And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Everyone who holds the hope of seeing Christ at His appearing as He is and being made like Him cleanses his own life to match Christ's purity. The measure is Christ Himself, the highest pattern that can be set before man, requiring moral excellence with no taint left in thought, heart, or character. This cleansing is each person's present and continual work upon himself in humble cooperation with God, yet no one can remove even one stain by himself, but only through God's grace, Christ's merits, and faith in Him who takes away sin. Purity comes by constantly beholding Christ's loveliness with Him abiding within, by truth planted in the heart through knowing God in His Word, and by repentance, confession, forsaking sin, and obedience to His commandments. It must be done now in this day of salvation to be clothed in Christ's righteousness without fault, for only the overcomer who keeps the faith working by love will receive the crown of life.
The Hope Described
The hope is to see Christ as He is at His appearing and to be made like Him, and everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself even as Christ is pure. This hope centered in Christ leads to continual progress in the divine life and to daily increasing faith by which to overcome and become pure as He is pure. Recognizing and living by this hope belongs among the principles to be heeded, and it is tied to eternal life in God's kingdom where God's children will live with Christ.
The hope rests on the Father's love that has now made believers sons and daughters of God, though it does not yet appear what they shall be and the world knows them not because it knew not Christ. When He shall appear they shall be like Him, for they shall see Him as He is, and divine sonship is received only by receiving Christ as Saviour and believing on His name, not gained by self. That love was expressed to the heavenly universe and to the fallen world at the cross of Calvary as pledge that God will freely give all things needed to bring many sons and daughters to God, a blessed privilege and assurance made possible by Christ's sacrifice and understood by comparatively few. Because believers now have royal birth as sons of God they must not be betrayed into sin but keep themselves pure and free from all defilement, turning from sin as transgression of the law and following Christ who was manifested to take away sin and in whom is no sin. Their life is unknown to the world because the world cannot discern spiritual things and its estimate of Christian life is false, while Christ's own deportment was different from the worldly standard and beyond its comprehension; those purified show no pride of appearance or outward display and are acknowledged as sons of God in the Lamb's book of life. Their true honor is to devote life to glorify God by uplifting others, laying aside selfish interests to bring happiness, binding up the broken-hearted, bringing life and immortality to light, doing all possible to benefit fellow men and using all capabilities for God, working as Christ worked to lift men from degradation, and keeping unspotted from the world by visiting the fatherless and widows in affliction, which receives the Master's Well done.
The hope is the hope of the gospel: future eternal life in the kingdom of God, sharing the glory of His perfected character at His appearing, entering the mansions Christ has gone to prepare, being brought into the heavenly courts crowned with glory and honor and eternal life, and at last seeing God and knowing God and Jesus Christ who gave His precious life to redeem. It gives the instruction of the character that must be had, the moral excellence to be cultivated which God and heaven require, kept before children and youth to secure present peace, quietude, and rest of mind amid turmoil and to prepare for seeing God. The cleansing is to be done now to prepare for that immortal life by trusting in Christ, with fathers and mothers purifying their souls in their own sphere as God is pure in His sphere. What believers shall be does not yet appear, and the beauties and glories of heaven were not counted essential to describe, yet the same purification will reach the earth itself, made new and glorified with every spot of the curse removed and restored to Edenic purity as the home of the redeemed. Heavenly things can be appreciated only by the spiritual mind, and temporal things must not eclipse revealed glories lest believers remain in darkness unable to save perishing souls, for eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared, while heavenly intelligences surround bringing healing balm for wounds and bruises of the soul.
The hope is living faith that lays hold of the arm of the infinite God and takes Christ as personal Saviour by living connection, made possible because He took human nature, clothed divinity with humanity, and laid aside royal crown and glory which humanity could not have endured even as the glory of angels; casual views of Christ save no soul. It is shown by loving Jesus, taking Him as example, treating others with Christian courtesy, refusing to scold and fret, lifting others' thoughts toward God, turning from sin, having sin removed, and washing garments in the blood of the Lamb to be clothed in the white linen of the wedding garment. It is not mere profession or talk about hope, nor attention to outward appearance and worldly approval, but holy conduct and godliness with talk and interest in heaven rather than worldly things. It forbids dressing, talking, and acting like the world and decorating the body to appear well in its eyes, and requires instead learning from the Word how to be approved by God and how to please Him. Genuine faith works by love and purifies the soul, giving moral fitness for everlasting life through overcoming sinful traits and living for God, a preparation to be made before He comes in the short time remaining.
The hope is an anchor beyond the veil, within the veil, that gives courage to those struggling against the powers of darkness and turns attention toward heaven and heavenly things and eternal interests. In adopted sons and daughters the hope is future glory and elevation when Christ appears, and though scorned by the world they have the sympathies of heaven, with desires upward and heart filled with joy in anticipation of the future city which has foundations whose maker and builder is God. Through faith that works by love and purifies the soul, the Spirit brings every faculty and organ of the body into conformity with what is right and even thoughts into obedience to Christ, cherishing in every habit the living principle to be like Jesus. So even those cut off from house and heritage for faith can be filled with joy by giving the heart to Christ, receiving His grace, and resting upon their substitute and surety in the blood of the Son of God, while the love of Father and Son enlivens and uplifts to reflect that love in preparation to join the redeemed in praising God and the Lamb. Those who have this hope anchored beyond the veil purify themselves to be like Christ, and are freed from restless longing, discontent, and brooding over troubles not yet come or imagined trouble, for Christ the hope of glory brings health to the body and strength to the soul.
No hope held apart from purity and righteousness is genuine, for such hope is a snare and fatal delusion, while true hope necessarily purifies even as Christ is pure. Purifying comes by coming to Jesus and believing in Him so He grafts the believer into His life and character, and by faith joined with His grafting work in adoption sinners become sons of God and joint heirs with Christ, partakers of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust. This ingrafting separates from the world so love for vile, contaminated society ends, leaving the person dead to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ, bearing rich fruit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, and goodness, with new affections, appetites, and tastes, old things passed away and all things become new. Having this hope therefore gives incentive for greater effort to set it before those still in darkness of error.
Setting in John's Letter
The verse stands in John's fixed gaze upon the marvelous, measureless love of an infinite God, a love no language is broad enough and deep enough to express and which the world is called to behold. That love is measured only by beholding the cross of Calvary, whose light expresses God's love to fallen man and is seen in Christ coming to this world after Adam and Eve transgressed God's law in Eden. There is seen the Man of Calvary, equal with the Father, the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, God's own dearly beloved Son given as a freewill offering to die that sinful men might live, an astonishment and marvel to all heaven in the wonderful condescension of the Father. Because He did not withhold His only beloved Son, much more will He with Him freely give all things needed to bring many sons and daughters to God, a pledge expressed to the heavenly universe and to the fallen world, though the love of Christ is often dwelt upon while the Father's love in giving Him is lost sight of.
Its setting gives the only scriptural definition of sin as transgression of the law, and presents Christ, in whom is no sin and no transgression, as manifested to take away sin and to destroy the works of the devil. Purification therefore means turning from law-breaking to the likeness of the sinless Christ, confessing sin to be cleansed from all transgression and receiving His life and grace so as to keep His holy law and practice His righteousness. Purity comes by having Christ abiding in the heart, which is impossible unless Christ is constantly beheld, so that abiding in Him is not sinning and following Him who was manifested to take away sin. In the same chapter love to God and love to the brethren are linked closely together, expressing the great principles of the law in the two great precepts to love the Lord God with all the heart and to love the neighbor as self, on which hang all the law and the prophets, with the love of God shown in life and character in the treatment of fellow men.
Believers are shown as present sons of God, highly favored of heaven with exalted character through connection with God, yet not appreciated or understood by the world because the world knew not Christ and because it does not yet appear what they shall be. A Christian who loves God may therefore be sorely afflicted, distressed, perplexed and hedged in, with outward providence showing no more heavenly favor than those of little consecration and appearances against him. The church now is militant, not yet triumphant, with defects and weaknesses yet still loved, and everyone holding the hope walks in the light as Christ is in the light and becomes pure now by enjoying precious truth and being sanctified through the truth, so that as God is pure in His sphere the believing, trusting child of God may be pure in his own sphere, abiding in Christ and bringing forth much fruit.
The chapter holds words of life to be heard with great earnestness, calling sinners to give themselves to the Lord, and where that call is answered the Spirit of God is present with moving power, Christ and the angels are present, and God and the angels rejoice. The response is to walk in the light while having it, to seek the Lord earnestly, and to turn from coldness and backsliding. Set before assembled believers divided by difficulties, this message brings healing of those difficulties.
