Very often the church looks at purity as a one-time deal, like virginity. Once lost it cannot be regained. It’s like locking the barn door after the horse has already been stolen. Seeking purity after it has been compromised is a lost cause. OR IS IT?

Purity: one time deed or focus of the heart?

In a previous post I explained what purity is, from a biblical point of view. But the question today is does God view our purity as actions? Do we lose it forever with unrighteous deeds? Is purity centered in what we do? Let’s take a look at some scripture passages.

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.” Is 1:18

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Ps 103:12

“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
“Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert. Is 43:18-19

Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified,
but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor 6:11

Some may say that these passages refer to our initial justification and not to our ongoing sanctification. But I say that that is a very limited view of our salvation!

“…you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge
according to the image of the One who created him—” Col 3:9b-10

We are continually being renewed, we are being made new – literally the word is renovated. The old is being broken down and the new is being built up. This process, this part of our salvation, is called sanctification. It is our ongoing walk with the Lord here on earth when we are being changed to have our actions, thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs line up with the true knowledge of who the image of Jesus truly is.

This sanctification is so powerful. It is the power of the very Spirit of God in our lives to strip away everything that is sinful and corrupt and build us up into a pure and undefiled image of Jesus in our mortal bodies. It is our time here on earth when our new nature, our new identity is being shaped to fit the spiritual truth already purchased by the cross. Our new self is being renewed…an ongoing process. This also takes into account that deeds we have committed, even since becoming a believer, have been redeemed and are being renewed.

There is a Redeemer

Sometimes we limit the power of the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. We think, “Well, God never meant to redeem THIS part of my life!” or “No, this is too bad for Jesus to redeem, not fully.” Well, what does God say in His Word?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

This word cleanse means to free from defilement or sin. Did you see that?? TO FREE FROM DEFILEMENT!

To be set free from how sin dirties our lives.

• This is serious
• This is powerful
• This is ongoing
• This is eternal

This shows us that our purity is not based in a single (or multiple) act. Purity is based on our identity in Christ. It can be renewed, made new, made whole by the power of the Spirit, because of the blood of Jesus! I think we usually mix-up two concepts: innocence and purity. Innocence is ignorance of bad things. Purity is cleansing from defilement of sin. Adam and Eve lost innocence in the Garden when they ate of the tree of Good and Evil and learned evil. And through that one action, all of us have lost the innocence of the Creation. Then, throughout our lives, when we see things or hear things or do things, more of our innocence is further lost.

But our purity, even if defiled by our actions or thoughts, can be redeemed by the cross! Purity is not based on actions, it is in who we are in Christ.

If you are at a place in your life where the enemy is trying to get you to throw in the towel to live in purity because of past deeds in your life, I am here to say REJECT THAT LIE!! You are still being renewed and those sinful actions are not only forgiven, they are being redeemed! Walk into and live out the purity He has for you. Let His redemption change your life and be renewed by His Spirit! You are made clean. Hallelujah!

Don’t miss more on PURITY:

What does purity mean?

The Purity Controversy

All Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB.
(image courtesy of gubgib/freedigitalphotos.net)