PURITY
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John. 3:1-3).
Introduction:
A. In our day, many have forgotten the meaning of the word purity. Purity means to be free from contaminating or adulterating matter. For example, a glass of pure water is free from dirt or debris or harmful chemicals that could poison our systems or kill us.
1. To be pure in the sight of God is to be free from the contamination or corrupting influences of sin.
2. Purity, in our modern society, is a rare and precious commodity. When we consider the immodest clothing that many are wearing, the impure thoughts that lead to sexual immoralities and lascivious conduct and all vulgarity on the television and in the movie theaters we recognize that purity is indeed a rarity. And the impurity of the world is invading the church!
B. It is God's desire that His followers be pure in mind and body. Our text reminds us that those who have the hope of being with God in heaven will keep themselves pure, just as the Lord is pure.
C. Another verse that helps us to understand about purity is James 1:27 – “Pure religion….”
1. Purity comes from good works
2. Purity comes from keeping ourselves unspotted from the world - pure and clean
D. Let us now consider some of the areas of our lives in which we need to be pure.
Discussion:
I. WE NEED PURITY IN OUR THOUGHTS.
A. “As he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you” (Proverbs 23:7). We ARE what we THINK! We may try to conceal the thoughts of our hearts by outward speech that is conciliatory or pacifying, but it is our THOUGHTS that determine what we ARE.
B. We can, ultimately, do no better than we think. “And [Jesus] said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:20-23).
C. We are no better than we think. This is why Solomon says in Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your….”
1. "Keep" - protect, secure. For example, the “keeper” of the keys, the sheep, etc.
2. "With all diligence": 1) Use great zeal – we are to be zealous for good works. 2) Do what ever it takes – We must guard against ALL impure thoughts by: a) filling our time with the right kind of thinking (Philippians 4:8), (an IDLE MIND is the devil’s workshop), and (b) removing the stimuli of impure thoughts from before us. David said, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” (Psa. 101:3). David failed in this noble aspiration on one occasion and it cost him dearly. Is the consequence any different for us when we put into our minds the vulgar, lascivious, impure images of worldly movies and television programs and salacious literature? We are adding fuel to the fire (of lust) when we continue to gaze upon images that are purposefully designed to arouse passion and stir our fleshly appetites.
D. No wonder Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).
II. WE NEED PURITY IN OUR DEEDS.
A. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:13-16).
1. If we are to live a life of purity we must no longer be involved in our former sinful lusts.
2. We must fashion ourselves with holiness - to conform ourselves to holiness as obedient children.
B. Purity involves outward modesty in appearance and the inward adornment of good works. The Bible says, “[I]n like manner also (similar to the men, r.k.), that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9-10).
a. Godliness, purity - is more important than outward appearance
b. We spend so much time concerned about our outward appearance - when was the last time that we gave thought to our inward self?
c. Does our dress promote purity in ourselves and others?
3. In Romans 2:6 we learn that God "will render to every man according to his deeds.” What we do, or do not do, counts with God.
a. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father, with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).
b. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one…(2 Corinthians 5:10).
III. WE NEED PURITY IN OUR SPEECH.
A. “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bride…” (James 1:26).
1. Our religion is worthless if we cannot control our tongues. “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Prov. 21:23). Our tongue lets people know the kind of Christian we really are.
B. Pure Christians will not be involved in: 1) Gossiping, 2) Backbiting, 3) Lying, 4) Speech that tears down.
C. “An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends” (Prov. 16:27-28).
D. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Prov. 18:21).
E. “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37).
1. “Idle words” - vain, thoughtless and useless words that accomplish no good
2. By what we say we will be justified or condemned
IV. WE NEED PURITY IN OUR READING.
A. “Till I come, give attention to reading” (1 Timothy 4:13). We must give attention to the reading and studying of the Scriptures. We must feed our minds with pure things. (2 Timothy 2:15). We spend far too little time
B. We need to remember exhortation of 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Abstain from every form of evil.”
1. We can fill our minds with impurity through reading just as through other things. We must only read wholesome things. Read the Bible. Read devotional literature. Our leisure reading should not be the filthy, vulgar literature that feeds the appetite for sensual or licentious pleasure. Avoid the obvious dangers of the internet as well – many good people have stumbled grievously because of it!
V. WE NEED PURITY IN OUR PRIVATE, PERSONAL LIVES.
A. “Let here the conclusion of the matter….” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
1. Every work, including the secret things, will be brought into the judgment
2. We need to be pure even in the things that are done in secret, things done behind closed doors
2. “Marriage is honorable among all…” (Hebrews 13:4). This teaches two important lessons: 1) We ought to stay pure before marriage, and 2) we to stay pure during marriage (keeping ourselves for our marriage partner alone and not defrauding
3. Romans 2:16
a. We must keep ourselves pure from secret sin
b. Secret lives will not escape the attention of God – they will be brought into Judgment
VI. WE NEED PURITY IN OUR YIELDING.
A. “Do you not know that to whom …” (Romans 6:16)
1. What we yield ourselves to in order to obey has become our master.
2. We are to have only one master (Matthew 6:24).
B. “And do not present your members as members of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).
1. We must not yield to unrighteousness
2. We must yield unto God, to righteousness
3. Remember the old song, "Yield Not To Temptation"?
4. We must be willing to humble ourselves and yield to God in all things.
CONCLUSION
1. Living a pure life is not easy, but it surely is possible (Titus 2:11-14).
2. We CAN be pure if we really want to be.
3. We MUST be pure to enter into heaven.