Standard of Purity Required
The standard set before everyone who holds this hope is Christ's own purity taken as pattern, with no low standard set but the highest and most wonderful standard that can be presented. Hope in Christ leads to seeking purity like His, which means holiness in heart and life and not empty profession. Christ's purity is the standard for righteousness and holiness, so no conduct contrary to God's instruction can be excused and no false standard can replace it. His own sinless resistance to temptation shows the purity held before believers who hope for eternal life with Him and for becoming like Him when He appears.
To be pure even as He is pure means that as God is pure and holy in His sphere, fallen man through faith in Jesus Christ may be pure and holy in his own sphere, perfect in his sphere as God is perfect in His. The hope is to share the glory of His perfected character at His appearing, and that future likeness calls for present purity, so those who are now sons of God by royal birth must not be betrayed into sin but keep themselves pure and free from all defilement. The church now is militant and not yet triumphant, with defects and weaknesses yet still loved, and what its members shall be does not yet appear, yet everyone who holds this hope walks in the light as Christ is in the light and becomes pure now by enjoying precious truth and being sanctified through the truth. This purity reaches conduct, thoughts, faculties, and character, so that human beings are to be pure and without spot in their human sphere as God is pure in His divine sphere, since Christ was sent to sanctify His people and take them to Himself and His gift brings the honor of eternal life.
The verse means it is possible to live without sin, and it is given so that no one will carelessly allow himself to continue in sin but will walk in the light of the living God. It means much to every human being and gives instruction all should comprehend. This purification is the privilege given to everyone who surrenders fully to God of living without sin in obedience to the law of heaven, because sin alienates from God, and it calls sinners and aliens brought back to God and adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, to become pure to match His purity. God's law exposes defects of character, and sins are put away as the character is cleansed through Christ's blood, so that love for Christ and this hope cleanse such sins as envy, pride, malice, deceit, and strife. This hope does not excuse continuing to break God's law, but when a person understands God's requirements and recognizes his sins he reforms through strength from the Saviour and lives a new, purer life.
Everyone who has hope in Christ must be healed of transgression by faith in His agony and blood and become as pure as He is pure by repenting of sin and forsaking it. Christ's death on the cross proves God will punish unrepented sin to its fullest extent, and all who are not so healed and made pure will receive punishment for their own sins like what Jesus suffered. Having the hope of Christ appearing purifies a person now, because no pride, no worldliness, and no ungodliness can stand when Christ appears and only the pure in heart will see God. This purifying means dying to self through earnest prayer to God, putting away selfishness, pride, worldliness, and ungodliness, and striving earnestly to keep victory over the temptations of Satan.
The required purity is moral excellence of character to be cultivated, which God and heaven require, kept before children and youth to secure present peace, quietude, and rest of mind in this present world of turmoil and strife and to prepare for future eternal life in the kingdom of God where they shall see God. This purification means cleansing from all filthiness of body and spirit and of flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in God's sight and in the fear of God. It means working for a pure character, a pure heart, and loveliness of character, conquering day by day, cleansing the soul temple from iniquity, and keeping His commandments, which is the work of the little company of Christians who are small and unattractive now because it does not yet appear what they shall be. Every person who takes the name of Christian is under obligation to rise to the exalted possibility of excellence in humanity by revealing Christ's character in works as His chosen representative to an apostate world, and this cleansing is a condition that must in no case be neglected but be met now, for now is the accepted time and the day of salvation.
To be pure as He is pure means having a character with no discord of any kind as His character had none, with life controlled by the same principles that controlled His life. Gaining heaven requires being clothed with the robe of righteousness and having Christ's character, and only the overcomer receives the crown of life. This means keeping the eyes fixed on Christ as the perfect pattern without lowering the standard, exercising faith that works by love to purify the heart, bringing Christ into the home, putting off the world in church fellowship, and being raised from the degradation of sin to be fitted for heaven, since neglecting so great salvation leaves no escape.
It means that not a taint of defilement remains in thoughts or on lips, in heart or in character. The verse means rising to a higher, holier standard through decided warfare against evils, resisting the corrupting evils of fashionable society that corrupt innocence and virtue, and putting away evils even among those who claim to believe present truth, because unremoved evil brings spiritual death. This purification is lived out in purity in speech, true Christian courtesy, self-respect, faithfulness to God and principle, and respect and obedience to the law of God, creating a pure atmosphere that encourages weak souls in the upward path that leads to holiness and heaven.
A man will be pure if Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, for he will imitate Christ's life and reflect His character. Even those whose character is as pure as fine gold need constant connection with God in order to keep themselves pure. The verse requires keeping thoughts untainted and uncorrupted and filling the mind with pure, noble, and Christlike thoughts and giving lessons of an elevated, ennobling character, which guides those at the head of missions in how to manage youth discreetly. By beholding Him the mind set on heaven with strong desire to be like Jesus is changed into His image, no longer cherishing carnal thoughts or feelings, and reaches a high standard of purity through Christ's grace.
How Purification Happens
Purifying is each person's own present and continual work upon life and character, not passive and not left to others, pursued by humble, earnest effort in cooperation with God. The hope of seeing Christ when He appears and being made like Him purifies now, calling for work for a pure character, a pure heart, and loveliness of character, conquering day by day, cleansing the soul temple from iniquity, and keeping His commandments so names are not blotted out of the book of life and overcomers enter through the gates with right to the tree of life. Angels weigh character and record errors and defects in heaven's books, and soon the books will be opened and each will be judged by deeds and by light received, so the command to cleanse one's own life to share Christ's purity must not be forgotten even by a small company now unattractive because it does not yet appear what they shall be.
No one can by himself remove even one stain of sin or sanctify, purify, and bless himself; looking into the law of God shows him a sinner but gives no power to cleanse himself. Cleansing comes only through the provisions of the gospel, God's grace in the everlasting covenant imparted to every soul who sincerely desires it, the merits of Christ, and faith in Him who takes away the sin of the world, not by dead works and not by mere human effort. It means looking upon the Lord's great moral standard of righteousness, the holy law of God, seeing oneself a sinner in its light, and through faith in Jesus Christ accepting truth in the heart by which one is purified and cleansed. That hope abiding within becomes an abiding principle enabling victory over temptation, so genuine faith confesses pardoned sin and thereafter resists temptation in and through Christ's might, for God has power to keep the soul that is in Christ under temptation and healing is impossible while knowingly committing sin; jesting, joking, lightness and trifling speech prove profession is not genuine and the heart still needs purifying with genuine sorrow and mourning for sin.
Purity comes by having Christ abiding in the heart and formed within as the hope of glory, which is impossible unless Christ is constantly beheld, and by beholding Christ and the loveliness of His character the person is changed, imitates His life, and reflects His character. This purifying turns from sin, which is transgression of the law, to the likeness of the sinless Christ manifested to take away sins and destroy the works of the devil, so that abiding in Him is not sinning. By beholding Christ's purity and righteousness the soul is filled and God's moral image is stamped upon it as wax takes the counterpart of the seal, transfiguring the character, and this requires aroused, firm, steady, active faith, for without it the soul grows sluggish and faith is enfeebled. Even those whose character is as pure as fine gold need constant connection with God to keep pure, keeping thoughts untainted and filling the mind with pure, noble, Christlike thoughts and lessons of elevated, ennobling character.
Purifying is done by true, living faith within the soul, not outward profession, which is active, works by love, cleanses the soul from earthliness, removes every idol enthroned in the heart, and gives moral fitness for everlasting life. Sincere lovers of truth make constant, earnest, persevering efforts to subdue every baser part of nature, and because Christ showed the value of their souls by giving His own life to ransom them they place a right high estimate on their own souls and on the souls of all for whom Christ died, counting not their own lives dear so they may finish their course with joy. This preparation of overcoming sinful traits and living for God must be made in the short present time of probation before Christ comes, shown through obedience to Christ's commandments as Christ obeyed His Father. The Spirit of God then brings every faculty and every organ of the body into conformity with Christ, brings even the thoughts into obedience to Christ, and cherishes in every habit and practice the living principle to be like Jesus, with desires upward and the heart filled with joy in anticipation of the future city which has foundations whose maker and builder is God.
