[0:00] The book of 1 John, 1 John in chapter 2. And we're going to begin reading at verse 28 and read through chapter 3, verse 10.
[0:16] ! So 1 John chapter 2 and verse 28. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears, we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law. In fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins, and in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.
[1:42] He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him. He cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are, and who the children of the devil are. Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother. Let's hear the preaching of God's word.
[2:27] Ten-year-old Bobby is taking piano lessons, and he's losing heart. Every day after school, he drags himself into the living room and plunks out his scales and songs, keeping one eye on the clock and the other eye on his friends outside playing football, and just longing for his 30 minutes to be up so he can join them in the game. He's clearly lacking motivation to practice.
[3:03] Now imagine with me that one afternoon, an angel visits Bobby in the living room, and in a vision, he's taken to an auditorium packed with thousands of people listening intently to a young man on stage, giving a concert on the piano, and his fingers just seem to fly up and down that keyboard effortlessly producing the most beautiful music that holds him spellbound along with the audience watching. He's totally engulfed in it. He's forgetful of his friends out playing football.
[3:38] He's forgetful of everything but that. He's mesmerized. He never realized that someone could play the piano so beautifully. And then the vision fades, and Bobby's back in the living room with the angel.
[3:52] And the angel says, Bobby, that wonderful pianist that you saw on stage is you in 10 years, but you must practice.
[4:03] Do you think those afternoon practice sessions would ever be the same for Bobby? Never again. Remembering what he's going to become gives him the motivation that he lacked.
[4:19] Seeing in his mind's eye, playing on that stage one day gave him the boost, the stimulus that he needed. And here's our lesson this morning. In the same way, child of God, remembering what you are going to become one day is critical to your ongoing pursuit of purity, of holiness, of life and character.
[4:48] Remembering what you're going to become is the motivation you need to go on purifying yourself from everything that contaminates both body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
[5:02] That's the power of hope. Hope, the great motivator. So we're returning to our study on the four key graces of the Christian life.
[5:16] And we've come to the grace of hope, its critical importance. We've seen hope defined as the confident expectation of future good.
[5:27] We've noted that this hope is certain. It's not iffy. It's certain. And that it's fixed on some future good. We've seen that our hope is a living hope, as we just heard, because of the mercy of God and uniting us to Christ and raising him from the dead.
[5:47] Now we come today then to hope purifying. Hope purifying. Do you ever get tired of resisting the world's temptations and allurements to sins?
[6:00] Do you ever grow weary of the battle of your own inward remaining sinful desires and that sin that so easily entangles you? What if I could encourage you by showing you what you are going to become someday?
[6:17] That's my aim this morning. No, I'm no angel. And I have no new visions to give you about your future. But I do have a sure word from God that does just that for you, child of God.
[6:33] God himself takes you in his word right into the future and shows you what you are going to be. And in that sure hope, you have the motivation you need to press on purifying yourself in an impure world and with remaining impure desires within.
[6:55] We begin this morning in Romans 8, 28. We're coming to John 3. So if you have your Bible open there, keep it a note there or something. But we're going to start in Romans 8, 28 and 29.
[7:06] Familiar turf in scripture. But I wonder if you've ever noticed the role of hope in this passage. Romans 8, 28.
[7:17] And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him and who are the called according to his purpose. Now, why is this verse such a popular comfort to the people of God?
[7:33] Well, it's because of the hope it gives. The hope it gives. It assures me that in all things in my life, including my worst things, God is doing something.
[7:45] He is working it together for some future good. Amen. Now, he's not doing that for everyone. You notice it's only for those who love him and who are the called according to his purpose.
[8:05] What is that purpose for which he's called you? He's called you to Jesus Christ for a purpose. And what is that purpose? Well, he doesn't leave us guessing.
[8:18] Verse 29 spells it out. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
[8:31] So this verse does for us what the angel's vision did for Bobby. It takes us forward. In time to show us what we are going to become.
[8:43] So there you are, Christian, perfectly conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ, bearing the moral likeness of your elder brother. Not some vague resemblance of Jesus.
[8:58] No, just like him. That means loving God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. And loving your neighbor as you love yourself.
