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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
November 21
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Today's Pathway:
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We have been looking at Paul's commands to the Corinthians to separate themselves from the world. He opens chapter 7 with the word "therefore". It is interesting to note that the focus of the "therefore" is not on the commands, but rather on the promises contained within those commands. In other words, because God has given us promises we should obey His edicts. What were those promises? II Corinthians 6:16-18 gives the following ones:
"I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people...I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters."
God has promised special blessings to His children, particularly to those who are living lives that are separated from sin and surrendered unto God. So, it makes sense that we would "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit".
There are several things to notice in the second half of verse 1. First, the individual believer has the responsibility to cleanse himself. We know that when we were saved Christ "washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Revelation 1:5). We also know that sin no longer has dominion over us (Romans 6:14). However, we still have the responsibility to,
"put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts... and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24).
God has given us everything that we need in order to live righteous lives. But we have to choose to do so. Second, we need to understand that our sins are considered "filthy" by the Lord. Christians can tend to downplay the true wickedness of their unscriptural behavior. We see ourselves as not being any worse than anyone else, and thus our behavior really isn't all that bad. But God calls it all filthiness. That word means "to stain or soil; to smear as with mud". We would see our sin as God sees it. Third, we need to cleanse ourselves not only of the sins of the flesh, but also those of the spirit. The things that we do need to be pure. But the thoughts and attitudes that we have must also be pure. Albert Barnes wrote,
"Paul includes all the sins and passions which appertain to the mind or the soul rather than to carnal appetites, such as the desire of revenge, pride, avarice, ambition, etc. These are as polluting and defiling as the gross sensual pleasures. They are as offensive to God, and they prove as certainly that the heart is depraved as the grossest sensual passions. The main difference is that they are more decent in the external appearance; they can be better concealed; but they are not less offensive to God."
Finally, Paul encourages his readers to be "perfecting holiness in the fear of God". Thus far Paul has talked about what the believer needs to stop doing. Now he states what the believer needs to start doing. "Perfecting" means to be bringing something to its completion. In Greek it is a compound word which has an intensified meaning of fully reaching the intended goal. The verb tense indicates that this is a continual process in the life of the believer. Christians need to stop sinning, but they also need to start being holy. The Christian life is not simply about what we don't do, but also about what we do. We are to dedicate our lives and thoughts to that which is holy; those things which conform us to the image of Christ. We are to do this "in the fear of God". As we understand Who He is and thus reverence and fear Him, we will desire to be everything that we should be for Him. Albert Barnes concludes,
"We are always in the presence of God. If the fear of a man will restrain us, and make us attempt to be holy and pure, how should the fear of the all-present and all-seeing God keep us, not only from outward sins, but from polluted thoughts and unholy desires!"
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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