The only way to be pure is for the mind of God to become the mind of man by cooperating with God and knowing God through studying His Word, for without that knowledge every effort to purify self is useless and vain and man cannot be elevated in any other way. The purification must be inward planting of truth in the heart to control the life and cleansing from all moral defilement, not outward gloss and polish like whited sepulchers, not nominal acceptance of truth, and not ability to give a reason for faith, for God who judges righteously sees all deformity of the soul and delights in uprightness, and cleaning the outside of the cup never makes the soul pure. Coarseness and roughness of character are purged through the Word so the life is cleansed from every semblance of sin.
To purify oneself is to confess sin and be cleansed from all transgression of the law, putting away sin and iniquity from the heart and separating from whatever would divide the character from God, for Christ saves from sins, not in them, being pure because in Him is no sin and He was manifested to take away sin, giving His life and grace so believers can keep His holy law and practice His righteousness. It is a repentance of sin that need not be repented of, not merely admitting to be sinful and resting there while intending to remain sinful, violate conscience, and always do evil, but truly turning from sin, forsaking it, doing the good one knows to do since not doing known good is sin, and humbling oneself in the sight of the Lord so He will lift up. It means facing the mirror of God's law, discerning defects in moral character, putting away sins, and washing the robe of character in the blood of the Lamb through repentance, faith and good works, with divine truth received and cherished in the heart, turning from impurity and repenting of dishonesty while Christ takes away sin and imputes His righteousness as the spotless garment of purity.
It means obedience to God's commandments and searching the Scriptures, forming character in harmony with the law as repositories of the law with the Sabbath opened to understanding, keeping the decalogue, since every provision against sin has been made and failing to realize belonging to God's family and eternal life would be terrible loss. This purity is conformity to God's will in thought, word, and deed, pursued through obedience to the truth, joining the hope of Christ's coming to a life of obedience and sanctification as the time of His appearing draws near. It calls for standing individually in God's strength with an individuality that cannot be submerged in another, refusing fellowship and unity with the world because Christians and the world serve different masters, belonging to Jesus Christ by purchase, looking to God and obeying God alone, walking in the pure light of truth as revealed in the Word including the Sabbath, and taking a decided position even when husband, wife, or family have no interest in the truth.
Having this hope works in mind and heart like a quickening, living power that cleanses away impurity and depravity. It means being born again of the Spirit, made complete in Christ by receiving of His Spirit, filled with the love that proceeds from God, revealing Christ in daily life, upright in all dealings with no self-exaltation, dishonesty, or sly, cunning, underhand work, the good fruit testifying to the condition of the heart. It means letting the Holy Spirit come into the heart and remain there, having Satan driven out of the soul temple, and opening the door of the heart to Jesus to receive the richest blessing, in wide contrast to mere professors without the love of God in their hearts who are not made Christian gentlemen by the purifying influence of truth but are transgressors of God's law whose work opposes Christ's. As one is transformed into God's image, hatred of sin grows and love moves to work for the sinner, connected with the Spirit's indwelling and with Christ bearing sin and God clothing the repentant sinner in righteousness.
This purifying requires seeing one's own defects in the mirror of God's holy law, seeing that character must meet that law, and feeling it essential to be free from sin. Christ came in human form to show that divinity and humanity combined does not commit sin, and He is the Pattern through whom men may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust. God's law exposes defects of character, and sins such as envy, pride, malice, deceit, strife and crime are put away as character is cleansed through Christ's blood, carrying the heart that receives Christ's love to a height of moral excellence once thought impossible, so that even those fallen and degraded by sin and crime may rise in mental and moral strength to become but a little lower than the angels. This hope does not excuse continuing to break God's law: when one understands God's requirements and recognizes sins, he reforms through strength from the Saviour and lives a new, purer life.
Purifying comes by coming to Jesus and believing in Him, so He grafts the believer into His life and character, where drawing near in faith joined with His grafting work in adoption makes sinners sons of God and joint heirs with Christ, partakers of the divine nature who have escaped corruption through lust. This ingrafting separates from the world so love for vile, contaminated and contaminating society ends, leaving the person dead indeed to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ, bearing rich fruit in the graces of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, with new affections, new appetites and new tastes, old things passed away and all things become new. Any hope held apart from purity and righteousness is a snare and fatal delusion, and purifying by putting away selfishness and becoming righteous is done not by dead works but through the merits of the grace of Christ, with work corresponding to faith and to the light of truth.
Marks of Purified Life
The purified separate in spirit and in dress and practice from worldly customs, friendship, display and unity, refusing fellowship with the world because different masters are served and oil and water cannot mix. They no longer dress, talk and act like the world nor decorate the body to appear well in its eyes, but set talk and interest and thought on heaven and heavenly things. They learn from the Word how to be approved by God and please Him, walking in the pure light of truth as revealed there including the Sabbath, standing individually in God's strength with an individuality that cannot be submerged in another human being. They belong to Christ by purchase and look to God and obey God alone, taking a decided position and bearing the cross of stepping aside even when husband or wife or family have no interest in the truth, with special help and a God-appointed place to contend for the faith. They come out from among the world and touch not the unclean thing, following Jesus in obedience in meekness and lowliness, and the world cannot enter into the experience nor discern their hopes and motives because it knew Him not and sees no beauty in Him. Those who truly look for Christ show the hope in holy conduct and godliness, not in mere profession or outward attention to appearance and worldly approval.
Purifying means learning meekness and lowliness from Christ, whose character is meek, lowly, kind and gentle, and growing daily more like Him. It keeps hereditary and cultivated tendencies under control and subdues every baser part of the nature by constant, earnest, persevering effort, living every moment under the Saviour's keeping power with faithful service as pleasure and not task. It speaks as Christ spoke, courteously and respectfully with true Christian courtesy and self-respect, with no harsh, passionate or rash word, putting away discontent, murmuring, disagreeable words, disputing, quarreling, jesting and a fault-finding spirit. It puts away drawing apart from one another and clears self-love, self-esteem, self-sufficiency, self-glorification and love of praise from the soul to make room for Jesus, becoming a vessel unto honor sanctified and fit for the Master's use and prepared unto every good work. So refined, sanctified and purified, with faithfulness to God and principle and respect and obedience to the law, the life testifies to the power of grace, recognizes the perfection of Christ's character, demonstrates its principles as a foretaste of heaven, and creates a pure atmosphere that encourages weak souls in the upward path to holiness and heaven.
True honor is devoting life to glorify God by uplifting others, laying aside selfish interests to bring happiness, binding up the broken-hearted, bringing life and immortality to light before those who know not Christ, doing all possible to benefit fellow men and using all capabilities for God. It works as Christ worked to lift men from degradation into what God designed them to be, keeping unspotted from the world by visiting the fatherless and widows in affliction, which receives the Master's Well done. Love to God and love to the brethren are linked closely together, expressing the two great precepts to love the Lord God with all the heart and to love neighbor as self, on which hang all the law and the prophets, and the love of God is shown in life and character in treatment of fellow men. Those who live Christ's character turn away from Satan and do not reflect him through peevishness, evil thoughts or evil speech, but by looking to Christ receive and reflect God's light, and Christ gives strength to those who lack it for resisting wickedness and lifting up and ennobling others.
Each attends to his own character rather than being eager to correct or purify others, correcting personal mistakes and avoiding words and conduct that irritate others or create dissension.
A man, especially a husband who stands as head of his wife as Christ stands as head of the church, must purify himself to be like God in purity and present his body to God a living sacrifice holy and acceptable. This means keeping the glory of God in view by restraining animal passion and low sensual gratification, putting away base earthliness and corrupt sensual practices that enervate the system. He refuses to imperil his wife's strength, health, life and missionary usefulness by subjecting her to continual childbearing and the painful ordeal of maternity for his own indulgence and abuse of the marriage relation. Instead he studies her spiritual and physical good, loving, nourishing and cherishing her as his own body as Christ nourishes the church, so she may be presented to God without spot and blameless, for without this he is not fit to be head of his wife.
The change appears as new creatures risen in Christ to walk in newness of life, no longer shaping life by former lusts but following in His steps by faith and reflecting His character and showing the fruits of the Spirit. Affections are reversed to love what was hated and hate what was loved, becoming meek and lowly instead of proud and self-assertive, serious and unobtrusive instead of vain, reverent instead of profane, sober instead of drunken, and pure instead of profligate. Former sinful desires are left behind and meekness, humility, sobriety and purity take their place, laying aside vain fashions of the world and outward adorning to seek the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. It reaches inward motives and character, not merely outward appearance.