[9:12] Just like Jesus does. That means no more impure thoughts. No more mixed motives. No more sinful words. No more sinful desires.
[9:24] You, just like Jesus, conformed to his likeness, to his image. Now this is the new you. Begun in the new birth here on earth.
[9:36] But now completed when Jesus returns. It's the finished product. It's the clay after it's been perfectly molded according to the purpose of the potter.
[9:49] And what was his purpose? That you might be conformed to the likeness of his son, Jesus. So this is your predetermined destiny.
[10:01] This is what God has predestined you to become. Just like his son. That's our certain hope. In the future good.
[10:11] And we're confidently expecting this. Now the Bible is continually doing this sort of thing. It's taking us forward and showing us what we're going to be.
[10:23] Why? Why does God do that? To give us hope. Hope that God knows we need. Hope that motivates us to not quit. To not quit the hard battle with sin that remains in us.
[10:37] With the allurements of the world around us. And so he gives us this hope by taking this forward. And showing us what we're going to be.
[10:47] So we move from Romans 8 to 1 John chapter 3. The passage that was read for us. 1 John chapter 3 verses 1 to 3.
[10:59] And John says in verse 1. How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us. That we should be called children of God. And that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
[11:13] John is lost in wonder and amazement. Behold he says. Step aside and look at this wonder.
[11:24] What kind of love has the Father lavished on us? That we. We hell bent sinners that deserved his wrath forever and ever. That we should be called the children of God.
[11:39] And not just called that. But when he calls us that. It's because that is what we really are. It's the highest privilege thinkable. To have the living God as our Father.
[11:50] And to have him own us as his children. There is no higher honor. Now in this world. Children of a king or a queen. Are given special distinguishing honors.
[12:03] Aren't they? If you're a prince or a princess. You're treated with royal dignity. People make way for you. You're given celebrity.
[12:14] VIP status. And if that's true of a prince or princess in this world. What is the honor? Of being a child of the king of heaven and earth.
[12:26] Being a child of the living God. Who before there was anything created. Who existed for eternity. Father, son and holy spirit. And then. Breathed out a creation.
[12:38] And made us. And redeemed us to himself. And now owns us as his children. There is no higher honor. But right away.
[12:49] John realizes the dilemma. And the dilemma is this. That the world's not treating you like royalty. Is it? No, it's not.
[13:01] Not at all. In fact, as we see in our day. They treat us like scum. Like people of the forgotten past. People who don't know the way forward.
[13:11] We're lost. We've lost our way. We're not with it. We're not treated like the royal princes and princesses of God that we are. So John realizes that.
[13:24] He lives in the same world. Remember, he too was persecuted and exiled for Jesus' sake. And so John explains why that is. Why is it that the children of God that we are.
[13:35] Are not being treated. With VIP status. Well, he says the reason the world doesn't treat us like royalty. Is because they don't know we are royalty.
[13:46] They don't know who we are. And the reason they don't know who we are as God's children. Is because they didn't know God the Son. When he came to earth and dwelled among them. And if they don't know him.
[13:59] They're not going to know us. After all, he's the one who makes us so special. He's the one that gives us the honor.
[14:10] The fact that we're his children. And he's our father. That our special dignity rests on the dignity of whose we are. And if they treated Jesus, the Son of God, with hatred and nailed him to a cross.
[14:23] Well, then we shouldn't expect the world to treat us like something special. But John says a day is coming. When Christ appears.
[14:36] And that word appears means when Christ is manifested. When Christ is made known. When Christ is unveiled. That word, it's like a marble statue that's been carved out.
[14:53] And is to be revealed to the town square. And yet it's been veiled over until the precise moment. And then the veil is pulled off.
[15:04] And everyone sees. It appears. It's manifested. It's made known. Well, that's what's going to happen when Jesus appears.
[15:14] He's going to be unveiled. And made known for who he is. And John uses the same verb of the children of God. That in that day, we too will be unveiled and made known.
[15:27] The reason the world doesn't know us now. The reason our royal identity is so veiled. Is because our king's royal identity is veiled.
[15:39] But a day is coming when Christ appears. That the veil will be pulled off of him and us. There will be a double revealing. A double unveiling in that day. Then everyone will see your honor.
