Tuesday 28 April 2015

Purifying hope

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. – 1 John 3.3

Purity is one of those words that just seems kind of passé today. In a world of absolute impurity purity is always going to stand out. The value of purity seems to have gone out the window.  The church, with it is focus on liberty and in an attempt to throw of what has been perceived as ‘legalism,’ can sometimes be guilty of not emphasising Biblical purity.  Purity can come across as legalistic or restrictive.

But God still calls us to practical purity. While it is true that at salvation we received the purity of Christ there is a call and a challenge to us.

Those who have the wonderful hope of one day being like Christ ought to be preparing for that day by living purely in the present age and our purity is to a pretty high standard. We are to purify our living ‘even as He is pure.’

If I am to be living as purely as He is pure it means that Christ-like purity is the focus of my decision making process. Is purity, the kind of purity manifested by my Saviour, my goal? Is purity more important that my earthly pleasures? Does our hope of seeing Him one day drive us to practical purity?

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