Conforming the desires of mind and body to God's will is for physical and spiritual health in this life, and meeting God's requirements leads to everlasting life in the kingdom of glory. Through faith that works by love and cleanses the soul the Holy Spirit brings every faculty and every organ of the body into conformity with Christ and agreement with what is right, brings even the thoughts into obedience to Christ, and cherishes in every habit and practice the living principle to be like Jesus. Desires are upward and aspirations reach upward with the heart filled with joy in anticipation of the future city which has foundations whose maker and builder is God, so that even those cut off from house and heritage for faith and scorned and despised by the world, yet having heaven's sympathies, can rest upon their substitute and surety in the blood of the Son of God. Those professing to wait for Christ must cleanse themselves from pollution and turn from impurity in thought and imagination, for continuing to serve lust leaves thoughts impure and imaginations corrupt and the mind naturally corrupt and resistant to pure and holy things, leaving them unprepared for His appearing. Remembering Calvary and Christ's victory over appetite and showing in life and character the miracle-working power of God, the world takes knowledge they have been with Jesus and learned of Him.
Those who teach and serve purify themselves in the likeness of Christ with self crucified and selfishness purged from the heart, which enables acceptable service. They become familiar with Christ's character and imitate His nobility, singleness of purpose and virtues, remaining faithful to His expressed will and heeding the Spirit's warnings and entreaties in willing, heartfelt service. Closely united with Christ this leaves no place for speculative theories, and love purifies and uplifts the believer whose words and Christlike conduct distinguish him from those led by Satan. This purifying from everything that defiles, with walking even as He walked and sharing the Spirit of Christ, is required also of women who arise to the emergency and work for the Master, together with searching the Scriptures and storing the mind with precious things to present to those not interested in the truth.
They set thoughts on heavenly things, speak of Jesus, and wait lovingly for His return to meet Him with joy, longing for the glorious appearing and watching as though each day were the last. They serve God every day with fidelity as for eternity, search the Scriptures, keep Jesus ever before them, separate sin and iniquity from them, and trust wholly in Him for justifying righteousness. As they draw near to God and behold Jesus' character and share the divine nature, worldly amusements lose appeal and worldly business is laid aside to scrutinize every thought and emotion of the heart as if upon a deathbed soon to close the eyes forever upon earthly scenes. This is urgent because judgment is going forward and every case will pass in review before God, so putting off the day of God and thinking there are many days of probation brings carelessness that lets the enemy take possession. Purifying is not making outward ascension robes but gaining internal evidence of readiness, with white robes of purity of soul and character cleansed from sin by the atoning blood, living for God in union with God, Christ and the heavenly angels, approaching the hour with calm solemnity in sweet communion as an earnest of the peace of the bright hereafter, to be among the white-robed around the throne and meet Christ in peace.
Purifying means turning from what is cheap and inferior and rising to a high standard, for manliness and firmness are required in Christian character and a cheap character is forbidden. A cheap professed Christian works more harm in the world than a worldling, because by professing to represent Christ whose name he assumes he misleads others. The hope is incompatible with selfishness, self-esteem, self-indulgence and adopting the world's ways, bringing responsibility to live in keeping with being a child of God with more than finite possibilities within reach. Purity prized by the crucified, risen and ascended Saviour together with meekness and lowliness of heart learned from Him, in loving God supremely and neighbor as self, makes one respected by men and beloved by God.
Urgency of Present Preparation
Cleansing must be done now in this accepted time and day of salvation to prepare for immortal life, for the hope of being like Christ when He appears and sharing the glory of His perfected character calls for present purity after His purity. As those who are now sons of God by royal birth, believers must not be betrayed into sin but keep themselves pure and free from all defilement, giving whole interest to present truth and advancing beyond past mistakes. The hope is being brought into the heavenly courts, crowned with glory and honor and eternal life, and entering the mansions prepared, and it requires trusting in Christ, letting the cleaver of truth cut away rough edges and defects brought from the quarry of the world, and passing under the hand of God as probationers to be fitted and squared as living stones for the heavenly temple not made with hands. This is a refining and purifying of the heart renewed every day in knowledge of truth and righteousness in preparation for a coming that will be like the days before the flood, laboring together with God in unflagging prayer, watching and working until without fault, reflecting the image of Christ as spiritual worshipers even when the company of believers is small.
Gaining heaven requires being clothed with the robe of righteousness and Christ's character, washed white in His blood, with spotless character ready among the white-robed around the throne, for to lose heaven is to lose everything and to gain it is to gain everything. The hope of becoming like Christ when He appears and seeing Him as He is leads to purifying the life after His purity in a growth in grace that reaches completion in immortality, cultivating the moral excellence of character that God and heaven require. That character has no discord of any kind as His had none, with life controlled by the same principles that controlled His life and eyes fixed on Him as perfect pattern without lowering the standard, secured in present peace and rest of mind amid turmoil and fitted for future eternal life in the kingdom where the redeemed shall see God. The same purification will reach the earth itself, made new and glorified with every spot and stain of the curse removed and restored to Edenic purity and loveliness as the home of the redeemed, which only the spiritual mind appreciates without letting temporal things eclipse revealed glories.
Only the overcomer receives the crown of life, through conquering day by day, cleansing the soul temple from iniquity, keeping the commandments, and exercising faith that works by love to purify the heart, since neglecting so great salvation leaves no escape. This is the work of the little company now small and unattractive because it does not yet appear what they shall be, that names not be blotted out of the book of life and overcomers enter through the gates with right to the tree of life. Having the hope of heaven and a crown of life itself purifies, bringing Christ into the home, putting off the world in church fellowship, and raising the believer from degradation of sin to fitness for heaven.
The hope means longing, waiting and watching for the glorious appearing, serving God every day as though it were the last, doing work as for eternity with fidelity, searching the Scriptures, keeping Jesus ever before the mind, and laying aside worldly business to scrutinize the heart. Angels weigh character and record errors and defects in heaven's books, and soon the books will be opened with each judged by deeds and by light received, for judgment is going forward and every case will pass in review before God. To put off the day of God is dangerous, and to think there are many days of probation brings carelessness that lets the enemy take possession, while those ready with spotless character will stand among the white-robed around the throne. Sincere love for Jesus and intense watching for His soon return brings calm solemnity and sweet communion with God as an earnest of the peace of the bright hereafter, with inward evidence of readiness in white robes of purity of soul and character cleansed by atoning blood rather than outward show, and with strength and grace sought from God to become pure in heart to meet Christ in peace.
Households greatly need this purification because the end is nearer than when they first believed, with fathers and mothers to purify their souls in their own sphere as God is pure in His sphere in order to prepare for immortal life in the heavenly courts. This means being perfect in one's own sphere even as God is perfect in His, not backsliding but conformed to the will of heaven, putting away murmuring and complaining as disrespect to God in whose dwelling place they live as members of His family by creation and redemption. It requires closely examining the heart, humbling self before God, continually seeking divine aid, walking in given light with increased light shining on the pathway, cherishing respect and tenderness, never marring and scarring the life and spirit of others, overcoming every defect, and showing the miracle-working power of God so others take knowledge of fellowship with Jesus.
Believers must walk in the light as Christ is in the light while they have it, seeking the Lord earnestly and turning from coldness and backsliding, seeking Him by faith now to reflect His divine image. Everyone holding the hope of seeing Christ as He is and being made like Him becomes pure now by enjoying precious truth and being sanctified through the truth, abiding in Christ and bringing forth much fruit, with increased light shining on the pathway of those who walk in given light. Belief that God gave His Son to die and trust that Jesus saves and is fully divine call forth this pursuit of purity like Christ's. With truth planted in the heart and life guided by God's rules, the transformed person hates sin, loves and works for the sinner, helps others be sanctified, and surrounds the soul with a pure holy atmosphere through the divine presence that flows as pure heavenly light and peace with spiritual refreshing influence to others.
Purifying is part of the terms of salvation and conditions that must in no case be neglected, calling each one who has hope in God to purify himself to be pure just as Christ is pure. It means no idle life but active true service amid throbbing hearts and urging passions where Satan lives and works, renouncing selfishness and sin and conforming thought, word and deed to God's will through obedience to the truth, with faith leading to willing obedience because purity is necessary for life in heaven. Every one taking the Christian name is under obligation to cleanse from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfect holiness in fear of God, rising to exalted human excellence by revealing Christ's character in works as His chosen representative, and even the however imperfect may bring himself to God as he is and serve Him now instead of waiting for a different disposition.