[15:52] Because you'll be with him. And you'll be like him. And notice how John puts it. Verse 2. Dear friends. Now we are children of God. This is the reality.
[16:03] We are. And what we will be has not yet been made known. Unveiled to the world. But we know.
[16:13] They don't know. But we know. That when he appears. There it is again. When he is unveiled. Manifested. We shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is.
[16:24] Now children of God. Here are two things. That the world doesn't know. That we do know. Number one. What we are right now. We're the royal children of God. They don't know what we do.
[16:36] Number two. What we will be. At Christ's coming. They don't know it. But we know. We know. That when he appears. We shall be like him. We know that.
[16:48] Why? Because. We shall see him. As he is. And to see him as he is. Is to be made like him. As he is.
[16:58] For the child of God. That's our predetermined destiny. That's. That's what God has. Predestined us to. That was the purpose. He saved us. That we might. See him.
[17:10] And be made. Like him. And then. We'll be known. And honored. For who we are. The children. Of the king. Of king. Bearing the perfect likeness. Of the son of God.
[17:22] No doubt. About whose we are. And who we are. Then. Our moral likeness. Will be complete. Likeness to Jesus.
[17:32] So that even. Our lowly bodies. Not just our spirits. But our lowly bodies. Will be transformed. And. In the likeness. Of Christ's. Glorious body. Now notice.
[17:44] The dynamic process. By which. This transformation. Takes place. To see Christ. As he is. Is to be made. Like him. That's the process.
[17:54] When you see. Glory in Jesus. That. Seeing him. Transforms us. Into. His likeness. And this power.
[18:06] Is operative. In the Christian. Right now. That's what's happening. In. The believer's. Life. As we see. Christ. In the scriptures. Because that. Is right now.
[18:16] Where he's being unveiled. And revealed. Is in the scriptures. One day. He's going to come again. And his glory. Will be unveiled. For all to see. But for right now. His glory. Is seen here. And as we see him.
[18:27] As he is. What happens? The Holy Spirit. Transforms us. Into his likeness. That's how Christ. Is being formed. In us. Right now. Seeing him.
[18:38] We're made like him. That's what Paul says. In 2nd Corinthians. Chapter 3. In verse 18. He's been talking about. The lost person. The people of the world. Who read the scriptures. Some of them.
[18:49] Every week. As they go into synagogue. He says. But their hearts. Have a veil. All over them. So they don't see glory. In Jesus. And then he says this. 2nd Corinthians 3.
[18:59] 18. And we. Who with unveiled faces. Behold. The Lord's glory. Are being transformed. Into his likeness.
[19:10] With ever increasing glory. This comes from the Lord. Who is the spirit. You see the dynamic process. As we see the Lord Jesus. For who he is.
[19:21] The spirit of God. Is transforming us. Into his likeness. That same process. Is what's going to happen. In the last day. When Jesus comes back. And his people. See him.
[19:32] As he is. And we will be made like him. Fully. And finally. At his coming. Face to face. Meeting with Christ. Will finish the process forever.
[19:43] The transformation. Begun in the new birth. Will then be made. Complete. At his. Appearing. We will then be. The perfect mirror image. Of Christ.
[19:54] That's the purpose. For which he saved us. Our predetermined destiny. Now I don't know. If you realize it or not. But. What John's been talking about.
[20:06] Is our hope. He hasn't used that word yet. But he's going to right now. Look at verse three. Everyone who has.
[20:21] This hope. In him. Purifies himself. Just as he is pure. Everyone who has this hope. Hope. What hope. Well this hope.
[20:31] That I've been talking about. That when Jesus appears. You're going to see him. As he is. Child of God. And you'll be made like him. Everyone who has. That hope. In him. Purifies himself.
[20:44] Being just like him. Upon seeing him. His image. Perfectly. Restored in us. As Paul says. Just as we have born. The likeness.
[20:55] Of the earthly man. So. We. Shall. Bear. The likeness. Of the man. From heaven. First Corinthians. Fifteen. Forty. Nine. And John identifies.
[21:05] This is no small part. Of the believers. Hope. This is that confident. Expectation. We have. Of the future. Good. What is that future. Good. That will be made. Like Christ.
