OUR PURIFYING HOPE

1ST JOHN 3:1-3

1 John 3:1 (KJV) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1 John 3:2 (KJV) 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 3:3 (KJV) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

I. WE ARE WHAT WE ARE BECAUSE THE FATHER LOVES US. ( V 1 )

A. WE ARE NOT JUDGED BY WHAT OTHERS THINK.

B. OUR SONSHIP IS DEPENDENT UPON HIS DECISION TO LOVE US.

II. WE ARE, PRESENTLY; NOW; THIS MOMENT; THIS BREATH; THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD. ( V 2a )

A. HEAVEN IS SOMEDAY, BUT SONSHIP IS NOW!

B. WE NOW HAVE ACCESS INTO HIS PRESENCE AND GLORY EVEN WHILE WE ARE IN OUR HUMAN BODY.

 III. THERE IS A BIG CHANGE COMING! ( 2b )

A. 1ST COR. 15:51-58

1 Cor 15:51 (KJV) Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1 Cor 15:52 (KJV) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Cor 15:53 (KJV) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Cor 15:54 (KJV) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1 Cor 15:55 (KJV) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1 Cor 15:56 (KJV) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

1 Cor 15:57 (KJV) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 15:58 (KJV) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

B. 2ND COR. 5:1-8

2 Cor 5:1 (KJV) For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Cor 5:2 (KJV) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

2 Cor 5:3 (KJV) If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

2 Cor 5:4 (KJV) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

2 Cor 5:5 (KJV) Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

2 Cor 5:6 (KJV) Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

2 Cor 5:7 (KJV) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 Cor 5:8 (KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

IV. WE SHALL BE AS HE IS NOW ! ( 1c )

A. IMMORTAL- EVER LIVING.

B. NOT LIMITED BY TIME OR SPACE.

V. HE ( JESUS ) IS COMING AGAIN!

A. ACTS 1:9-11

Acts 1:9 (KJV) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Acts 1:10 (KJV) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Acts 1:11 (KJV) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

B. LUKE 21:25-27

Luke 21:25 (KJV) And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Luke 21:26 (KJV) Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Luke 21:27 (KJV) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

  C. 2ND PETER 3:9-13

2 Pet 3:9 (KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Pet 3:10 (KJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2 Pet 3:11 (KJV) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2 Pet 3:12 (KJV) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

2 Pet 3:13 (KJV) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

VI. THE PROMISE OF THE RETURN OF JESUS DRAMATICALLY AFFECTS THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER. ( v 2 )

A. WE ARE MORE CONSCIOUS OF PLEASING HIM.

B. OUR PREPARATION NECESSITATES OUR SEPERATION FROM SIN.

C. OUR EXPECTANCY HONES OUR SPIRITUAL AWARENESS TO A RAZOR SHARP EDGE.

D. THIS HOPE IS WHAT KEEPS US GOING. BY IT WE OVERCOME TROUBLES, TRIALS, DISAPPOINTMENTS, SICKNESS, LOSS AND ALL OTHER HARDSHIPS.

E. ROMANS 8:13-18

Rom 8:13 (KJV) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Rom 8:14 (KJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Rom 8:15 (KJV) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16 (KJV) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 (KJV) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Rom 8:18 (KJV) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.