Everyone who holds the hope of seeing Christ at His appearing as He is and being made like Him cleanses his own life to match Christ's purity. The measure is Christ Himself, the highest pattern that can be set before man, requiring moral excellence with no taint left in thought, heart, or character. This cleansing is each person's present and continual work upon himself in humble cooperation with God, yet no one can remove even one stain by himself, but only through God's grace, Christ's merits, and faith in Him who takes away sin. Purity comes by constantly beholding Christ's loveliness with Him abiding within, by truth planted in the heart through knowing God in His Word, and by repentance, confession, forsaking sin, and obedience to His commandments. It must be done now in this day of salvation to be clothed in Christ's righteousness without fault, for only the overcomer who keeps the faith working by love will receive the crown of life.
The Hope Described
The hope is to see Christ as He is at His appearing and to be made like Him, and everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself even as Christ is pure. This hope centered in Christ leads to continual progress in the divine life and to daily increasing faith by which to overcome and become pure as He is pure. Recognizing and living by this hope belongs among the principles to be heeded, and it is tied to eternal life in God's kingdom where God's children will live with Christ.
The hope rests on the Father's love that has now made believers sons and daughters of God, though it does not yet appear what they shall be and the world knows them not because it knew not Christ. When He shall appear they shall be like Him, for they shall see Him as He is, and divine sonship is received only by receiving Christ as Saviour and believing on His name, not gained by self. That love was expressed to the heavenly universe and to the fallen world at the cross of Calvary as pledge that God will freely give all things needed to bring many sons and daughters to God, a blessed privilege and assurance made possible by Christ's sacrifice and understood by comparatively few. Because believers now have royal birth as sons of God they must not be betrayed into sin but keep themselves pure and free from all defilement, turning from sin as transgression of the law and following Christ who was manifested to take away sin and in whom is no sin. Their life is unknown to the world because the world cannot discern spiritual things and its estimate of Christian life is false, while Christ's own deportment was different from the worldly standard and beyond its comprehension; those purified show no pride of appearance or outward display and are acknowledged as sons of God in the Lamb's book of life. Their true honor is to devote life to glorify God by uplifting others, laying aside selfish interests to bring happiness, binding up the broken-hearted, bringing life and immortality to light, doing all possible to benefit fellow men and using all capabilities for God, working as Christ worked to lift men from degradation, and keeping unspotted from the world by visiting the fatherless and widows in affliction, which receives the Master's Well done.
The hope is the hope of the gospel: future eternal life in the kingdom of God, sharing the glory of His perfected character at His appearing, entering the mansions Christ has gone to prepare, being brought into the heavenly courts crowned with glory and honor and eternal life, and at last seeing God and knowing God and Jesus Christ who gave His precious life to redeem. It gives the instruction of the character that must be had, the moral excellence to be cultivated which God and heaven require, kept before children and youth to secure present peace, quietude, and rest of mind amid turmoil and to prepare for seeing God. The cleansing is to be done now to prepare for that immortal life by trusting in Christ, with fathers and mothers purifying their souls in their own sphere as God is pure in His sphere. What believers shall be does not yet appear, and the beauties and glories of heaven were not counted essential to describe, yet the same purification will reach the earth itself, made new and glorified with every spot of the curse removed and restored to Edenic purity as the home of the redeemed. Heavenly things can be appreciated only by the spiritual mind, and temporal things must not eclipse revealed glories lest believers remain in darkness unable to save perishing souls, for eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared, while heavenly intelligences surround bringing healing balm for wounds and bruises of the soul.
The hope is living faith that lays hold of the arm of the infinite God and takes Christ as personal Saviour by living connection, made possible because He took human nature, clothed divinity with humanity, and laid aside royal crown and glory which humanity could not have endured even as the glory of angels; casual views of Christ save no soul. It is shown by loving Jesus, taking Him as example, treating others with Christian courtesy, refusing to scold and fret, lifting others' thoughts toward God, turning from sin, having sin removed, and washing garments in the blood of the Lamb to be clothed in the white linen of the wedding garment. It is not mere profession or talk about hope, nor attention to outward appearance and worldly approval, but holy conduct and godliness with talk and interest in heaven rather than worldly things. It forbids dressing, talking, and acting like the world and decorating the body to appear well in its eyes, and requires instead learning from the Word how to be approved by God and how to please Him. Genuine faith works by love and purifies the soul, giving moral fitness for everlasting life through overcoming sinful traits and living for God, a preparation to be made before He comes in the short time remaining.
The hope is an anchor beyond the veil, within the veil, that gives courage to those struggling against the powers of darkness and turns attention toward heaven and heavenly things and eternal interests. In adopted sons and daughters the hope is future glory and elevation when Christ appears, and though scorned by the world they have the sympathies of heaven, with desires upward and heart filled with joy in anticipation of the future city which has foundations whose maker and builder is God. Through faith that works by love and purifies the soul, the Spirit brings every faculty and organ of the body into conformity with what is right and even thoughts into obedience to Christ, cherishing in every habit the living principle to be like Jesus. So even those cut off from house and heritage for faith can be filled with joy by giving the heart to Christ, receiving His grace, and resting upon their substitute and surety in the blood of the Son of God, while the love of Father and Son enlivens and uplifts to reflect that love in preparation to join the redeemed in praising God and the Lamb. Those who have this hope anchored beyond the veil purify themselves to be like Christ, and are freed from restless longing, discontent, and brooding over troubles not yet come or imagined trouble, for Christ the hope of glory brings health to the body and strength to the soul.
No hope held apart from purity and righteousness is genuine, for such hope is a snare and fatal delusion, while true hope necessarily purifies even as Christ is pure. Purifying comes by coming to Jesus and believing in Him so He grafts the believer into His life and character, and by faith joined with His grafting work in adoption sinners become sons of God and joint heirs with Christ, partakers of the divine nature having escaped corruption through lust. This ingrafting separates from the world so love for vile, contaminated society ends, leaving the person dead to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ, bearing rich fruit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, and goodness, with new affections, appetites, and tastes, old things passed away and all things become new. Having this hope therefore gives incentive for greater effort to set it before those still in darkness of error.
Setting in John's Letter
The verse stands in John's fixed gaze upon the marvelous, measureless love of an infinite God, a love no language is broad enough and deep enough to express and which the world is called to behold. That love is measured only by beholding the cross of Calvary, whose light expresses God's love to fallen man and is seen in Christ coming to this world after Adam and Eve transgressed God's law in Eden. There is seen the Man of Calvary, equal with the Father, the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, God's own dearly beloved Son given as a freewill offering to die that sinful men might live, an astonishment and marvel to all heaven in the wonderful condescension of the Father. Because He did not withhold His only beloved Son, much more will He with Him freely give all things needed to bring many sons and daughters to God, a pledge expressed to the heavenly universe and to the fallen world, though the love of Christ is often dwelt upon while the Father's love in giving Him is lost sight of.
Its setting gives the only scriptural definition of sin as transgression of the law, and presents Christ, in whom is no sin and no transgression, as manifested to take away sin and to destroy the works of the devil. Purification therefore means turning from law-breaking to the likeness of the sinless Christ, confessing sin to be cleansed from all transgression and receiving His life and grace so as to keep His holy law and practice His righteousness. Purity comes by having Christ abiding in the heart, which is impossible unless Christ is constantly beheld, so that abiding in Him is not sinning and following Him who was manifested to take away sin. In the same chapter love to God and love to the brethren are linked closely together, expressing the great principles of the law in the two great precepts to love the Lord God with all the heart and to love the neighbor as self, on which hang all the law and the prophets, with the love of God shown in life and character in the treatment of fellow men.
Believers are shown as present sons of God, highly favored of heaven with exalted character through connection with God, yet not appreciated or understood by the world because the world knew not Christ and because it does not yet appear what they shall be. A Christian who loves God may therefore be sorely afflicted, distressed, perplexed and hedged in, with outward providence showing no more heavenly favor than those of little consecration and appearances against him. The church now is militant, not yet triumphant, with defects and weaknesses yet still loved, and everyone holding the hope walks in the light as Christ is in the light and becomes pure now by enjoying precious truth and being sanctified through the truth, so that as God is pure in His sphere the believing, trusting child of God may be pure in his own sphere, abiding in Christ and bringing forth much fruit.
The chapter holds words of life to be heard with great earnestness, calling sinners to give themselves to the Lord, and where that call is answered the Spirit of God is present with moving power, Christ and the angels are present, and God and the angels rejoice. The response is to walk in the light while having it, to seek the Lord earnestly, and to turn from coldness and backsliding. Set before assembled believers divided by difficulties, this message brings healing of those difficulties.