[21:16] That the work. As we sang. The work. Which is goodness. Began. The arm. Of his strength. Will complete. That's our glorious hope. And so John is doing. What Paul did.
[21:27] In Romans 8. 29. He's taking us forward. In time. To show us. What we are going to become. Now verse 3. Tells us the very practical. Effect of this hope.
[21:39] Why does John do this? Why does Paul do this? Why does Jesus do this? Why does Peter do this? Why do the scriptures. Constantly. Take us forward. And show us. What we're going to be.
[21:52] It's interesting. It's to purify us. And to move us. To purify ourselves. You see that.
[22:03] In verse 3. Hope is a purifying hope. Everyone who has this hope. Purifies himself. Just as he is pure. Interesting.
[22:15] That according to the mind of God. Everyone who sees. The glory and purity of Jesus. For who he is. Will be purifying themselves.
[22:26] To become. More and more like him. Now to be sure. Not everyone thinks of it that way. Some actually think that. Well. Shoot.
[22:38] If. If. If I'm going to see Christ someday. And on that moment. I'm going to be made perfectly. Like him. Well then. I don't need to be all that concerned.
[22:48] About purifying myself. Here and now anymore. I can lighten up. And relax in this world. Relax my efforts. At. Trying to be holy now. Since after all.
[22:59] He's going to. Completely finish the job. No matter how far. I progressed in this life. When I see him. It's going to be done forever. So. Kick back John. Wait till that day.
[23:13] To be made pure. It makes sense. Doesn't it? That's. That's. That's. Clearly logical. Isn't it? The only problem. Is the devil's logic.
[23:23] And not God's. It's. It's also the logic. And the theology. Of the Roman Catholic Church. That says. If you give someone. A certain hope. Assurance.
[23:35] That. That one day. They're going to see Christ. And be like him. In other words. Enter into. That eternal life. If you give someone there. A sure hope in that. Well then.
[23:46] They won't be very busy. About coming to church. And giving their money. And doing good. And trying to live a pure life. And so the church. The Roman church.
[23:57] Holds out. No sure hope. To the believer. So the believer. Never knows. If he's done enough good. He never knows. If he's pure enough yet. To make it.
[24:09] Into heaven. In that day. And that keeps him. You see. In this uncertainty. And fear. Which the church wants.
[24:19] In order to motivate him. To do. The good stuff. To attend church. To give the money. To treat their neighbors well. And so forth. But the gospel of Jesus Christ.
[24:31] Speaks a completely different message. Absolutely. Opposite. To that. It rather. Assures the believer. In Christ. That he has done enough.
[24:44] Enough good. To save us. That he. Has. Purified us. By his blood. And assures us. That when we see Jesus. He'll make us as pure as himself.
[24:56] We have that certainty. That sure hope. And that's what motivates us. To purify ourselves now. It's the great motivator.
[25:09] Not to save us. As Rome teaches. But because Christ has saved us. By his blood. And because he has assured me.
[25:22] That one day. He will make me just like himself. So why did the angel. Show Bobby. What he was going to become someday. Was it so he would quit his lessons.
[25:33] So he would just. Play football all afternoon. Every day. Since after all. I know now that. I'm going to be that guy. Up on stage one day. Playing. Beautiful music.
[25:45] No. No. He showed him the future. To give him hope. The great motivator. To practice more. Not less. With all of his heart. Now. Bobby. This is you in 10 years.
[25:58] But you must practice. That's why he was given. The hope. And even so. God doesn't. Hold hope before us. To make us lighten up.
[26:10] In our efforts. To be holy now. As if our hope. Is to make us careless. About purity. Careless. And lazy. And complacent. I know I'm in at the end.
[26:21] That's all I really care about. Pastor. Is that. Is that why. God. Gives you assurance of heaven. No. It's. It's to make you. Purify yourself. Just as he is pure.
[26:32] Here and now. This hope. Motivates. All who have it. To purify themselves now. Just as he is pure.
[26:43] This hope. Stimulates. All who have it. To make every effort. To be holy. As he is holy. I need to tell you that. First John 3. 3.
