1 John 3:3

This hope; the hope of being like Christ and seeing him as he is.

Purifeth himself, even as he is pure; he strives now to be pure as Christ is pure. The apostle here gives the distinguishing mark of a true hope, as contrasted with every false hope. Every man who has the hope of the gospel, by the habitual contemplation of Christ, and earnest, prayerful, persevering efforts to imitate his example, becomes, through the grace of God, more and more like him.