Keeping the Church Pure The Church and its

Keeping the Church Pure

The Church and its Purity Ephesians 5: 25 -27 Christ’s loving sacrifice for her His purpose fulfilled: Sanctify her, 1 Peter 2: 9; 1 Thess. 2: 12; 1 Cor. 1: 2, 9 Washing of water by the word New birth, John 3: 5; 1 Peter 1: 22 -23 2

The Church and its Purity Ephesians 5: 25 -27 Church must maintain purity and holiness, Ephesians 5: 27; Titus 2: 14 Each Christian under obligation to cleanse himself, 2 Corinthians 7: 1 Pure church will be delivered up to God, 1 Corinthians 15: 24 3

The Church and Pure Doctrine (Pure doctrine must be preached) God’s word is pure, Psalm 119: 140 Truth purifies (purges and refines), Psalm 19: 8; Ephesians 5: 26 God cleanses us by the truth, Eph. 5: 26; John 15: 1 -3; 17: 17 4

The Church and Pure Doctrine (Pure doctrine must be preached) Truth’s power to purify is jeopardized by error, 2 Timothy 4: 3 -4 False teaching corrupts and condemns, 2 Peter 3: 15 -16 Guard and maintain purity of doctrine, Jude 3; 1 Timothy 6: 3; 2 Timothy 1: 13; 2 John 9 Polluted teaching can’t cleanse, Eph. 5: 26 5

The Church and Pure Living (Pure lives must be lived) The church is pure when we live pure lives, Revelation 3: 4 Pure in heart, Matt. 5: 8; 2 Tim. 2: 22 Pure in thought, Phil. 4: 8 Pure in speech, James 1: 26 Pure in deed, 2 Cor. 7: 1 6

The Church and Pure Living (Pure lives must be lived) The church presented to Christ will be pure, Eph. 5: 27; 2 Cor. 11: 2 Only the pure will be eternally saved, Revelation 21: 27 Christ is Savior of the body (Eph. 5: 23) Therefore, the body He saves will be a pure body 7

The Church and Pure Living (Pure lives must be lived) Purity of life constantly threatened By indifference, Hebrews 2: 2 -3 By worldliness, 1 John 2: 15 By evil influences, 1 Cor. 15: 33 Maintain purity of life Word dwelling in us, 1 John 3: 9 Hope motivates purity, 1 Jno. 3: 2 -3 8

The Church and Pure Love (Pure love must be practiced) Christian love is a tremendous responsibility Love God properly, Matt. 22: 37; 1 Jno. 5: 3 Must love each other properly, Jno. 13: 34 Fervent love, 1 Peter 4: 8 As Christ loved us, Ephesians 5: 25 9

The Church and Pure Love (Pure love must be practiced) Pure love is always in danger From an unwillingness to sacrifice for others, 1 John 3: 17 -18 From selfishness, Ephesians 5: 2 From hypocrisy, Romans 12: 9 -10 Pure love is learned and developed, John 14: 15 10

Keeping the Church Pure Christ intends for His church to be pure in doctrine, life and love, James 4: 8 We each are responsible for purity By doing our part, the church will be pure, Ephesians 4: 16 11