[26:53] Is not a command. It is a statement of fact. Now in the Greek language. There are endings on the word. That tell you. Whether it's a command. Or whether it's just.
[27:05] A statement of fact. This is not a command. It's not an imperative. It's an indicative. It states a fact. So.
[27:15] John is not telling you. That this is something you should do. You should purify yourself. Just as he is pure. That's not what he's saying at all. You ought to purify yourself.
[27:26] No. Rather. It's an indicative. It's a statement of fact. And John is saying this. That everyone who has this hope. In Christ. Christ. Is purifying himself.
[27:38] Right now. Just as he. Is pure. Everyone who has this hope. Is doing this. No exceptions. Everyone.
[27:50] If you really have this hope. Of seeing Christ as he is. And becoming like him. Then right now in this life. You're getting on with the program. You're continually purifying yourself.
[28:03] Now. With the encouragement. That you're. You're not on some fool's errand. You're not pursuing a pipe dream. Some. Some dream that will never happen.
[28:14] No. You. You one day will arrive. When you see Christ. Everyone. Who has this hope in him. Purifies himself.
[28:24] Just as he is pure. Do you have that hope? What does your life say? Are you purifying yourself? Just as he is pure? Hope is an active grace.
[28:35] You see. We saw that with love. We saw that with faith. These are active graces. In the Christian life. If they're not. It's dead faith. If it's not.
[28:46] It's a worthless love. And so it is with our hope. If our hope is not actively. Causing us to purify ourselves. We know we don't have it. We don't have what the Bible is talking about.
[28:58] We've got some other kind of hope. Not everybody. Who claims to have a sure hope for heaven. Really possesses it. Here's the way you know. Am I right now. Purifying myself. Because everyone who has this hope in him.
[29:10] Purifies himself. That's why the Bible is continually holding before us our future hope. God knows that it's the motivating power that we need.
[29:22] To continue the fight. Against our flesh. Against the world. And against the devil. And I said it last week.
[29:33] And I'll say it again. The New Testament is far more future oriented. Than most believers in the West. John Heaney included. We are meant to be looking forward.
[29:46] We're meant to be lifting up our eyes. Because our redemption is drawing near. Because that sure hope will do something for us now. It will motivate us to purify ourselves.
[29:59] And not just to cave in. To temptation. Paul says the same thing to Titus. In Titus chapter 2. Verses 11 to 14. He says that the grace of God.
[30:10] That brings salvation. Has appeared to all men. It teaches us. That is the grace of God. In the gospel. It teaches us. To say no to ungodliness. And worldly passions.
[30:21] And to say yes. And to live. Self-controlled. Upright and godly lives. In this present age. While we wait. For the blessed hope.
[30:31] The glorious appearing. Of our great God and Savior. Jesus Christ. Who redeemed us. From all wickedness. And to purify. For himself.
[30:42] A people that are his very own. Eager who. To do what is good. So there you have it. Again. Here we are. Right now. In this present age.
[30:53] And we're constantly. Being bombarded. With temptation. And we need to say no. To ungodliness. And to worldly passions. And some of them. We find in our own breasts.
[31:05] Our own hearts. That we still have. Worldly desires. And we're to say no. To them. No to them. Every time. And yes. To self-control. Yes. Yes.
[31:16] To purity. Now what's going to enable us. To not grow weary. In this battle. Because we fight this battle. All the way to the end. It's hope. While we wait.
[31:27] You see. We're saying no. And we're saying yes. While we wait. For the blessed hope. The happy hope. The glorious appearing. Of our great God and Savior. We know what he's.
[31:37] What he's bringing. When he's coming. We know he's bringing. That final completion. In our hearts. To make us just like himself. And that reality. Is to enter into.
[31:49] Our fights. With sin. Men. As you're ready. To look at a picture. That you know you shouldn't look at. Right then. You need to remember. What you're going to be. Someday.
[32:00] When you're growing. Weary of doing good. And you're ready to just quit. That's when you need. To bring that. Blessed hope. That happy hope. Into your mind. And experience.
[32:10] One day. I won't have this temptation. I'm on the winning side. Jesus is coming. He's going to finish the work. Therefore. I'm going to purify myself.
