03/26/2025 – Purity, Grace, and Biblical Truth
My thoughts this morning are centered on the state of purity. What does it mean to be pure of heart, and how is it possible to reach this level of righteousness? By becoming pure we know that we will see God, so it’s a very important subject for us to explore.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:8 KJV
When we go to the grocery store we often read labels that say such things as "Pure Maple Syrup", or the like. By the law of our land this doesn't require those products to be 100% pure; they might contain just a small percentage of the substance being sold. On the other hand, when scripture says pure... it is the real deal... 100% with no doubt, and no holding back.
I was reading Pastor Oswald Chambers this morning and he was speaking of purity. He spoke of it as being much like forgiveness in that it is a product of God's grace. In as much as we are saved by grace, we are also made pure as a result of grace. Listen to what he wrote…
"Purity is not innocence, it is much more. Purity is the outcome of sustained spiritual sympathy with God. We have to grow in purity.... God makes us pure by His sovereign grace.... Not only must the inner sanctuary be kept right with God, but the purity God gives us by His grace." - Oswald Chambers
So, purity isn't something we can reach on our own... it requires the grace of God, but we can do certain things that increase our purity in as much as we are able. First we must establish and maintain a relationship with God through Jesus, then we should obey the commandments and live our lives in love, and by keeping our focus ever on Christ and our Holy Father. James tells us this in James 1...
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
James 1:27 KJV
Of course, all of this requires prayer in support of God's grace and forgiveness. When we pray we should ask for purity (a clean heart) as well as forgiveness. These attributes keep us doing these things in practice that God has intended for us to do through His Word.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalms 51:10 KJV
Yet, we know that this will be a battle within ourselves until our final breath, or until Jesus returns for us. However, the wonderful thing about purity is that it is a gift of God through grace, and that if we do the other things... prayer, love, living in the Word, obeying God's commandments... then purity will be imparted to us through our belief in Jesus.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
1 John 3:2-3 KJV
We seek purity through our faith in Jesus Christ. We obtain it by grace, just as we are told in scripture that we obtain salvation by grace. God doesn't intend to set some unreachably high bar and then walk away from us as we struggle to reach it... He has provided us with a way to become pure and a way to obtain salvation, and they are both through His Son Jesus Christ from whom God’s grace flows.
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17 ESV
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Ephesians 2:7-8 KJV
Are we seeking spiritual purity as we follow Jesus, and live out our lives of faith? Are we praying for it today?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your grace in my life and for loving me enough to send your only begotten Son to die for my salvation. Forgive me Father for all of my sins through His suffering, blood, death, and resurrection. I deserved nothing that Jesus has done for me, and yet your grace has abounded in Him for me. My salvation and purity are your gifts to me and weren't bought with even a speck of my own sacrifice or doing. You are gracious beyond my ability to fathom or repay, and your grace and mercy are without limit. Lord, increase me in my purity of faith and belief, even as you pour out your perfecting grace upon me. Let my eyes be on you always Father, and my mouth praise you for all eternity because you are my Loving God... now and forevermore.
Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who sent your Son Jesus to be born, suffer, die, and be resurrected, so that I would be made pure of heart and soul as my sins are washed away by His blood, and your grace that flows from Him. Hear me today as I thank you for Him, His redemption, and your amazing grace that He has brought into my life. Witness in me Abba the sincerity of my heart, and my deep and abiding desire to be perfected and purified in my love and worship of you.
So, in this way I await the coming again of Jesus Christ and pray that you will send him soon to complete your work and will in me, and to make perfect the purity that I have striven for. Pour out your grace upon me through Him and let no earthly blemish be left behind that would taint His image in which you have been transforming me. Let my perfection and purity of spirit be complete on that day as I glorify you and abide in your presence forevermore. I pray these things, and more, in the name of Jesus, and then say… Great are you my God…Amen!
Amen.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
Revelation 22:20-21 ESV
Rich Forbes