Purity

Spiritual Purity

• Only God can make us pure (Psalm 51: 1-10)-1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  2Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.conceive…: Heb. warm me  6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.  7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.  9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Only God can make us pure by redemption of our souls through the shed of Jesus' blood on the cross at Calvary.  Only by the mercy of God are we purified.  His mercy has the power to blot out our transgressions.  The blood of Jesus washes away our sin, and cleanses us from our immorality or grossly unfair behavior.  This can only happen when we acknowledge our transgressions/sin.  Our sin is against God, and against God only.  God is Our Creator, and He created us to live in holiness.  When we disobey God, our sin is clearly against His Commands.  When we practice sin, we are contending with God.  Therefore, when God judges us for our sin He is completely justified in doing so.  In this passage, we see that the sinner acknowledges that he/she was conceived in sin, however, he/she acknowledges that God desires the truth to reside in the depth of our hearts, and so within He will equip us to know wisdom.  God will give His Children the power and ability to resist sin and temptation.  Hyssop was  a wild shrub whose twigs were used for sprinkling in ancient Jewish rites of purification.  The believer wishes to be purified by God so that he/she will live forever in paradise with the LORD.  We desire the joy of the LORD though we must endure a process of trial and tribulation for growth and sanctification purposes.  The process is very painful.  Many sacrifices must be made.  One must forsake his/her own fleshly desires to remain pure in the LORD.  So we desire the joy of the LORD so that we may rejoice in Him.  Our desire is that the LORD will look away from our sin, forgive us, and wipe our slate clean.  This prayer/supplication is that the LORD will create a new clean heart within the believer; and a new righteous spirit.

• We can remain pure by following God's Word (Psalm 119: 1-20)-1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.  undefiled: or, perfect, or, sincere.  2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.  3They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.  4Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.  5O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  6Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.  7I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.  thy…: Heb. judgments of thy righteousness.  8I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.  BETH.  9Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  10With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  12Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.  13With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  14I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  15I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  16I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.  GIMEL.  17Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.  18Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.  Open: Heb. Reveal 19I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  20My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

When we follow God's Word, we can remain pure. God's Word is a guidance to all believers.  When we keep His Word in our hearts, and are careful to live by it, we are blessed by the LORD.  And when we keep His Word in our heart, and seek Him wholeheartedly, we will be greatly blessed.  We will be blessed because we will not be ashamed.  That is why God commands Us to keep His Word diligently.  That is why we must keep His Commands.  We can bless the LORD when we keep His Commands.  We must desire to do God's will and keep His Commands so that the LORD will not forget us completely.  This is also how our youth can remain pure.  By keeping His Commands.  This is why we keep God's Word in our hearts; so that we do not sin against Him.  The LORD is blessed, and we should desire that He teaches us His Laws.  Our lips declare God's judgement.  This is something that the LORD gives to His Children.  We rejoice in God's testimonies to man, as well as His spiritual riches.  We must decide within to meditate in His rules, and have respect toward them.  We delight in His laws, and not forget His Word.  We seek God's truth to open our eyes; so that we can see all the good that comes from His law.  We are at God's mercy.  We need God to reveal His desire/commands to His Children.  Our souls are consumed with longing for His laws at all times though some may not know this.  

• We cannot claim purity apart from God (Proverbs 20: 9)-9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;

I am clean and without sin”?
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Unless God purifies our hearts, we cannot say that we are pure, cleansed, or without sin.  It just is not possible to claim to be pure unless God purifies one's heart.  
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• The pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5: 8)- Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

​When the LORD purifies our hearts; we are blessed.  And we will be blessed because one day we will see the LORD face to face.  
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• Purity begins in the heart (Matthew 5: 27-30)-for example: Adultery-(there is more than one form of adultery)

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’5:27 Exodus 20:14 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

