Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
Verse

1 John 3:3

ESV And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
NIV All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
NASB And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
CSB And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.
NLT And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
KJV And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
NKJV And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

What does 1 John 3:3 mean?

Because believers have hope, and anticipate being with Jesus for eternity, they pursue a pure life. The goal of living a pure life is to be like Christ. He is pure, and believers seek to live like Him. This lays groundwork for comments John will make later in this chapter, depicting sin as incompatible with fellowship in Christ.

Purity is a strong theme in the New Testament. In Matthew 5:8, Jesus taught, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Paul sought to present believers as a "pure virgin to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2). Believers are to "be pure and blameless for the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:10). First Peter 3:2 speaks of the "pure conduct" a believer should pursue, which stands out to unbelievers. To be pure is to be free from sin, to live increasingly like Christ in a world filled with evil. Those who do can look forward to heaven rather than fear future judgment.
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