Evidences of Salvation / 1 John / 4. The Anticipation Test
1 JOHN – EVIDENCES OF SALVATION
First of all, let’s look at John’s purpose in writing his letter. Look at 1 John 1:1-3:
1 John 1:1-3 ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us - 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
John is writing authoritatively as an eye-witness of Jesus’ life and teaching. John knows how one comes by eternal life, and the nature of such life when one has it. Therefore, he is in a somewhat unique position to be able to proclaim it. His purpose is that those who read his letter might know that they have “fellowship” with believers.
He says, in verse 3, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
In 1 John 2:19, John will speak fo those who:
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
John is saying in the first few lines of his letter,
“I want you to know that you are of us. I want you to know that you are part of the fellowship. I want you to know that you share in the eternal life which the Father and the Son possess, and which all genuine believers possess. Everything that I am no proclaiming as an eye-witness of Jesus is so that you might know that you too have this fellowship.”
That’s our hope this morning too. We don’t want to cause genuine believers to doubt their salvation, but to rejoice in their salvation as they test themselves to see whether or not they are in the faith. As Paul said to the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
So, with that, let’s continue. The fourth test which John offers to help us to know that we are part of the fellowship of genuine believers is what we will call, “The Anticipation Test.”
4. The Anticipation Test
John has already shown that genuine believers are marked by conviction of sin, submission to Christ’s commands, and separation from the world. Now he adds another: they live in hopeful anticipation of Christ’s return and their own glorification. Look at 1 John 3:1-3:
1 John 3:1-3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 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 opening words are meant to stop us. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” We are not merely forgiven servants. We are sons and daughters. That present reality explains why the world does not recognize us. It did not know Him, so it does not know those who belong to Him. The distance we feel from the world’s values is not an accident; it is the natural result of belonging to another family.
Yet what we are now is only the beginning. “What we will be has not yet appeared.” When Christ appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. That is glorification - the day when every last remnant of sin is gone, when these bodies subject to weakness and death are raised in power and purity, and we are made fully like our Lord. This is not vague optimism. It is the settled hope of every genuine child of God.
NOT AN IDLE HOPE
That hope is never idle. Look in verse 3:
3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Everyone who hopes this way – purifies himself. If we are anticipating his return and our glorification, we are awaiting our deliverance from sin and mortality. The same longing which looks forward to such purity, such glory and such freedom also drives us to pursue purity here and now. If we genuinely desire to be found in perfect purity then, it will be seen in a love for purity now.
Peter draws the same line:
2 Peter 3:11-14 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
And Paul to the Colossians wrote:
Colossians 3:1-6 ¶ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 ¶ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Not everyone who talks about the Lord’s return is living in this hope. Some become absorbed with timelines, signs, and speculation about the last days, yet their lives show little growing purity. They can discuss prophecy at length while remaining comfortable with the same old sins. John’s point is different. The hope he describes is not fascination with events; it is longing for a Person. The one who truly hopes in Him - who wants to see the Lord he loves and be made like Him - cannot treat holiness as optional. That anticipation produces a present pursuit of purity. The genuine believer is not merely waiting for the end of the age; he is waiting for his Savior, and that waiting changes how he lives now.
A REPEATED THEME IN JESUS’ TEACHING
Jesus repeatedly pressed the connection between His coming and present readiness. He told the parable of the ten virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13). Five were wise and brought oil; five were foolish and did not. When the cry went out at midnight, only those who were prepared entered with Him. The others were shut out. Jesus’ application is direct: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
He gave the same warning in other pictures. The servants who stay dressed for action and keep their lamps burning, ready for their master to return from the wedding feast (Luke 12:35-40). The faithful steward who is found doing his master’s will when he comes (Matthew 24:45-47). The command is consistent: be ready.
That watchfulness shows itself in obedience and purity. The one who is watching does not want to be found careless with holiness or absorbed in the things that will pass away. He keeps short accounts with God. He puts to death what is earthly. He treats the commands of Christ as binding today because the Lord who gave them may appear tomorrow. The oil in the lamp is a life already aligned with the One who is coming. Everyone who hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.
A hopeful anticipation of Christ’s coming, and our glorification leads us to live in purity in the here and now. It is evident in the life of a genuine believer that he is not content in this life. He is not trying to get all he can out of this life before the next. Instead, his life is marked by a character of self-discipline, delayed gratification, spiritual priorities and moral purity.
Next time, we will consider the “Affection Test.”
