Purifying hope

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.- 1 John 2v28; 3v3 

Jesus is coming to earth again. We can argue, fight, and speculate on the specifics all we want, but the key is that He is coming back again. Nothing can be surer than that. We look forward to it. John wrote, ‘Even so come Lord Jesus.’ In the 5^th century Patrick of Ireland wrote, ‘We look for the soon advent of our Lord and Saviour.’ Christians have always looked for Jesus to return at any moment. 

So what impact does the imminent return of Christ have on our lives? Paul wrote clearly to Titus on the topic – ‘teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.’

 

The Second Coming is much more than just a matter of reading the news and setting possible dates. It is more than just a topic for eschatology scholars to refine their skills. It should be a motivation for living for Him as we await his return so that we will not find ourselves ashamed at His coming. 

The context here is that of true children of God versus mere claimants. True children of God know Him and do not wan to be ashamed at His coming. Those who truly have this hope in them and are looking forward to being made like him purify themselves in the meantime. Our purity is the proof of our looking and the proof of Who our Father is. 

If our hope of His return is genuine we will be purifying ourselves. Yes, He has already purified us at salvation, positionally, but there must be a constant practical purifying going on in our lives as we await His return. 

Everyone who truly has this hope in them purifies themselves, even as He is pure. Everyone.