See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
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This is the Epistle reading selection for All Saints Day, Year A. It will next be read aloud in an Episcopal church on Sunday, November 1, 2020. It is important because John the Beloved is the John of Patmos, who also wrote The Apocalypse (not John of Zebedee, or John the Apostle-Evangelist) and whose reading from Revelation 7 is paired with this reading from 1 John 3, as relative writings of what makes one a Saint. On All Saints Day, it is important to know what a Saint says about becoming a Saint.
Because this is a writing of a Saint in epistle form. All of the Epistles are deeply inspired words that come directly from God, via a Saint that has been reborn as Jesus Christ. Paul, Peter, and John (et al) are representative of the return of Jesus , who comes Spiritually into a body of flesh. They are thereby Jesus reborn, who likewise speak for the Father, as His Son. This is what a Saint is and can only be.
This means John’s words that will be read aloud in churches around the world on All Saints Day should be read by one possessing God’s Holy Spirit, himself or herself also a Saint. When divine words are read by divine flesh that accommodates the Holy Spirit, then the power of the words is imparted upon those listening and seeking to also become Saints. This is the true purpose of a church that is truly Christian.
The above translation presented by the Episcopal Church is one prepared in English by the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), which is not divinely inspired. It is syntax inspired. Therefore, the one who teaches the divine inspiration of John’s words must likewise have the power of the Holy Spirit allowing him or her to speak the truth, as a servant of God [not an organization that hires specifically educated employees to manage a franchised business]. That power recognizes the truth of what is written, which is clouded by the mist of human language.
Here is what John was divinely inspired to write, literally presented, maintaining all case and punctuation. The words of God are never meant to be limited to one meaning, but rather to expand to all accepted translations possible.
1 Behold what love has given to us the Father ,
in order that children of God we should be called —-
kai we are !
on account of this ,
the world not knows us ,
because not it knew him .
2 Beloved ,
now then children of God are we ,
kai not yet has been revealed what we will be .
we know that when he appears ,
like him we will be ,
for we will see him as he is .
3 kai everyone having this the hope this in him ,
purifies himself ,
just as that one pure is .
In these three verses there are five capitalized words. A mark ending a sentence does not predicate a capitalized word to follow. As such, a capitalized word shows great importance, such as is found in two of the capitalized words “God” (“Theou“). The other three are “Behold, Father, and Beloved.”
“Behold” is the importance of having one’s blinders removed, so one can “See” and “Experience” the presence of God. The Greek word “Idete” also means, “to perceive, attend to,” with the understanding it is a statement of Seeing with the mind, as inward spiritual Perception.
“Father” is a major statement of relationship with God. As human beings, all have physical fathers. The name of the father is passed on to his children. The common word ‘father’ says there is a genetic lineage that cannot be removed, regardless of how one feels about his or her paternal progenitor. The power of “Pater” is it is an important statement that the “children of God” can truthfully call God their “Father,” because their souls have merged with God’s Holy Spirit, causing them to be reborn with a new “Father” in a divine manner.
“Beloved” is capitalized to denote the importance of divine Love, which can come only from God. The word in its capitalized form is read by many to mean Jesus Christ. This importance then says John’s letter is not a general misuse of all eyes that read his words are loved by God, but a powerful statement that his words can only be discerned by those who have been reborn as Jesus Christ and can “See” through the eyes of God.
When John wrote the marker word that indicates importance follows – “kai” – he emphasized that the true children of God are those who can sincerely call God their Father. He then explained that the world cannot realize that relationship, because the world is not of that spiritual family, unable to know God as His children do. It means a normal human being can meet a Saint and never be able to tell that person has been reborn as Jesus Christ, as the Son of God. It means that if John the Beloved was to tell a normal human being, “Hello. My name is John, but I gave up that identification. Call me Jesus Christ,” then that normal human being would outright reject that Saint, in the same way that the rulers of Jerusalem outright rejected Jesus.
After John identified the children of God as those truly “Beloved,” he emphasized by writing “kai” – “not yet has been revealed what we will be.” That importantly states that a Saint has sacrificed his or her self-ego, so no Big Brain is getting in the way of God’s lead. One does not become a Saint because one has planned how high and might one will be in the world, once “I” have gained control of God. A Saint has no ego invested in what one will do with God as his or her lackey – like one holds the power of God as a genie in a bottle. A Saint becomes the epitome of the saying by Tennyson: “Ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die.” A Saint does not propose a plan for God. A Saint is an obedient wife and servant that waits for God’s command and then does as commanded … with great Love and affection.
When John wrote, “like him we will be,” this is a statement of holiness. A Saint lives as did Jesus – righteously and without sin. When he added, “for we will see him as he is,” a Saint will look in the mirror and see how Jesus Christ looks exactly as one looks. This means a Saint wears the face of God, because one has surrendered one’s self-ego. A Saint has married God and taken on His name, as do all good wives. The name of God in human flesh is Jesus Christ. Saying “in the name of Jesus Christ” says one is a Saint, because to say that and not be a Saint is to break the Commandment and use the Lord’s name in vain.
When John then introduced verse three with the word “kai,” he stated the importance of “hope” in the world. That “hope” is Salvation. That “hope” is delivered to seeker through Saints. A Saint means the presence of Jesus Christ, who is sent by God to offer the same opportunity to all who will receive His Spirit. The “hope” is the marriage proposal sent by God’s servants to the world. A Saint is one who accepts that proposal and puts on the wedding gown of righteousness.
That is understood by John writing, “purifies himself,” where the only option for becoming a wife of God is to be washed clean of all sins, which can only come through baptism by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual cleansing replaces the blood of a human father with the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ becomes the self has become the sacrificial Lamb of God, such that the blood of Jesus Christ has then filled one’s veins, like blood painted on the doorpost of oneself. The angel of death has passed over one’s flesh, purifying a soul for eternal life in Heaven with God.
When John ended this reading by stating “just as that one pure is,” this is saying one’s soul is worthy of sitting at the right hand of God. A Saint has receive the Holy Spirit and become saved by being forever changed by the presence of Jesus Christ.
This is why John 3:1-3 is selected to be read on All Saints Day. It is imperative to hear the truth, so one’s heart can crack open and receive message sent by the Holy Spirit.
R. T. Tippett
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