​This passage shows how purity begins in the heart.  The heart is the source of one's thoughts, and desires.  What this passage is saying is that if you find that you are struggling with unclean thoughts, or desires, you should take care of your soul by turning away from whatever it is that is enticing you into living a life that is not pleasing to God.  This passage is not saying that you should literally pluck your eye out as some have thought so in the past, or in present day.  It is saying that you should look away from something that can potentially cause you to sin against God.  Clearly this is warning everyone that our lifestyles/choices determine whether or not we will see God ultimately.  And if you have a tendency to reach out for sinful things such as stealing, etc., it is not saying to literally cut your hand off, but, to turn away from whatever it is that is causing you to sin against God, because stealing is sin.  If we are struggling with anything that is causing us to sin against God, we are to call out to Him and ask Him for the strength that we need to overcome these sinful desires.  

• Outward purity cannot substitute for inner purity (Matthew 23: 25-28)-​25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.  27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.  28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

What this passage is saying is that it does not matter what kind of life we try to portray in society.  The life that we live within our hearts is far more important than the image we try to portray.  If we try to display a pure life to pull the wool over society's eyes, but, inwardly live a life of hypocrisy and wickedness, God will justly judge us for this and we will be condemned unless we repent.  Curses befall those who live in hypocrisy and wickedness.  We must steer clear away from greed, self-indulgence, lies, deceit, jealousy, envy, murder, strife, anger, contentions, enmity with God, and the like.  

• Purity comes from God (John 17: 17)-17Sanctify them by17:17 Or them to live in accordance with the truth; your word is truth.

God is pure.  this means that God can give purity to those who believe in Him, and desire it.  When we live according to the truth in His Word, we can live in purity.

• Purity ought to mark believers' lives (Ephesians 5: 1-4)-1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Those who believe in Christ Jesus should live in a way that is exemplary.  Here we see where God instructs His people to follow His example.  We should have love for one another.  We should sacrifice our own desires as a fragrant offering to God.  We should not want to live sexually immoral lives.  We should not have sex out of marriage, nor sex with same sex, animals, or the like.  We should not live impure lives, nor be greedy (stealing, nor desiring good only for ourselves, nor coveting), we should not be obscene.  Our speech should reflect the speech of God.  We should not conversate about silly things, nor telling coarse jokes so as to cause another to stumble in sin.  This is not fitting for Christians.  We should be giving thanks to the LORD at all times for His tender love and mercy.

• Our minds should think about things that are pure (Philippians 4: 8)-8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  

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Our minds should think about things that are pure.  We need to think about the truth.  We need to think about the noble.  We should keep our minds on what is right.  We should keep our hearts and minds on what is pure.  That which is lovely.  Those things that are to be admired.  We should think about God, His holiness, His purity, His truth, His nobility, His righteousness, His love, and how admirable He is.  His excellency, and give Him praise!  Because His purity will be poured out into our lives, and we also will be pure, true, noble, righteous, lovely, admirable, and excellent!  Amen!

• One day our purity will be like Christ's (1 John 3: 1-3)-1 See what great love the Father has lavished on 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. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,3:2 Or when it is made known we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Here we see that one day our purity will be like that of Christ's purity.  While we live here on earth, we have struggles with the things of this world.  We need to look at the fact that God the Father loves us so much that He calls us Children of God!  That is HUGE!!!!!!!  And that is exactly what We are!  The reason the world does not understand us is because they do not know God.  It hasn't even been made known yet to the world what We will be.  His purity is flowing in our hearts continually as believers; and it increases as we continue to grow in faith, and obedience to His Word, and Commands.  God's Children know and understand that when Christ appears on earth for the Second Coming, our bodies will undergo a transformation, we shall see Him as He is.  And because we have faith in Him as LORD and Savior, we continue to purify ourselves, forsaking the things of this world, sin, and seek to live in purity with Him!  

Be blessed in your walk of faith, and pursue the purity of Christ without which we will not see God.  Until the next study may the LORD bless you greatly and multiply your blessings!  If you who are reading have not accepted the LORD Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and Savior, now is the time to do so!  Please say this prayer:  
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• "Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

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