1 John 3:3 And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. 1. The workman is "everyone that hath hope in Him," everyone that looks to be like the Lord Jesus in the kingdom of glory, he is the man must set about this task. 2. The work is a work to be wrought by himself; he is a part of the Lord's husbandry, and he must take pains as it were to plough his own ground, to weed his own corn, he must purify himself; this is the work. 3. The pattern by which he must be directed is the pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ's purity. I. THAT A MAN THAT IS CARELESS OF PURIFYING HIMSELF, THAT MAN MUST HAVE NO HOPE. Shall we encourage men to that hope, that they shall carry with them to hell? May we say, thou mayest hope to be like Christ in glory, when thou dost not labour to be like Him in purity in this world? We should betray that soul. And do you know, this is the beginning of salvation. When a man hath run hitherto in a naughty course, and now comes to be resolved in his conscience, that if he continue thus he shall perish, I say the revolving of his conscience that way is the beginning of his conversion. II. WHOSOEVER HOPES TO BE SAVED MUST SET HIMSELF UPON THIS WORK, TO PURIFY HIMSELF. But here is as great a difficulty as the other. Doth it lie in the power of a man to purify himself? That is the work of God (Psalm 51:10). You must not make one truth of God to destroy another; therefore, for the clearing of it, consider what the apostle writes (Philippians 2:12). God doth not work things in us or with us, as we do with a spade or a shovel; that is, that we shall be mere patients only, but He works with us suitably to the reasonable soul He hath bestowed upon us. Though principally God, yet there is a concurrence between God and thee; and this is grace, when thy will is made active and able to do things, that now the things done by God's grace are attributed to men. How may it be done? The examples of the world are like a stream that carries a man clean out of the way of purity. 1. Remember we come to do service to a Father; that is, for encouragement. 2. No means in the world so effectual as when a man would go to Christ to look to His ordinances. What are they? His word and His sacraments. 3. Then go and read a lecture to thyself of watchfulness. What it is to watch, that implies when a man is in great danger to be surprised, that all is untrusty within him, and false abroad; then reason, I had need of a strong watch of every side; I have a false nature, and this flesh of mine is ready to betray me into the hands of the world and of the devil; therefore there must be a marvellous strong guard. III. THE PATTERN TO WHICH WE SHOULD CONFORM OURSELVES. The glass we should imitate is our Saviour Jesus Christ, as He is pure. It is not meant thou shouldst ever hope to be as pure in quantity. "As" is not a note of quantity, but of quality — it shows a likeness. A man that would have his child to write a fair hand, he will not give him an ill copy to write by, but as fair as may be, though there be no possibility the child should write so well as it. So we cannot possibly attain to that purity in Christ, yet the copy must be fair. Scholars, if they will have an elegant style, they set the best orators before them. Thus, though the law of God be perfect, though such a thing as a man is not able to fulfil, yet it is a fit pattern; the copy must be fair, that I may mend my hand by it. And thus, if we go on following our pattern, as the scholar's hand, by practice, mends every day, though it never come near the copy, so shall we grow in grace. (R. Sibbes.) Parallel Verses KJV: And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.WEB: Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. |
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