Purity is a theme woven throughout the Bible—one which goes beyond outward behavior and speaks to the condition of the guts. While many individuals associate purity with moral or sexual conduct, Scripture presents a much wider and deeper picture. From the Old Testament laws to Jesus’ teachings within the New Testament, God calls His people to live lives which are pure, holy, and set apart for Him. So, what does the Bible really say about purity, and why does it still matter for Christians today?
What is Biblical Purity?
The clearest definition of purity is present in the Sermon on the Mount, the masterclass for brand spanking new followers of Christ. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they are going to see God” (Matthew 5:8). Pleasing and knowing God begins with a pure heart. A pure heart also blesses a believer.
In one other Gospel passage, Jesus discusses the guts as essential to an important commandment. Quoting the Shema from Old Testament law, Jesus says, “To love him [God] with all of your heart, with all of your understanding and with all of your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more essential than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). Loving God with all our heart requires a pure heart, freed from the luggage of sin. As the psalmist prayed, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit inside me” (Psalm 51:10). The Psalms and Jesus’ gospel outline the necessity for purity of heart. As a metaphor, the guts represents where we feel emotions and make decisions. The heart directs our passions and spiritual life. Today, we describe an excellent person as having an excellent heart. This understanding was a part of the traditional Hebrew mindset as well.
In the Crosswalk.com article “A Prayer for Purity in Every Part of Our Lives,” Jennifer Heeren writes, “An impure life cuts us off from God and drives us further and further into our own rebelliousness.” Indeed, a definition of sin is separation from God. If we proceed with impure thoughts and actions, we can have a life aside from God.
There is sweet news within the New Testament, nonetheless. Jesus cleansed us of our sins and made us latest again through His sacrifice on the cross. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he’s a latest creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are turn out to be latest.” A relationship with Christ helps us maintain our purity despite our human failings.
What Does the Bible Say about Purity of Heart and Mind?
Purity (or impurity) begins in your heart and mind and results in actions. In the list present in Galatians 5:19-21, Paul traces many sinful behaviors back to the imagination and tells us what not to do:
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, matches of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those that live like this may not inherit the dominion of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Paul follows this warning with a listing of spiritual virtues for living a pure life:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no such thing as a law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, allow us to keep in line with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25).
The second, positive passage inspires us to behave in a way befitting a life as God’s children, imitating Christ. The Apostle Paul also wrote, “Those who cleanse themselves from the latter might be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and ready to do any good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). It is prime to the Christian life to be pure. It is how we live for Christ and are blessed by God.
How Does the Bible Address Sexual Purity?
Paul continues his moral lessons with advice for the Corinthian people on sexual purity. In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, he writes that sexual immorality is a sin against one’s own body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.
There are many cases of sexual immorality within the Old Testament, comparable to David and Bathsheba’s illicit affair (2 Samuel 11 and 12), Potiphar’s wife attempting to seduce Joseph (Genesis 39), and King David’s daughter Tamar’s rape by her half-brother Ammon (2 Samuel 13).
These Bible narratives are interwoven with military and private power struggles in addition to tragedy. Bathsheba’s husband Uriah is killed when King David orders him to be on the front lines of a battle. Joseph is thrown in jail when Potiphar’s wife accuses him of attacking her; and Ammon is murdered by Tamar’s brother Absalom.
These repercussions of sexual immorality are mere setbacks within the careers of those men, nonetheless. King David takes Bathsheba as his wife, and so they begin Jesus’ lineage. The pharaoh puts Joseph accountable for your entire land of Egypt due to his gift of interpreting dreams (Genesis 41:41-43). And King David and his murderous son Absalom reconcile (2 Samuel 14:33).
The women in these sexual liaisons don’t fare as well. Bathsheba loses her husband, Uriah, and the son she conceived with David. Potiphar’s wife fades out of the Old Testament narrative. Tamar is described as “a desolate woman” within the aftermath of being raped.
In a Christianity.com article, Joel Ryan writes that Tamar’s story reveals “injustices towards women and explores the results of sexual sin upon families.” Yet, he says, “the grace of God is on display for those willing to admit and repent from their sin.” God was in a position to use a few of these fallen people to realize His purposes, no matter their impure sexual behavior.
In the New Testament gospels, there’s forgiveness for sexual impurity. Jesus intervenes within the stoning death of a girl caught within the act of adultery (John 8:1-11). Rather than allowing her to receive the traditional Hebrew punishment of stoning, Jesus addresses the outraged men planning to satisfy the law. Jesus said, “He who has no sin forged the primary stone,” and the vengeful crowd disperses. God’s mercy toward sexual impurity is displayed by Jesus on this story. He reveals how God can forgive impurity. With God’s grace, the adulterous woman may change her ways going forward.
What Are Practical Ways to Pursue Purity in a Fallen World?
One of the sensible ways a family or individual may encourage purity is thru the sacrament of baptism. Baptism connects us to the Christian church, whether we’re fully immersed in water or sprinkled with drops from a baptismal fount. It symbolizes our latest life with Christ and that he has given us his own purity once we couldn’t obtain it for ourselves. Following Jesus’ example of being baptized within the River Jordon, we’re washed clean through baptism into God’s church.
A prayer of confession also cleanses us of sin. The prayer comes early within the order of worship in lots of denominations; it can also be a part of our personal prayer life. We may follow the words of the passage in 1 John 1:9 that claims, “Yes, if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and simply to forgive us of those sins and cleanse us from all wickedness.” Confession purifies our heart, mind, and soul as we receive God’s forgiveness.
Confession is just not a one-time practice. We are to take care of our purity in a detailed relationship with God. As Paul wrote to the brand new Christians in Galatia, “Search for the Lord and continually seek Him so His strength can offer you the courage and skill to walk a pure and healthful life. Repent once you make mistakes so you may remain in that purity. And at all times do not forget that your old self has been crucified with Christ and it is not any longer you that lives, but Christ lives inside you in order that you could live a lifetime of purity” (Galatians 2:20). This verse expresses how confession allows us to receive God’s grace and move forward with purity.
Another essential way an individual can remain pure is to hunt God in his Word. Psalm 119:9 asks and answers a matter about maintaining purity: “How can a youngster stay on the trail of purity? By living in keeping with your word.” To live by the Word, we must study, meditate, and pray over the Word regularly.
How Can Christians Overcome Temptation and Stay Pure?
In his letters to latest Christians, Paul wrote an amazing deal on purity of heart, mind, and body. He declared, “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:19-22). That is, run, don’t walk away from temptation! And we’ve the trust that God won’t ever give us more temptation than we are able to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13).
To the Galatians, Paul wrote, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you may not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what’s contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what’s contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with one another” (Galatians 5:16-17). We can follow this recommendation and “walk by the Spirit” in a pure, close relationship with God.
Let’s end with a scriptural prayer for purity:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you thru and thru. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the approaching of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Pornyot Palilai