[32:21] And say no. To ungodliness. When does Bobby. Need to remember. What it was. That he's going to become. It's when the football field. Has this lure on his heart.
[32:32] That starts pulling him that way. It's when he's growing weary. With the scales. And doing all of his lessons. It's then that he needs to remember. What he's going to become someday. The blessed hope.
[32:45] The glorious appearing. Of our great God and Savior. Jesus Christ. Who gave himself. For us. To redeem us.
[32:57] From all wickedness. And to purify. There's that word. To purify for himself. A people. Who are his very own. Eager. For good works.
[33:08] You see. What Jesus did at the cross. Two thousand years ago. Guarantees. What he's going to do. When he comes back. One day. He died on the cross.
[33:20] To do what? To purify a people. Who will be his very own. Eager to do what is good. One day. He's coming back. And all those. That he purified. On the cross.
[33:31] Are going to be purified. When they see him. As he is. And will be made. Just like him. Paul had his eye.
[33:42] On this future hope. Of his final perfection. At Christ's return. He says in Philippians 3. 12. And following. Not that I've already. Attained all of this.
[33:53] Or have already. Been made perfect. That's what his eyes on. You see. That's the blessed hope. I'm going to be made perfect. And he said. But now. Don't. Don't you all get up. The misunderstanding. Not as if I've already arrived yet.
[34:05] I've already been made perfect. No. But. I press on. I press on. To take hold. Of that. For which Jesus Christ. Took hold of me.
[34:15] The same thing. To what? To be like him. Brothers. I don't consider myself. Yet. To have taken hold of it. But one thing I do. Forgetting what's behind.
[34:26] And straining. Toward what's ahead. I press on. Toward the goal. To win the prize. For which God has called me. Heavenward in Christ Jesus. Why has God called us?
[34:38] Why? What's the purpose. For which he's called us? It's to be like Christ. His son. That he might be the firstborn. Among many brethren. That bear his likeness.
[34:50] And the certainty. Of Paul's hope. Didn't relax his efforts. But made him strain. All the harder. For a pure life. So all these texts.
[35:01] Are telling us. That we cannot afford. To live. In this world. With. Remaining sin. Yet in our hearts. And the devil at our heels. We can't afford to live.
[35:12] Without the blessed hope. In view. God knows. We need the motivation. To purify ourselves.
[35:25] So Peter says. Fix your hope fully. On the grace to be given you. When Jesus Christ is revealed. Keep your hope fixed on that. You're going to be like him. And be holy.
[35:36] As he is holy. Everyone who has this hope in him. Purifies himself. Just as he is pure. How do we do that?
[35:49] How do we purify ourselves? That's a critical question. To ask of the text. Well. You make use of all the means.
[35:59] That God has given you. To purify your life. And one of the chief means. Is the word of God. Do you know. That it's here. That you see Jesus Christ. For who he is.
[36:10] And as you see him. The Holy Spirit. Is doing something in your heart. It's making you like him. So if I'm to purify myself. That means I've got to make this. The book of my life.
[36:22] I might know. Many other books. But this is the book. I know it best. Because it reveals. Him. Who died. To save me. And in seeing him.
[36:32] I'm being made like him. So how can a young man. Keep his way pure. By living according to his word. Your word.
[36:42] If I hid in my heart. That I might not sin against you. That's purity. You see. And every day. The world is holding its glory.
[36:54] Before you. Sin's pleasures. Are being held before you. Every day. The temptations are there. Are you every day. Having the greater glory of Christ. Held before you.
[37:06] The greater pleasure. Of knowing him. And fellowshipping with him. You see. That's why the word of God. Is so critical. And in purifying ourselves. We need this book.
[37:17] Jesus said. Now are you. Pure. Through the word. That I have spoken to you. John 15. 3. And then prayer. Oh God. You know. The temptations of my heart.
[37:28] Don't lead me into temptation. But deliver me from the evil one. Jesus teaches us to pray that way. For purity. Fellowship. To stimulate each other.
[37:40] Toward purity of life. In an impure world. The Lord's Supper. Baptism. All the means of grace. And then there's. How do we purify ourselves? We avoid everything. That contaminates.
[37:50] Body and spirit. What is it. That makes your time with Jesus. Less tasteful. Less enjoyable. What practice. What function.
