1 John 3:2-3 – 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
The Bible makes it clear that for those who God begins the good work, God completes it. The passage above makes clear that part of this good work is becoming pure. It is our sanctification. It is our holiness. We are being reformed into the image of Jesus. We know that God is faithful to complete the work but also that this work will not be completed in our lifetime. When He reveals our sins, we should press into Him with gratitude that He is purging this sinfulness from us in love. We should also remember that true children of God do grow in holiness. We strive to be like Jesus in conduct that stems from the heart. We must never think that we have reached a state of sinlessness or that we are above sins that we see in others. By God’s grace, we battle to grow in holiness the rest of our lives. We battle to purify ourselves as Jesus is pure. We don’t do this out of obligation or because we are commanded but because of what He means to us. We are now children of the Holy God because of our Redeemer. When we become His, it comes with a heart change to live for Him instead of for ourselves. If He is loving, we desire to be loving. If He is kind, we desire to be kind. If He is forgiving, we desire now to be forgiving. If He is pure, we desire to purify ourselves. We have a new birth so that we will have a new life. A life lived for Him. Something to think about…
Do I desire for holiness? How might my prayers change to ask God for a passion to grow in holiness?