Honoring God in Purity Give unto the LORD

Honoring God in Purity “Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name” (Psalm 29: 2)

Holiness and Purity • “You shall be holy, for I am holy” • (1 Pet 1: 15 -16; cf. Lev 11: 44 -47) • It was a requirement for God’s people 3400 years ago (Law of Moses) • It was a requirement 2000 years ago (Peter) • It is a requirement for God’s people today • Holiness is strictly connected to purity • Purity is one of the building blocks of holiness

“For I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19: 2) • “holy” and “pure” used countless times in Law of Moses and instructions for Tabernacle • Building of the temple is the same way • 1 Kings 6: 21; 2 Chron 4: 20 -22 • Where God is, holiness is present and purity is required! • • Ex 3: 5 – Moses to remove his sandals Ex 19: 12 – Israel not to touch the mountain Dan 7: 9 – The Ancient of Days Rev 4: 8 – “holy, holy”

Why Purity? • Not a little less “filthy” than how the world lives • Not walking one step behind everyone else • We are to “walk against the flow” if necessary • Matt 5: 48 – Be perfect as your Heavenly Father… • Purity because we are created in His image • • • Gen 1: 26 -17 – Let Us make man in Our image Gen 3 – sin destroys mankind as it was designed The sacrifice of Jesus was necessary We can have a relationship with God We have been made to be like God!

How to become pure?

1. Realize our impurity • Realizing our impurity is a necessary first step! • • Job 4: 17; Rom 3: 23 a Sin violates God’s purpose in creating us in His image Sin violates God’s nature through our unrighteousness God is too pure to look upon evil (Hab 1: 13) • Beware of the devil! • Pursuing purity we become a target of Satan • 2 Cor 11: 3 • He may try to tell us we are fine, discourage be happy with mediocrity or not even try us,

2. Getting Purity • Purpose purity in your heart • Purity does not come on its own, not in this world • Ezra 7: 10 – study, practice, teach… • Prov 4: 23 a – Guard your heart with all diligence • Get purity from its Source • • No need to look anywhere else but the Bible God’s Word reflects God’s character Ps 19: 8 b; Psalm 12: 6 Col 3: 1 -2 – Set your mind on the things above…

3. Flee Immorality • Necessary to pursue purity • Col 3: 5, 9 -10 – A new self! • “Bare minimum Christianity” does not exist! • Matt 22: 37 – with all your heart, soul, mind • Fleeing immorality in and of itself is not enough! • See 2 Tim 2: 22 - Two distinct commandments! • Fleeing immorality in an immoral world is tough • 1 Cor 6: 18 – Corinth was tougher! • We do not have to flee immorality, we want to! • (Lot in 2 Pet 2: 7 -8)

4. Keep working on it • Remember, “bare minimum Christianity” does not exist! • Cannot be satisfied with mediocrity – that is what Satan wants you to do! • We will do whatever it takes to please God • Matt 5: 29 -30 • Keep working on it! • We can be an example, too – 1 Tim 4: 12 • Purity is of crucial importance!

Get to know God! • The most important aspect of our growth towards purity • Getting to know God is the start, the progress and the goal… the standard, what gives meaning to purity • Blessed are the pure in heart… (Matt 5: 8) • How can a young man keep his way pure? • Ps 119: 9 • Purity is one of the building blocks of holiness! • We were made to be like God • 1 John 3: 1 -3

Honoring God in Purity “Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name” (Psalm 29: 2)