Standard of Purity Required
The standard set before everyone who holds this hope is Christ's own purity taken as pattern, with no low standard set but the highest and most wonderful standard that can be presented. Hope in Christ leads to seeking purity like His, which means holiness in heart and life and not empty profession. Christ's purity is the standard for righteousness and holiness, so no conduct contrary to God's instruction can be excused and no false standard can replace it. His own sinless resistance to temptation shows the purity held before believers who hope for eternal life with Him and for becoming like Him when He appears.
To be pure even as He is pure means that as God is pure and holy in His sphere, fallen man through faith in Jesus Christ may be pure and holy in his own sphere, perfect in his sphere as God is perfect in His. The hope is to share the glory of His perfected character at His appearing, and that future likeness calls for present purity, so those who are now sons of God by royal birth must not be betrayed into sin but keep themselves pure and free from all defilement. The church now is militant and not yet triumphant, with defects and weaknesses yet still loved, and what its members shall be does not yet appear, yet everyone who holds this hope walks in the light as Christ is in the light and becomes pure now by enjoying precious truth and being sanctified through the truth. This purity reaches conduct, thoughts, faculties, and character, so that human beings are to be pure and without spot in their human sphere as God is pure in His divine sphere, since Christ was sent to sanctify His people and take them to Himself and His gift brings the honor of eternal life.
The verse means it is possible to live without sin, and it is given so that no one will carelessly allow himself to continue in sin but will walk in the light of the living God. It means much to every human being and gives instruction all should comprehend. This purification is the privilege given to everyone who surrenders fully to God of living without sin in obedience to the law of heaven, because sin alienates from God, and it calls sinners and aliens brought back to God and adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, to become pure to match His purity. God's law exposes defects of character, and sins are put away as the character is cleansed through Christ's blood, so that love for Christ and this hope cleanse such sins as envy, pride, malice, deceit, and strife. This hope does not excuse continuing to break God's law, but when a person understands God's requirements and recognizes his sins he reforms through strength from the Saviour and lives a new, purer life.
Everyone who has hope in Christ must be healed of transgression by faith in His agony and blood and become as pure as He is pure by repenting of sin and forsaking it. Christ's death on the cross proves God will punish unrepented sin to its fullest extent, and all who are not so healed and made pure will receive punishment for their own sins like what Jesus suffered. Having the hope of Christ appearing purifies a person now, because no pride, no worldliness, and no ungodliness can stand when Christ appears and only the pure in heart will see God. This purifying means dying to self through earnest prayer to God, putting away selfishness, pride, worldliness, and ungodliness, and striving earnestly to keep victory over the temptations of Satan.
The required purity is moral excellence of character to be cultivated, which God and heaven require, kept before children and youth to secure present peace, quietude, and rest of mind in this present world of turmoil and strife and to prepare for future eternal life in the kingdom of God where they shall see God. This purification means cleansing from all filthiness of body and spirit and of flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in God's sight and in the fear of God. It means working for a pure character, a pure heart, and loveliness of character, conquering day by day, cleansing the soul temple from iniquity, and keeping His commandments, which is the work of the little company of Christians who are small and unattractive now because it does not yet appear what they shall be. Every person who takes the name of Christian is under obligation to rise to the exalted possibility of excellence in humanity by revealing Christ's character in works as His chosen representative to an apostate world, and this cleansing is a condition that must in no case be neglected but be met now, for now is the accepted time and the day of salvation.
To be pure as He is pure means having a character with no discord of any kind as His character had none, with life controlled by the same principles that controlled His life. Gaining heaven requires being clothed with the robe of righteousness and having Christ's character, and only the overcomer receives the crown of life. This means keeping the eyes fixed on Christ as the perfect pattern without lowering the standard, exercising faith that works by love to purify the heart, bringing Christ into the home, putting off the world in church fellowship, and being raised from the degradation of sin to be fitted for heaven, since neglecting so great salvation leaves no escape.
It means that not a taint of defilement remains in thoughts or on lips, in heart or in character. The verse means rising to a higher, holier standard through decided warfare against evils, resisting the corrupting evils of fashionable society that corrupt innocence and virtue, and putting away evils even among those who claim to believe present truth, because unremoved evil brings spiritual death. This purification is lived out in purity in speech, true Christian courtesy, self-respect, faithfulness to God and principle, and respect and obedience to the law of God, creating a pure atmosphere that encourages weak souls in the upward path that leads to holiness and heaven.
A man will be pure if Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, for he will imitate Christ's life and reflect His character. Even those whose character is as pure as fine gold need constant connection with God in order to keep themselves pure. The verse requires keeping thoughts untainted and uncorrupted and filling the mind with pure, noble, and Christlike thoughts and giving lessons of an elevated, ennobling character, which guides those at the head of missions in how to manage youth discreetly. By beholding Him the mind set on heaven with strong desire to be like Jesus is changed into His image, no longer cherishing carnal thoughts or feelings, and reaches a high standard of purity through Christ's grace.
How Purification Happens
Purifying is each person's own present and continual work upon life and character, not passive and not left to others, pursued by humble, earnest effort in cooperation with God. The hope of seeing Christ when He appears and being made like Him purifies now, calling for work for a pure character, a pure heart, and loveliness of character, conquering day by day, cleansing the soul temple from iniquity, and keeping His commandments so names are not blotted out of the book of life and overcomers enter through the gates with right to the tree of life. Angels weigh character and record errors and defects in heaven's books, and soon the books will be opened and each will be judged by deeds and by light received, so the command to cleanse one's own life to share Christ's purity must not be forgotten even by a small company now unattractive because it does not yet appear what they shall be.
No one can by himself remove even one stain of sin or sanctify, purify, and bless himself; looking into the law of God shows him a sinner but gives no power to cleanse himself. Cleansing comes only through the provisions of the gospel, God's grace in the everlasting covenant imparted to every soul who sincerely desires it, the merits of Christ, and faith in Him who takes away the sin of the world, not by dead works and not by mere human effort. It means looking upon the Lord's great moral standard of righteousness, the holy law of God, seeing oneself a sinner in its light, and through faith in Jesus Christ accepting truth in the heart by which one is purified and cleansed. That hope abiding within becomes an abiding principle enabling victory over temptation, so genuine faith confesses pardoned sin and thereafter resists temptation in and through Christ's might, for God has power to keep the soul that is in Christ under temptation and healing is impossible while knowingly committing sin; jesting, joking, lightness and trifling speech prove profession is not genuine and the heart still needs purifying with genuine sorrow and mourning for sin.
Purity comes by having Christ abiding in the heart and formed within as the hope of glory, which is impossible unless Christ is constantly beheld, and by beholding Christ and the loveliness of His character the person is changed, imitates His life, and reflects His character. This purifying turns from sin, which is transgression of the law, to the likeness of the sinless Christ manifested to take away sins and destroy the works of the devil, so that abiding in Him is not sinning. By beholding Christ's purity and righteousness the soul is filled and God's moral image is stamped upon it as wax takes the counterpart of the seal, transfiguring the character, and this requires aroused, firm, steady, active faith, for without it the soul grows sluggish and faith is enfeebled. Even those whose character is as pure as fine gold need constant connection with God to keep pure, keeping thoughts untainted and filling the mind with pure, noble, Christlike thoughts and lessons of elevated, ennobling character.
Purifying is done by true, living faith within the soul, not outward profession, which is active, works by love, cleanses the soul from earthliness, removes every idol enthroned in the heart, and gives moral fitness for everlasting life. Sincere lovers of truth make constant, earnest, persevering efforts to subdue every baser part of nature, and because Christ showed the value of their souls by giving His own life to ransom them they place a right high estimate on their own souls and on the souls of all for whom Christ died, counting not their own lives dear so they may finish their course with joy. This preparation of overcoming sinful traits and living for God must be made in the short present time of probation before Christ comes, shown through obedience to Christ's commandments as Christ obeyed His Father. The Spirit of God then brings every faculty and every organ of the body into conformity with Christ, brings even the thoughts into obedience to Christ, and cherishes in every habit and practice the living principle to be like Jesus, with desires upward and the heart filled with joy in anticipation of the future city which has foundations whose maker and builder is God.
