The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum How do I purify myself according to 1 John 3:4?

"Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

Is a Christian capable of purifying him/herself? And even if I can, I certainly can't purify myself "just as he is pure."

Any thoughts on this verse?

Thanks,
Relztrah

As in all things that we receive from the Lord, purity is received by faith. Hope, referred to in this verse, is faith. We are to encourage one another with the certainty of Christ's return. What will He find me doing when He appears? That thought helps us to keep ourselves pure as well, and the greater our hope of His return, the greater will be our anticipation - and our purity.

I don't think this is about purifying yourself, so to speak, but more referring to a believer being "purified", post-resurrection. In 3:2 there is reference to "what we will be has not yet appeared"... See scripture below (English Standard Version)

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

1. The text is addressed first and only to believers, v. 1 (we are children of God). Thus, the making oneself pure is NOT referring to justification but rather sanctification. It is the putting off of the "old man", "body of sin", "the flesh", etc. and putting on the "new man" which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness and which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10).

2. It is not unusual at all for the commandments of God to be totally outside the realm of man's ability to do completely and/or perfectly. For example, Peter enjoins believers to "be holy as He (GOD) is holy" (1Pet 14-16) and the Lord Christ likewise taught "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt 5:48) And lastly, James who also wrote by way of an admonition what your text says: "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." (Jam 4:8). So, how are we to do that which God requires yet is impossible? . . . by faith and obedience relying solely upon the grace and strength of God, prayerfully asking Him to do in us what we are required to do.

Philippians 2:12-13 (ASV) "So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure."

3. Shall we ever become "pure as He is pure" in this life? Certainly not! But this does not relieve us of the responsibility to strive after holiness without which none shall see the Lord. A cursory reading of Romans 6 will show that IF one is truly justified, then of necessity one WILL BE sanctified. For, holiness (purity) naturally flows from and is the fruit of the indwelling Spirit of God in the true believer. The purity necessary to be reconciled with God and to avert His judgment upon us is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is His perfect righteousness (purity) that is imputed to all those who believe and which is the propitiation, perfect sacrifice, ransom/redemption and reconciliation for our sins. Further, Christ Jesus is also our perfect sanctification and thus our glory. (1Cor 1:30, 31)

4. It is God's eternal decree and bestowal of grace that His children should be holy; exactly like Christ.

Ephesians 1:3-6 (ASV) "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved:"

Romans 8:29 (ASV) "For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:"

And having received this grace from which we were born anew and given to love and believe upon Christ, it is by grace through faith in Him that we so desire to be holy and purify ourselves from sin. And this is a great assurance to the believer for our entire salvation from beginning to end is His doing, i.e., it is by GRACE (Sola Gratia) which includes are being made pure in preparation to enter heaven at which time we shall be made fully pure. Since we NOW have no condemnation, being in Christ Jesus, we are those who walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. Our hope and joy is not in how pure we can make ourselves but how pure we HAVE BEEN MADE in Christ by grace through faith. Thus, it is out of a heart of sheer humble gratitude that we desire to live before our God in cheerful and willing obedience knowing that purity is pleasing in His sight. (1Jh 5:2-4)

Hebrews 10:19-24 (ASV) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and [having] a great priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised: and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;"

In His grace,

Excellent and very complete answer, Pilgrim. The same grace that justifies, also sanctifies.Praise God for His Amazing Grace! I like this board

In the Ordo Salutis we find that regeneration and justification take place as done and completed by the H.S. Once that takes place and our hunger grows to know Him the sanctification process is a mutual effort; His grace guiding and promoting our hunger and thirst and our seeking and searching to know Him more daily being our contribution. As the sanctification progresses and fruit is borne out in our life it becomes the evidence of the great changes brought to us for which we glorify His name! We submit, comply, conform to the word as it becomes a living part of our life, shaping our thoughts, ways, decisions, discernment and responses to circumstances and trials! The very faith He gifted us with is grown in the trials for which we come to thank Him for! Looking back over many years gives one a clearer view of the precious way our life has been both preserved, enlightened, and deepened in His providential guidance! Soli deo gloria!

I give a hearty amen to your reply. So much emphasis gets placed on the working of the Spirit in making us pure but very little on the Word, and the trials we face. The Son learned obedience through the things He suffered Heb. 5:8 should we be any different? I'm not lessoning the Spirit's work, it is essential for us to understand His word, but we can't expect to be changed without the word.

Also, as a side thought, it says in 1 Jn. 3:2 we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. My question, where do we see Christ today? Isn't it in His Word? The word is the instrument that will transform us. 2 Cor. 3:18. Stay in the word and you will be changed more and more into the image of Christ. Apart from the word of God, I don't believe anyone can experience blessing or transformation. Sadly, the majority of the church neglects His word. I can go to churches in this area where nobody bothers to bring a bible!! That is a real travesty of God's grace to us. Then if you preach the word, they get upset and leave because the service didn't lift them up, who exactly are we to be lifting up in the service, and who is to be brought low? Enough of that, I liked your answer.

AMEN! to that. Jesus put it so tersely yet profoundly when He said,

And Paul likewise gave wise counsel when he wrote:

In His grace,