Wednesday, January 18, 2012

"Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or our spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God." -2 Corinthians 7:1

1. "Because we have these promises...": What promises are Paul referring to here? At the end of the previous chapter, Paul quotes God when he says "I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God and they will be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:16). God promised that He will live in us. He promised that he will walk among us. In us and around us. He promised that we would be His, and He would be ours. We have a relationship, a claim on one another. No more separation. 
2. "...let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or our spirit": We cleanse ourselves because he has chosen to be with us. We cleanse ourselves because He sent Jesus to take away our sins. We cleanse ourselves because He says we are his and he is ours. Paul isnt legalistically saying that we have to cleanse ourselves and obtain holiness before we can recieve the promises that God made with us. He's saying the exact opposite acually. We cleanse ourselves because of what He has already done, not the other way around. 

We cleanse ourselves to show our love to Him, because He loved us first. We are only reciprocating the love already given. 

So what in your life is defiling your body? What is defiling your spirit? What is keeping you from a holy body and a holy spirit, perfect and pleasing to Jesus?