How To Be by Joseph F. Roberts, ThD, PhD - HTML preview

Chapter Introduction

The definition of pure is clean, clear, chaste or sincere. It has the same root word as holy. Thus, Christian purity means the child of God is to be clean inside and out. Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:25, 26: Matthew 23:25-26 KJV 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

In a day of socially accepted impurity, there is a loud cry for men and women to be pure before the Lord. It is high time for Christians to make this requirement of themselves, and for churches to expect the same from their members.

A life of moral purity is a must for each child of God. Holiness depends on it. God ‘s children need to remember that even if the laws of the land permit impurity and society condones it, God still requires purity.

Inward Purity

Since Jesus said that the inside of a vessel should be cleaned first, that must be the starting point. It is absolutely fruitless to try “turning over new leaves”

or any other kind of outward attempts of purity before taking care of the inside. Jesus also said in Matthew 5: 8, Blessed are the pure in heart.

This could be stated, “Blessed are those who are pure on the inside.” What is the heart? It is not speaking of the blood pump within the chest of each person. The heart is the base or foundation of

our affections. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

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The heart is also the base of understanding. The Lord spoke of people

“understanding” with their hearts in Matthew 13:15.

Matthew 13:15 KJV 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

In addition to these, in Matthew 15:19, we find the heart is the starting point (central spring) of human words and actions.

Matthew 15:19 KJV 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Thus, the pure in heart are those who are pure to the core of their being.

How do we become inwardly pure? First, through salvation. A totally impure, unclean person becomes completely pure at the point of repentance and faith in Jesus. God forgives all sin. Since saved people sin, it does not take long after salvation for us to become unclean inwardly again. Confession of these sins to God is the only way to be cleansed from them. God does the cleansing whenever men will allow Him.

We must work at remaining inwardly pure by avoiding sin. This is done by yielding ourselves to God. This means we must place ourselves at the service of God. We will never reach sinless perfection in our present bodies, but as we grow spiritually, there should be less evidence of sin in our lives.

Sin can be controlled by our controlling our thoughts. Before sins are committed, they are generally contemplated in the mind. Paul taught people to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (II Corinthians 10: 5). The pure heart will sing the song found in Psalm 40:8, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Outward Purity

Outward purity will be an automatic result of inward purity. Jesus taught in Matthew 23:26 that once the inside was cleansed, then the outside would follow. Christian purity will show up in our speech. James taught in James 3: 10, 11, that sweet and bitter water should not flow from the same well.

Words from God’s people should be kind and considerate toward others. They should praise God and tell the lost world about Him.

Matthew 23:26 KJV 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that 38

which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

James 3:10-11 KJV 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

It is a sad commentary on Christianity when a professed Christian uses God’

s name in vain, tells questionable jokes, lies or gossips. Outward purity will be evident in our actions. Love from our hearts will give help to the poor and the needy. We will display good manners and courteousness toward others. As did Christ, we will go about doing good.

In this day of extreme freedom of morality, it should be noted that God’s children should be sexually pure. The writer of the Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 13:4:

Hebrews 13:4 KJV 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

The pure marriage relationship is a picture of Christ and His church. So, each of us should be pure, not only for our own sakes, but also for the sake of Christ and His church.

Products of a Pure Heart and Conscience

Jesus said that the pure in heart would be blessed or happy. The person who has his sins forgiven, both in salvation and as God ‘s child, is a happy person.

Many saved people are not happy because they hold on to sin in their lives.

Another product of purity is fervent, or earnest, love. Christ is seen in our lives as He is worked out from us to the world through love. John said in I John 4: 7,

1 John 4:7 KJV 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

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True service to God is a product of purity. A person can go through the motions and, perhaps, do all the right things without truly serving God. Saul of Tarsus was such a person. He sincerely worked his religion, but his heart was not pure before God.

Still another result of Christian purity concerns the keeping of the great truths of God. Young Timothy was taught in I Timothy 3:9, that the deacons were to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. No child of God is able to uphold the deep truths of the faith if his life is contaminated with sin. The entire cause of Christ is promoted by God’s children who are pure inwardly and outwardly.

Pure Religion

Another product of the pure heart and conscience is pure religion.

James gave some insights concerning this in our text verse. Almost everyone is familiar with religion, but very few are acquainted with pure religion.

James taught that pure religion “visits” the needy. The idea is that it cares for them, provides for their needs. Too often today’s religion keeps the needy at arm’s length. While it is true that many people take advantage of generous churches and Christians, it is also true that there are many people who are sincerely in need of help.

Conclusion

The person who has pure religion will keep himself unspotted from the world. He will be in the world but not of it. He will love the people of the world but not the things of the world. True religion should be the natural outpouring of love to God from members of His churches. Are you willing to have a pure heart?

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About the Author

Dr. Joseph F. Roberts has been a Baptist minister, missionary, and pastor for 56 years. He currently serves as Director of the International Missionary Baptist Ministries, a ministry of the Mayfield Drive Baptist Church in Smyrna, Tennessee. He holds two Bachelor of Theology Degrees, a Master of Theology Degree, a Master of Divinity, a Doctor of Theology Degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion Degree.

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