“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

And everyone who has this hope in Him

“This hope” refers to the Rapture when God will make the believer be just like the Lord Jesus. The word “hope” means confident expectation concerning something in the future. The hope, in this case, rests “in Him.” Jesus’ coming is the foundation for our hope. We do not find hope in ourselves. Our hope is set on Christ.

The Rapture is a strong incentive to purity. God transforms the believer with a very strong hope for Christ’s return. Eager hope will produce a changed life.

The word “in” in the phrase “in Him” means upon. This is a term of trust or rest. It is a hope set on and resting on Christ.

Ro 15:12, “And again, Isaiah says:

‘There shall be a root of Jesse;

And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,

In Him the Gentiles shall hope.’”

1 Ti 4:10, “For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”

1 Ti 5:5, “Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.”

PRINCIPLE:

Hope produces purity.

APPLICATION:

The anticipation of company coming for dinner triggers preparation for their coming. The anticipation of Christ’s coming makes a difference in how we behave. As the hymn says, “The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Jesus may come momentarily. Do you have anything you need to straighten out before He comes?

The person looking for the momentary coming of the Lord keeps short accounts with God. He does not harbor grudges in his heart against anyone. Search your heart just in case you need to deal with anything before Jesus comes.

Php 3:12-14, ¹² “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”