The Gospel of John was written so that the people “might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing [they] might have life through His name” (John 20:31). The epistles of John were written to believers so that they might know and be assured of what they had already believed (1 John 5:13).

         The assurance was needed because there were people in the church who were influenced by Gnosticism, which taught that spiritual knowledge belonged only to an elite group of people. But the Bible tells us that spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and all believers have “an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things” (1 John 2:20). 

Nature  of  the  Christian’s  Hope

The world’s definition of hope is to be wishful in thinking, to desire to have but without certainty. In the Bible, hope is an unrealised certainty. The Christian’s hope is absolute confidence and certain expectation in a promise that is given by God.

·               The Christian’s hope is not seen – “hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” (Rom 8:24-25).

·               The nature of the Christian’s hope is the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [our Lord’s first advent] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [our Lord’s second coming]” (Titus 2:11-13). 

+        You are not what you should be. When our Lord Jesus returns, you shall be changed into His likeness. Do you have and live with this blessed hope? 

Basis  for  the  Christian’s  Hope

Unbelievers have hope too, but their hope is based upon the human fortitude to rise to the occasion and overcome challenges. The Christian’s hope is not based on what man can muster, but it is based on the love of God manifested through His Son, and the promise of God revealed in His Word. 

A.   God’s Love Manifested Through His Son (1 John 3:1)

The Christian’s hope is based on the love of God (1 John 3:1-2). We have hope because we are the sons of God. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).

                  “What manner of…” John described God’s love as being foreign to man’s understanding and experience. The same phrase was used to describe the uniqueness of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 8:27, and the uniqueness of our lives (2 Pet 3:10-11).

+                 In light of what you know about our Lord’s coming again, what manner of person ought you to be in holy living and godliness? 

B.    God’s Promise Revealed in the Scriptures (1 John 3:2)

The Christian’s hope is founded on the Word of God. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

+                 Let the Word of God saturate your heart and mind (Rom 15:4). 

marks  of  the  Christian’s  Hope

John gives two possible outcomes when Christ comes again. There will be people who have confidence, and there will be others who shall be ashamed. If the believer abides in God, when Christ comes again, he will have confidence.

         If a Christian is inconsistent in his devotion and his service to God; at the coming of our Lord Jesus, he will be ashamed of himself because his work – like wood, hay and stubble – will be burnt up (1 Cor 3:12-15). In the case of the false believer, he will not be put to shame by our Lord Jesus (Luke 9:26).

+        The future reality of your hope must have a present effect upon your life.

 

A.   Doing Righteousness (1 John 2:29)

Every one who knows God knows that He is righteous. God is not the author of sin. He is not the perpetrator of evil. It follows that those who are His children must have a pattern of righteousness in their lives.

+                 Doing righteousness is proof of your new birth. As God’s children, we must behave like our heavenly Father. 

B.    Purifying Self (1 John 3:3)

John states this point again in 1 John 3:3.

And every man that hath this hope in him [in Christ that is] purifieth himself, even as He is pure (1 John 3:3). 

The hope we have in Christ is not just theological, but it also has moral, ethical, practical dimensions. The one who has hope in Christ purifies himself. The word “purify” literally means “to become holy.” 

First, this purifying is a personal pursuit. “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). Sometimes, it requires fleeing as Paul told Timothy – “flee youthful lusts.” Other times, it requires denying self as Paul said of himself that he kept his body, and brought it into subjection.

+                 Are you constantly engaged in the pursuit of holiness? 

Second, this purifying is reflexive. “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). The pursuit of holiness is more about getting the beam of our own eyes than it is about getting the mote out of someone else’s eye.

+                 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps 139:23-24). 

Third, this purifying is progressive. “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).The work of purifying is on-going. Every man who has this hope in him is purifying himself.

+                 Are you daily striving for holiness?

Conclusion

When John wrote these epistles and the book of Revelation, his life was coming to an end. John was in his last lap, and he was not giving up, and he was urging the people not to give up.

         The Church of Christ is into the last lap too. We are into our last days. At the personal level, today could be your or my last lap. And when you feel like giving up, remember what God has promised: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Keep on keeping on. There is victory in Jesus.