All Saints (Observed): Epistle, 1 John 3:1-3                                

1 John 3:1-3

This epistle is my “creeper". I refer to it that way because the first epistle of the beloved disciple was a favorite for me as a new believer over 40 years ago, and God keeps bringing back either for personal study and blessing, or to teach from it. Today I got both because I shared it with you.

The beginning of the third chapter of this short book states sublime things. We belong to Christ. We stand transformed by Christ and unknown to the world. We have the certainty of heavenly bliss in glorified bodies. And we have hope. And as I like to always emphasize: hope for the Christian is not the world’s version of “white knuckles”. No. Christian hope is sure. It is iron-clad. And why? Well, verse three answers that question. The hope is in Christ. Right where my salvation lies. Right where my eternal life finds conception. Right where the forgiveness of sins is guaranteed by the work of someone outside myself. And my hope in Christ is what purifies me. You and I will never be cleansed by trusting in a Savior who doesn’t completely save.

I am saved by works. Just not my own. I hope in Another. God be praised!