The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 93

Like_ ~ill:! too, in some reApects, corporeally; for he "shall fashion anew the body of our bum1hatlon, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory" (Phil. iii. 21). 2. Of the viBion of God in Christ. "For we shall see him even as he is." Some measure of likeness to him is indispensable to our seeing him. Spiritual resemblance to him qualifies the soul to see him even as he is. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." But the truth here is that the vision of God in Christ will perfect the llkeness of his children unto him. Ebrard: '' The being like unto God will be effected by the beholding of God." The vision of God is transforming in its effect. After Moses had been with the Lord forty days and forty nights upon Mount Sinai, when he came down from the mount the skin of his face shone, and the people were afraid to come nigh him (Exod. xxxiv. 29-35). "We all, with unveiled face reflecting as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit" (2 Cor. iii. 18). By the operation of the same principle, when the children of God see him as he is they will become like unto him. How blessed and inspiring is this assurance l To see him and to be like him has been the dearest hope of the noblest souls. Thus David, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness," etc. (Ps. xviii. 15); and St. Paul, "Having the desire to depart and be with Christ;" and St. John, "The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein; and his servants shall do him service; and they shall see his face." " We shall be like him ; for we shall see him even as he is." IV. A SALOTABY H,"FLUENCE OF OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE ON OUR CONDITION IN THE PRESENT. "And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself," etc. 1. The character of this hope. It is the assured expectation and the sincere desire of the vision of God in Christ, and of complete moral assimilation to him. 2. The ground of this hope. "This hope set on him." On what he has promised, and on what he is, his children base their great hope. "God is not a man, that be should lie," etc. (Numb. xxiii. 19); "In hope of eternal life, ivhich God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal" (Titus i. 2). 3. The influence of this hope. "Purifieth himself, even as he is pure." It is clearly implied that, while in this world, the children of God need moral purification. They are not yet entirely freed from sin, and sin pollutes the soul. 'fheir sanctification is not yet perfected. But the precious and assured hope which they cherish stimulates them to seek for perfect moral purity. To indulge in sin, or to cease to strive after holiness, would be virtually to renounce their hope. They endeavour to attain to a holiness like unto that of Christ-to be pure as he is pure. His purity is the pattern of theirs. So that we have here a test of Christian character. Does our religion exert a sanctifying power in our hearts and lives? "0 Living Will, that shalt endure When all that seems shall suffer shock, Rise in the spiritual rock, Flow through our deeds and make them pure." (Tennyson.) W.J. Vere. 4-6.-Dissuasivesfrom sin. "Whosoever committeth sin, trnnsgr,'sseth also the Law," etc. The apostle, having stated that the influence of the hope of the Christian stimulates him to serk for moral purity, proceeds to pre~ent forcible reasons against the commission of sin. Of these reasons we have three chief ones in the text, and tbesij are repeated, with some additional particulars, in vers. 7-9. I. SIN Is OPPOSED TO THE HOLY LAW OF Goo. "Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness: and sin is lawlessness." 1. Sin in its abstract nature. "Sin is the trans- gression of the Law," or "lawlessness." This is said of sin in general: it is true of every sin, that it is a violation of the Law of God. 'l'bis is opposed to several modern t.heories concerning sin. Some say that sin is a natural imperfection of the creature- il1e crude effort of untrained man for right conduct. Our text says that it is not imper- fection, but transgression of a holy Law. And others charge all sin upon defective :iocial arrnncrements: human society is not rightly organized, and because of this men 11rr. But St. John charges sin upon the individual, and charges it as a disregard or t. breach of Divine Law. And others apply the word "misdirection" to what. the Bible  tlO THE FIRST EPlSTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. [cu. III, 1--24,