THE PURIFYING POWER OF HOPE

WHAT TRUTH DO YOU KNOW? - PART 1

1 John 3:3 (KJV) - “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Further reading: 1 John 3-1-2, 2 Pet. 3:13-14, Ps. 18:26, Eze. 14:14, 2 Cor. 7:1

The word purifieth as the King James Version used it is from the Greek word hagnizo which means to make yourself clean either morally or ceremonially. This is borne from a strong anticipation based on truth, usually an awareness of something good or of a worthy value. 

Hope is a strong anticipation usually with pleasure of an impending or upcoming event, result or outcome of a thing promised, heard, known, believed, or seen. In other words, what you know has the power of making you keep yourself from corrupt practices; keep yourself clean; keep yourself from filthiness. For instance, if you are preparing for a wedding ceremony, you will take heed in keeping your white or ceremonial apparel clean or free from dirt.

In 1 John 3:3, we came to understand that there is a hope that has the power to enable you keep yourself clean. This is based on the knowledge of a truth understood or known. You have been able to separate and discern it mentally. You have been able to become aware beyond reasonable doubt that this is it and its expected result must surely come. 

The reason you are in and still swimming in that sea of corruption is because you lack the knowledge of what to look out for which in turn should enable you keep yourself pure. No knowledge, no hope; no hope, no power to keep yourself clean. In other words, you are not looking forward to any thing of value based on truth and thus there is no accompanying force to keep you pure. Please, pray with me in this: 

"Father, open my eyes to the knowledge of the truth I need to know so that I can be enabled with power to remain pure as you are in Jesus name."

Reading from 1 John 3:1-2, we came to understand that God through His benevolence has made us sons of God with a longing to see Him made manifest in Person. Seeing God, the all consuming fire, the righteous One, the Lord or Maker of the Universe in life. He has made you like Him (Yes, we do not know) but when we see Him we shall be like Him. 

You know that was the ambition of Satan in Isaiah 14:14. He wanted to be like the most High, but the most High freely out of His benevolence made you like Him. You did not lobby for it. Based on that awareness; that knowledge; you purify and keep your self clean. 

Will you do that? You ought to! Can you do that? In Him, you can! Is that truth convincing enough? What is so strong an expectation that can make you choose against the transformation of divine sonship? On the knowledge of this truth, can you change that now? I see you been purified and kept eternally clean in Jesus name! Amen!