKE CHRIST (v. 2)
3. WHAT WE SHOULD BE: PURE, AS CHRIST IS PURE (v. 3)
a) Hope’s Focus
b) Hope’s Impact
“The hope of appearing before God’s presence, and of seeing Christ as He is, necessarily inspires its recipients with the desire of putting away every defilement that clouds the vision of God.”
- A. E. Brooke, The International Critical Commentary, p. 84