“Every man that hath this hope [Christ’s return and the Christ-ian’s Predestinated Christ-likeness] in him purifieth himself, even as [H]e is pure.”  (1 John 3)

 

This passage poses a difficulty.  The passage states that if a man has  “this hope in him purifieth himself, even as [H]e is pure.”  Does the first (1st) him refer to Christ or the man himself? I suppose either understanding is accurate.  If a person has the hope (expectation) of Christ’s return and his becoming like Christ will, in this life, seek to be pure, clean, holy, and sanctified.  The other possibility is, If a person has a hope in Christ and His return and the transformation into Christ-likeness, he will seek to purify himself in this life.  Both understanding work and are true. Therefore, take your pick or do as this writer does and keep them both as sound doctrine.

I started thinking upon this passage after reading a quote from an old disciple’s article, Richard Sandlin’s “Today’s Journal.”  This man and his articles are well worth your time and consideration.  At the end of a recent article, Sandlin quoted Thomas Watson, the Puritan.  Thomas Watson wrote, “We are more sure to rise out of our grave than our bed.”  WOW!!!  The puritans and their writings, even their quotes can be thought altering. The puritans were certainly a people chosen of God and set apart. These men and women, humanly speaking, are in a class all their own. However, one must remember they were sinners saved by grace as are all of God’s children.

Among the Puritans, there is Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, Richard Baxter, Thomas Brooks, John Bunyan, Stephen Carnock, John Flavel, Thomas Goodwin, William Gurnall, Thomas Hooker, Thomas Manton, William Perkins, Samuel Rutherford, Richard Sibbes, Thomas Watson, Isaac Watts, and others. These men were master wordsmiths, they used language and words like know one else.  Preachers that learnes from the Puritans are Charles Spurgeon, Arthur Pink, And Martyn lloyd Jones, and this writer.  If you come a cross a church with the word, reformed in it’s name or title, you can be pretty sure that church has a pastor that gleans much from the Puritans.

Back to Watson and his quote regarding the certainty of the Christ-ian’s resurrection. Reader, the Christ-ian’s resurrection is a set appointment. We shall rise unto blessedness and pleasures forever more. However, just as our rising up is certain, so is the raising up of the spiritually dead…the wicked…those outside of Christ…those God never knew from the foundations of the world…those that will be told, “depart from [M]e, ye that work iniquity.”  These individuals will be raised up to face the fury and holy and righteous judgement of God.  The Bible, their actions, their words, their intents and their motives will testify against them as will their rejection and rebellion against the Godhead and Christ Jesus, Who is Lord of the living and the dead.

Reader, whether you are a Christ-ian or not you will be raised up and will stand before Christ Jesus, Who is YOUR Lord, whether you know it or not, whether you acknowledge Him or not.  (s)atan may be the god of this world, he may be your father, but Christ reigns and rules over him….(s)atan is subject to the Sovereign God and his Creator.

Christ-ian….Praise God, Our rising from the grave is more sure than our rising from our beds!!!