The only way to be pure is for the mind of God to become the mind of man by cooperating with God and knowing God through studying His Word, for without that knowledge every effort to purify self is useless and vain and man cannot be elevated in any other way. The purification must be inward planting of truth in the heart to control the life and cleansing from all moral defilement, not outward gloss and polish like whited sepulchers, not nominal acceptance of truth, and not ability to give a reason for faith, for God who judges righteously sees all deformity of the soul and delights in uprightness, and cleaning the outside of the cup never makes the soul pure. Coarseness and roughness of character are purged through the Word so the life is cleansed from every semblance of sin.
To purify oneself is to confess sin and be cleansed from all transgression of the law, putting away sin and iniquity from the heart and separating from whatever would divide the character from God, for Christ saves from sins, not in them, being pure because in Him is no sin and He was manifested to take away sin, giving His life and grace so believers can keep His holy law and practice His righteousness. It is a repentance of sin that need not be repented of, not merely admitting to be sinful and resting there while intending to remain sinful, violate conscience, and always do evil, but truly turning from sin, forsaking it, doing the good one knows to do since not doing known good is sin, and humbling oneself in the sight of the Lord so He will lift up. It means facing the mirror of God's law, discerning defects in moral character, putting away sins, and washing the robe of character in the blood of the Lamb through repentance, faith and good works, with divine truth received and cherished in the heart, turning from impurity and repenting of dishonesty while Christ takes away sin and imputes His righteousness as the spotless garment of purity.
It means obedience to God's commandments and searching the Scriptures, forming character in harmony with the law as repositories of the law with the Sabbath opened to understanding, keeping the decalogue, since every provision against sin has been made and failing to realize belonging to God's family and eternal life would be terrible loss. This purity is conformity to God's will in thought, word, and deed, pursued through obedience to the truth, joining the hope of Christ's coming to a life of obedience and sanctification as the time of His appearing draws near. It calls for standing individually in God's strength with an individuality that cannot be submerged in another, refusing fellowship and unity with the world because Christians and the world serve different masters, belonging to Jesus Christ by purchase, looking to God and obeying God alone, walking in the pure light of truth as revealed in the Word including the Sabbath, and taking a decided position even when husband, wife, or family have no interest in the truth.
Having this hope works in mind and heart like a quickening, living power that cleanses away impurity and depravity. It means being born again of the Spirit, made complete in Christ by receiving of His Spirit, filled with the love that proceeds from God, revealing Christ in daily life, upright in all dealings with no self-exaltation, dishonesty, or sly, cunning, underhand work, the good fruit testifying to the condition of the heart. It means letting the Holy Spirit come into the heart and remain there, having Satan driven out of the soul temple, and opening the door of the heart to Jesus to receive the richest blessing, in wide contrast to mere professors without the love of God in their hearts who are not made Christian gentlemen by the purifying influence of truth but are transgressors of God's law whose work opposes Christ's. As one is transformed into God's image, hatred of sin grows and love moves to work for the sinner, connected with the Spirit's indwelling and with Christ bearing sin and God clothing the repentant sinner in righteousness.
This purifying requires seeing one's own defects in the mirror of God's holy law, seeing that character must meet that law, and feeling it essential to be free from sin. Christ came in human form to show that divinity and humanity combined does not commit sin, and He is the Pattern through whom men may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust. God's law exposes defects of character, and sins such as envy, pride, malice, deceit, strife and crime are put away as character is cleansed through Christ's blood, carrying the heart that receives Christ's love to a height of moral excellence once thought impossible, so that even those fallen and degraded by sin and crime may rise in mental and moral strength to become but a little lower than the angels. This hope does not excuse continuing to break God's law: when one understands God's requirements and recognizes sins, he reforms through strength from the Saviour and lives a new, purer life.
Purifying comes by coming to Jesus and believing in Him, so He grafts the believer into His life and character, where drawing near in faith joined with His grafting work in adoption makes sinners sons of God and joint heirs with Christ, partakers of the divine nature who have escaped corruption through lust. This ingrafting separates from the world so love for vile, contaminated and contaminating society ends, leaving the person dead indeed to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ, bearing rich fruit in the graces of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, with new affections, new appetites and new tastes, old things passed away and all things become new. Any hope held apart from purity and righteousness is a snare and fatal delusion, and purifying by putting away selfishness and becoming righteous is done not by dead works but through the merits of the grace of Christ, with work corresponding to faith and to the light of truth.
Marks of Purified Life
The purified separate in spirit and in dress and practice from worldly customs, friendship, display and unity, refusing fellowship with the world because different masters are served and oil and water cannot mix. They no longer dress, talk and act like the world nor decorate the body to appear well in its eyes, but set talk and interest and thought on heaven and heavenly things. They learn from the Word how to be approved by God and please Him, walking in the pure light of truth as revealed there including the Sabbath, standing individually in God's strength with an individuality that cannot be submerged in another human being. They belong to Christ by purchase and look to God and obey God alone, taking a decided position and bearing the cross of stepping aside even when husband or wife or family have no interest in the truth, with special help and a God-appointed place to contend for the faith. They come out from among the world and touch not the unclean thing, following Jesus in obedience in meekness and lowliness, and the world cannot enter into the experience nor discern their hopes and motives because it knew Him not and sees no beauty in Him. Those who truly look for Christ show the hope in holy conduct and godliness, not in mere profession or outward attention to appearance and worldly approval.
Purifying means learning meekness and lowliness from Christ, whose character is meek, lowly, kind and gentle, and growing daily more like Him. It keeps hereditary and cultivated tendencies under control and subdues every baser part of the nature by constant, earnest, persevering effort, living every moment under the Saviour's keeping power with faithful service as pleasure and not task. It speaks as Christ spoke, courteously and respectfully with true Christian courtesy and self-respect, with no harsh, passionate or rash word, putting away discontent, murmuring, disagreeable words, disputing, quarreling, jesting and a fault-finding spirit. It puts away drawing apart from one another and clears self-love, self-esteem, self-sufficiency, self-glorification and love of praise from the soul to make room for Jesus, becoming a vessel unto honor sanctified and fit for the Master's use and prepared unto every good work. So refined, sanctified and purified, with faithfulness to God and principle and respect and obedience to the law, the life testifies to the power of grace, recognizes the perfection of Christ's character, demonstrates its principles as a foretaste of heaven, and creates a pure atmosphere that encourages weak souls in the upward path to holiness and heaven.
True honor is devoting life to glorify God by uplifting others, laying aside selfish interests to bring happiness, binding up the broken-hearted, bringing life and immortality to light before those who know not Christ, doing all possible to benefit fellow men and using all capabilities for God. It works as Christ worked to lift men from degradation into what God designed them to be, keeping unspotted from the world by visiting the fatherless and widows in affliction, which receives the Master's Well done. Love to God and love to the brethren are linked closely together, expressing the two great precepts to love the Lord God with all the heart and to love neighbor as self, on which hang all the law and the prophets, and the love of God is shown in life and character in treatment of fellow men. Those who live Christ's character turn away from Satan and do not reflect him through peevishness, evil thoughts or evil speech, but by looking to Christ receive and reflect God's light, and Christ gives strength to those who lack it for resisting wickedness and lifting up and ennobling others.
Each attends to his own character rather than being eager to correct or purify others, correcting personal mistakes and avoiding words and conduct that irritate others or create dissension.
A man, especially a husband who stands as head of his wife as Christ stands as head of the church, must purify himself to be like God in purity and present his body to God a living sacrifice holy and acceptable. This means keeping the glory of God in view by restraining animal passion and low sensual gratification, putting away base earthliness and corrupt sensual practices that enervate the system. He refuses to imperil his wife's strength, health, life and missionary usefulness by subjecting her to continual childbearing and the painful ordeal of maternity for his own indulgence and abuse of the marriage relation. Instead he studies her spiritual and physical good, loving, nourishing and cherishing her as his own body as Christ nourishes the church, so she may be presented to God without spot and blameless, for without this he is not fit to be head of his wife.
The change appears as new creatures risen in Christ to walk in newness of life, no longer shaping life by former lusts but following in His steps by faith and reflecting His character and showing the fruits of the Spirit. Affections are reversed to love what was hated and hate what was loved, becoming meek and lowly instead of proud and self-assertive, serious and unobtrusive instead of vain, reverent instead of profane, sober instead of drunken, and pure instead of profligate. Former sinful desires are left behind and meekness, humility, sobriety and purity take their place, laying aside vain fashions of the world and outward adorning to seek the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. It reaches inward motives and character, not merely outward appearance.
