Purity and Holiness

Studies show that when you start to talk about purity and holiness, 70% of people go into their “shell”, because it makes people feel uncomfortable. Yet when we distance ourselves from purity and holiness, we are distancing ourselves from God. Purity is God’s standard, and we need to imitate this standard through our character, conduct, and conversation. Ephesians 5:1-4 says: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and 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. But 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.” As children of God we are already righteous, but we must pursue and strive for purity to imitate the Father. Purity and Holiness can be defined into three categories: 

Purity in our Motives: 
Doing what the Lord says guarantees the blessing. “But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so -- not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer -- he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25). As you can see, the blessing comes from doing. There needs to be action, and more importantly, the right motive behind our actions. Why do you sing in the choir? Why do you clean the church? Why do you volunteer to usher? “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds” (Jer. 17:10). God will reward us according to what we do, He sees our hearts and knows the reasons behind our actions. 

Purity in our Relationships: 
Purity also applies our one to one relationships with others. We should not be plotting against someone while still claiming them a friend. In addition, we do not want to have enemies, God loves everyone, and so should we. The moment we became believers, God calls us to leave grudges behind. For “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance ” (2 Peter 3:9). Yet to do this, we must put purity to practice, but it does not come easily. It is not part of our natural human capacity to love, but with God’s mercy we can say “…herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16). 
​
Purity in our Lifestyles: 
People have said “it doesn’t matter how you dress, your salvation is in your heart”. However, how you dress may not be a good definition of whether you are a Christian or not, but it will be a good definition of the kind of salvation you have. How we present ourselves, including the church is vital to our Christianity. God looks at our appearance and dressing, and whatever we put in will come out. Matt. 12:34 says: “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”. The heart and lips are connected. Whatever we put into our heart with movies, books, and our environment will direct the course of our lives.