[38:00] What thing you do. Or don't do. What is it. That. That puts distance between. Get rid of it. Anything that contaminates. Body and spirit. Get rid of it. As Paul says.
[38:10] Throw off. Whatever hinders you. Whatever. Whatever entangles you. Get rid of it. Get rid of all moral filth. James 1.21. And humbly accept the word.
[38:22] Planted in you. So we carefully avoid. All the contamination of sin. If we're purifying ourselves. So if I find my right hand. Leading me into sin. Jesus says.
[38:32] Better to have that hand cut off. Than to. Enter into. Heaven. Or to hell with both hands. To enter into heaven. With one hand. In other words.
[38:43] Get serious about the occasions. Of sin. Getting rid of all contamination. How do we purify ourselves? We wash regularly. In that fountain. That's open for sin.
[38:53] And uncleanness. You know what that fountain is. There is a fountain. Filled with blood. Drawn from Emmanuel's veins. And sinners. Plunged beneath that stain. Or that. That flood.
[39:04] Lose all their guilty stains. The blood of Jesus. God's son. Cleanses us. From all sin. If we. If we confess our sins. He's faithful. And just.
[39:15] To forgive us our sins. And to. Purify us. From all. Ungodliness. So. So. How do we purify ourselves? As he is pure.
[39:25] We bring our sins to Jesus. And we wash in that precious fountain. We look to the cross. We trust afresh. That that blood. Cleanses me from sin. You promised it. And I'm coming to confess.
[39:36] Not hiding. Covering what I am. Complacent in what I am. Just bringing myself into the light. As you are in the light. And owning what I am. Seeking mercy. Seeking pardon.
[39:47] Seeking cleansing. Well. Everyone. Who has this hope in him.
[39:58] Purifies himself. Just. As he is pure. So that's. Full circle. Of God's purposes.
[40:09] In the universe. For those called. According to his purpose. How were we originally created. According to God's purpose. We were created in the image of God.
[40:20] Weren't we? We were. Created in the likeness of God. We were. We were a mirror. To. To reflect his glory. That's. What it was. To be made in his image. No other creature.
[40:31] Was such a mirror. To God. Oh. But then the fall. Into sin. Happened. And. And marred that image. And. And now.
[40:42] Man in sin. Resembles more the devil. In his works. Than we do. God in Christ. Oh. But Jesus came to destroy. The devil's works.
[40:54] And to restore. His image. In us. And he's begun it. In the new birth. He's secured it. By his blood. On Calvary. And one day. He's coming back again. To finish it.
[41:06] Just as. He could say. From the cross. It is finished. One day. He'll be able to say. Regarding my sanctification. In yours. It is finished. You're just like me. You're the mirror image. Now of me.
[41:17] You see. Creation. Fall. Redemption. What's the aim of God? What's the purpose of God? It's to have. Image bearers.
[41:27] Fill the whole universe. And so. He will have. A people. Who will do just that. He'll create a new heavens. And a new earth.
[41:38] The home of righteousness. Where his people. Will reflect his glory. So. What's our response? Finish then. Your new creation. Pure and spotless.
[41:48] Let us be. Do you hear the. Purifying ourselves. From that. We know that's coming. Then finish it. Lord. And that means right now. I'm wanting to purify myself.
[42:00] Pure and spotless. Let us be. Let us see thy great salvation. Perfectly. Restored in thee. If you're still in your sin. You're.
[42:10] You're not bearing the likeness of Jesus. And the wonder of wonders. Is that Jesus. Tells. Takes hell bent sinners. And he. Makes them his children. And if you come to Jesus this morning. He's promised you. You will become his child.
[42:22] You will become his forever. And what we've spoken of. This blessed. Happy hope. Will one day be your experience. Come and welcome. To Jesus Christ. Stand with me.
[42:34] As we sing. Wesley's hymn. Finish then. Thy new creation. Pure and spotless. Let us be. Let us see. Thy great salvation.
[42:46] Perfectly. Restored. In thee. Changed from glory. Into glory. Till in heaven we take our place. Till we cast our crowns before him. Lost in wonder.
[42:58] Love and praise. Thank you.