2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, 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.”
Purity and holiness always seem to go hand in hand. When considering the process of becoming more like Christ, the thought of purity as it relates to a lifestyle striving to be more like Christ with holiness seems to be a measure of the believers position.
Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthian church regarding God’s promises is an encouragement to press on.
What are the promises of God that motivates us toward purity and holiness?
God’s Promises
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
When a believer commits their way to Christ they find that their human desire begins to align with His will. The Spirit of God guides the process of seeking after Him and He meets the needs for the journey He called His people to follow. The believer is not left striving on their own, God delights in holy striving after Him and we can be assured He answers prayer.
The process of holiness in purity is established by Christ. In other words, God does the leading and the responsibility is to follow. His anointing rests on the head of the seeker since He is the one sending forth His people into the world. The Lord will remind the enemy that they are His! His seal is upon His people and gives notice to the enemy, Satan no longer has dominion over them, they are kept by the power of God.
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing”
As a believer goes forth in His anointing, they represent Christ to both fellow believers and to the world. To remind brothers and sisters in Christ of the life that is vibrant and living in each of His people, the anointed also remind the world of impending judgement that awaits for all who reject His salvation.
The process of purity is one of submission. Recognizing the leading of the Spirit in holiness is to listen to the conviction of sin. If we want to walk in freedom, we must remember why God leads in the way He does, He always does so for our good.
Our Confidence
2 Corinthians 3:4-5 “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God”
Believers can go forward, not because they are any better than anyone else but simply because strength is revived apart from our own striving. As we learn to place our lives in His hands, we grow more confident in knowing that He is able to complete the work.
- He is able to complete the work He has began.
- He is able to lead on into maturity.
- He is able to form His people into His image.
2 Corinthians 3:12 “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold”
The more a believer walks in Him, the more they see His presence evident in their life. The more a believer walks in His leading, the more they become like Him. The more a believer becomes like Him, the more His strength becomes their strength and this makes them bold in their testimony.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
If you truly love the Lord, the natural desire is to become more like Him. There is such a close fellowship with Christ when walking in freedom from sin, it feels like you get a taste of what Heaven is going to be like. It is this blessed fellowship that is impossible to make people of the world fully understand, it reduces men to tears, it draws a person in where you simply want more of Him, and it is a reminder that God is good, His ways are good, and nothing can touch us that He doesn’t allow.
It is in the intimate fellowship with Christ where boldness really takes hold. The persecuted Christian cannot be dissuaded by torture, threats, or isolation. The joy of the Lord overwhelms any situation that rises since nothing in this world can overcome Him.
Stepping Up
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
The more closely a believer walks with Christ, the more they desire to please Him. The intimate fellowship with God’s Spirit causes the believer to hold on tighter, knowing sin is a personal offense that becomes unthinkable in the midst of this blessed fellowship.
Purity and holiness becomes an act of sacrifice with thanksgiving, and less of an act of duty.
The believer recognizes what is disgraceful because they have His Word to guide them. They also recognize sin by the way it affects their fellowship with the Spirit. A personal relationship with God is like stepping carefully into His throne room, knowing His holiness and wanting not to offend.
When believers honor Him in their lives, they are taking one more step toward Heaven and leaving this world behind.
A Testament to His Goodness
2 Corinthians 4:5-6 “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Becoming like Christ is think less of ourselves. It’s no longer about us, about our problems, about our desires and wants—it is now about Jesus and how we can please Him.
Pleasing God is found in the path of showing love to others.
He shines His light in His people, so that they can shine His light to others!
It’s a beautiful relationship.
2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
People come to Christ frail and broken, like jars of clay that are made in the hands of the potter, the believer is filled with His water of life—coming from dust formed from the earth, God’s people are made valuable in His hands.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Yes, these bodies will fail, each day they grow older and continue to die. Within the spirit lies an eternal hope that is being renewed day by day. The spirit doesn’t grow old, it grows in hope.
- The hope of a life with Christ in Heaven.
- The hope of being presented perfect before the Father.
- The hope of receiving a crown of life when we stand before Him.
Precious Promises
2 Corinthians 5:6 “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight”
Faith in Christ is not blind. The blindness of the world tries to see with unopened eyes, from hearts that have not been renewed.
Believers know He is faithful and therefore have great courage.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
What are the promises of God?—they are many!
If you have been called to this life in Christ, you have received a great blessing. The church has so much to be thankful for and He continues to lavish His love upon it.
Day by day learn to submit to Him, submit to His leading, walk in holiness and turn away from sin…let your life become a fragrant aroma unto Him and know that He is pleased with you.
U.T. 