snow white

Neutrogena one week, Listerine the next.

Yes, I think there’s no better way to bring out the importance of cleansing and purification. If we take time to clean ourselves up every day – bathing, brushing our teeth, washing our face, putting on fresh clean clothes, even the occasional perfume or deodorant – to appear socially acceptable before men, we have even more reason to cleanse and purify ourselves to appear before God.

Leviticus 11: 44a
44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

God, both righteous and loving, gave His only Son as the perfect and unblemished sacrifice through whom His wrath is satisfied and we are cleansed and redeemed.

Hebrews 9: 13 – 14
13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Having our conscience cleansed, having undeservedly spared from spiritual death doesn’t mean that we won’t stumble again. Paul reminds us to stay away from the things that corrupt the body and spirit, to be holy in our actions to honour God.

2 Corinthians 7: 1
1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

And what are these promises? If we read the verses that come before:

2 Corinthians 6: 16b – 18
16b God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Here, Paul is urging us to live a life that is befitting of our identity: as sons and daughters of God. So, how do we purify ourselves and keep our ways pure?

Psalms 119: 9
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

So let us be diligent in the study of His Word. May His Spirit continue to work in us and help us in our weakness.