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Daily Bread - June 26, 2026 (The Sixth Day - Genesis 1:24-31)
1 John 3:3 - And everyone that has this expectation in Him purifies himself even as He is pure.
Of the utmost importance to us is that we recognize how a person is purified. Only by the blood of Jesus Christ is a person made pure (1 John 1:7, 9, 2:2). The word ‘hagnizein’ (ἁγνίζειν) is a rare word in the Greek New Testament. It is used in the Old Testament for ritual purification. One example is in Exodus 19:10-11, where God commanded Moses to make the people pure because the Lord was going to appear before all of the people. The Levites also had to purify themselves before going into the presence of the Lord (Numbers 8:21). The concept of ritual purification is further emphasized by the following word used to describe the ritual purity of Jesus, ‘hagnos’ (ἁγνοὺς).
The idea being related is that once a person is made pure by the blood of Jesus, then they are to continue in that purity, even as we are to be holy because He made us holy. We are called to live consecrated lives so as not to be contaminated by yielding our members to sin – for He was manifested to take away our sin, and in Him is no sin (1 John 3:5). As Paul said, “Having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the spirit and flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). What is important to recognize is how Paul said this in light of us being righteous, not unrighteous; light, not darkness; Christ, not Belial; the temple of God, not the house of idols; and the sons of God who touch not the unclean things (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
The word used here for pure, ‘hagnos’ (ritually pure/ἁγνοὺς), is never used in the Gospels to describe the purity and holiness of Jesus. A closely related word, yet distinctively different, is ‘hagios’ (ἅγιος / “holy”). The first time that ‘hagnos’ appears in the New Testament is in 2 Corinthians 7:11 to describe the true heart and repentance of those at Corinth. It is used by Paul in the context of that which is pure or chaste (2 Corinthians 7:11, 11:2; Philippians 4:8; 1 Timothy 5:22; Titus 2:5). The way it is used by both James and Peter also denotes that which is chaste, being of pure thoughts, and clear of any immorality (James 3:17; 1 Peter 3:2). We are called to walk in the same obedience and purity Jesus walked in (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6; 1 John 1:7). The blood of Jesus purified us from all sin and iniquity, and now we are to remain pure and chaste, free from the contamination of immorality and unholy behavior (2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:13-25).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
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