Conforming the desires of mind and body to God's will is for physical and spiritual health in this life, and meeting God's requirements leads to everlasting life in the kingdom of glory. Through faith that works by love and cleanses the soul the Holy Spirit brings every faculty and every organ of the body into conformity with Christ and agreement with what is right, brings even the thoughts into obedience to Christ, and cherishes in every habit and practice the living principle to be like Jesus. Desires are upward and aspirations reach upward with the heart filled with joy in anticipation of the future city which has foundations whose maker and builder is God, so that even those cut off from house and heritage for faith and scorned and despised by the world, yet having heaven's sympathies, can rest upon their substitute and surety in the blood of the Son of God. Those professing to wait for Christ must cleanse themselves from pollution and turn from impurity in thought and imagination, for continuing to serve lust leaves thoughts impure and imaginations corrupt and the mind naturally corrupt and resistant to pure and holy things, leaving them unprepared for His appearing. Remembering Calvary and Christ's victory over appetite and showing in life and character the miracle-working power of God, the world takes knowledge they have been with Jesus and learned of Him.
Those who teach and serve purify themselves in the likeness of Christ with self crucified and selfishness purged from the heart, which enables acceptable service. They become familiar with Christ's character and imitate His nobility, singleness of purpose and virtues, remaining faithful to His expressed will and heeding the Spirit's warnings and entreaties in willing, heartfelt service. Closely united with Christ this leaves no place for speculative theories, and love purifies and uplifts the believer whose words and Christlike conduct distinguish him from those led by Satan. This purifying from everything that defiles, with walking even as He walked and sharing the Spirit of Christ, is required also of women who arise to the emergency and work for the Master, together with searching the Scriptures and storing the mind with precious things to present to those not interested in the truth.
They set thoughts on heavenly things, speak of Jesus, and wait lovingly for His return to meet Him with joy, longing for the glorious appearing and watching as though each day were the last. They serve God every day with fidelity as for eternity, search the Scriptures, keep Jesus ever before them, separate sin and iniquity from them, and trust wholly in Him for justifying righteousness. As they draw near to God and behold Jesus' character and share the divine nature, worldly amusements lose appeal and worldly business is laid aside to scrutinize every thought and emotion of the heart as if upon a deathbed soon to close the eyes forever upon earthly scenes. This is urgent because judgment is going forward and every case will pass in review before God, so putting off the day of God and thinking there are many days of probation brings carelessness that lets the enemy take possession. Purifying is not making outward ascension robes but gaining internal evidence of readiness, with white robes of purity of soul and character cleansed from sin by the atoning blood, living for God in union with God, Christ and the heavenly angels, approaching the hour with calm solemnity in sweet communion as an earnest of the peace of the bright hereafter, to be among the white-robed around the throne and meet Christ in peace.
Purifying means turning from what is cheap and inferior and rising to a high standard, for manliness and firmness are required in Christian character and a cheap character is forbidden. A cheap professed Christian works more harm in the world than a worldling, because by professing to represent Christ whose name he assumes he misleads others. The hope is incompatible with selfishness, self-esteem, self-indulgence and adopting the world's ways, bringing responsibility to live in keeping with being a child of God with more than finite possibilities within reach. Purity prized by the crucified, risen and ascended Saviour together with meekness and lowliness of heart learned from Him, in loving God supremely and neighbor as self, makes one respected by men and beloved by God.
Urgency of Present Preparation
Cleansing must be done now in this accepted time and day of salvation to prepare for immortal life, for the hope of being like Christ when He appears and sharing the glory of His perfected character calls for present purity after His purity. As those who are now sons of God by royal birth, believers must not be betrayed into sin but keep themselves pure and free from all defilement, giving whole interest to present truth and advancing beyond past mistakes. The hope is being brought into the heavenly courts, crowned with glory and honor and eternal life, and entering the mansions prepared, and it requires trusting in Christ, letting the cleaver of truth cut away rough edges and defects brought from the quarry of the world, and passing under the hand of God as probationers to be fitted and squared as living stones for the heavenly temple not made with hands. This is a refining and purifying of the heart renewed every day in knowledge of truth and righteousness in preparation for a coming that will be like the days before the flood, laboring together with God in unflagging prayer, watching and working until without fault, reflecting the image of Christ as spiritual worshipers even when the company of believers is small.
Gaining heaven requires being clothed with the robe of righteousness and Christ's character, washed white in His blood, with spotless character ready among the white-robed around the throne, for to lose heaven is to lose everything and to gain it is to gain everything. The hope of becoming like Christ when He appears and seeing Him as He is leads to purifying the life after His purity in a growth in grace that reaches completion in immortality, cultivating the moral excellence of character that God and heaven require. That character has no discord of any kind as His had none, with life controlled by the same principles that controlled His life and eyes fixed on Him as perfect pattern without lowering the standard, secured in present peace and rest of mind amid turmoil and fitted for future eternal life in the kingdom where the redeemed shall see God. The same purification will reach the earth itself, made new and glorified with every spot and stain of the curse removed and restored to Edenic purity and loveliness as the home of the redeemed, which only the spiritual mind appreciates without letting temporal things eclipse revealed glories.
Only the overcomer receives the crown of life, through conquering day by day, cleansing the soul temple from iniquity, keeping the commandments, and exercising faith that works by love to purify the heart, since neglecting so great salvation leaves no escape. This is the work of the little company now small and unattractive because it does not yet appear what they shall be, that names not be blotted out of the book of life and overcomers enter through the gates with right to the tree of life. Having the hope of heaven and a crown of life itself purifies, bringing Christ into the home, putting off the world in church fellowship, and raising the believer from degradation of sin to fitness for heaven.
The hope means longing, waiting and watching for the glorious appearing, serving God every day as though it were the last, doing work as for eternity with fidelity, searching the Scriptures, keeping Jesus ever before the mind, and laying aside worldly business to scrutinize the heart. Angels weigh character and record errors and defects in heaven's books, and soon the books will be opened with each judged by deeds and by light received, for judgment is going forward and every case will pass in review before God. To put off the day of God is dangerous, and to think there are many days of probation brings carelessness that lets the enemy take possession, while those ready with spotless character will stand among the white-robed around the throne. Sincere love for Jesus and intense watching for His soon return brings calm solemnity and sweet communion with God as an earnest of the peace of the bright hereafter, with inward evidence of readiness in white robes of purity of soul and character cleansed by atoning blood rather than outward show, and with strength and grace sought from God to become pure in heart to meet Christ in peace.
Households greatly need this purification because the end is nearer than when they first believed, with fathers and mothers to purify their souls in their own sphere as God is pure in His sphere in order to prepare for immortal life in the heavenly courts. This means being perfect in one's own sphere even as God is perfect in His, not backsliding but conformed to the will of heaven, putting away murmuring and complaining as disrespect to God in whose dwelling place they live as members of His family by creation and redemption. It requires closely examining the heart, humbling self before God, continually seeking divine aid, walking in given light with increased light shining on the pathway, cherishing respect and tenderness, never marring and scarring the life and spirit of others, overcoming every defect, and showing the miracle-working power of God so others take knowledge of fellowship with Jesus.
Believers must walk in the light as Christ is in the light while they have it, seeking the Lord earnestly and turning from coldness and backsliding, seeking Him by faith now to reflect His divine image. Everyone holding the hope of seeing Christ as He is and being made like Him becomes pure now by enjoying precious truth and being sanctified through the truth, abiding in Christ and bringing forth much fruit, with increased light shining on the pathway of those who walk in given light. Belief that God gave His Son to die and trust that Jesus saves and is fully divine call forth this pursuit of purity like Christ's. With truth planted in the heart and life guided by God's rules, the transformed person hates sin, loves and works for the sinner, helps others be sanctified, and surrounds the soul with a pure holy atmosphere through the divine presence that flows as pure heavenly light and peace with spiritual refreshing influence to others.
Purifying is part of the terms of salvation and conditions that must in no case be neglected, calling each one who has hope in God to purify himself to be pure just as Christ is pure. It means no idle life but active true service amid throbbing hearts and urging passions where Satan lives and works, renouncing selfishness and sin and conforming thought, word and deed to God's will through obedience to the truth, with faith leading to willing obedience because purity is necessary for life in heaven. Every one taking the Christian name is under obligation to cleanse from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfect holiness in fear of God, rising to exalted human excellence by revealing Christ's character in works as His chosen representative, and even the however imperfect may bring himself to God as he is and serve Him now instead of waiting for a different disposition.