What the Bible says about Motivation to Purify Ourselves
(From Forerunner Commentary)
These two brief verses broadly cover conduct, motivation, attitude, and prioritizing one's life. To meet these qualifications requires "truth in the inward parts" (Psalm 51:6). A deceitful heart will never meet the standards because it does not operate from a foundation of godly integrity. David says in verse 5 that, humanly, he was shaped in iniquity. God, with our cooperation through faith, is ultimately the Creator of a pure heart in us, but it is a protracted process achieved by imparting a holy nature by His Spirit. This unites us with a holy Christ, with whom we fellowship, washing us in the blood of the Lamb so that with His aid we can mortify the flesh and live toward God, giving Him first priority in everything.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Beatitudes, Part 6: The Pure in HeartRelated Topics: Deceitfulness of Heart | Motivation | Motivation to Purify Ourselves | Priorities | Priorities, Spiritual | Prioritizing | Pure in Heart | Purity of Heart | Truth in the Inward Parts
There are many verses of similar general nature, for instance II Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:24; I Thessalonians 4:7; I Timothy 2:15; I Peter 1:15-16.
When John wrote I John 3:1-3, he did not use the word "motivation." However, he strongly implies that the motivation to purify ourselves arises from knowing who we are. We are now the sons of God, and we shall become like Him as we labor to purify our conduct and attitudes to conform to His image.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Elements of Motivation (Part Five): Who We Are