Question: how do we achieve inner purity in our lives? Is it something we can accomplish on our own?
Can we become righteous or pure using our own effort and accomplishments?
The answer is no, we cannot possibly be pure or righteous by our own efforts.
The Bible says that, “our righteousness is as filthy rags.” So in us there is nothing pure or righteous. The Bible says that, “our hearts are deceitfully wicked and who can know it.” It also says, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” It sounds to me like we have a big problem. How do we get rid of this deceitful heart and become pure and righteous?
There were some teachers of the law called Pharisees that thought they were righteous and pure by keeping their traditions, or their man-made laws, in fact keeping their traditions was more important than keeping God’s laws.
One of their traditions was to wash their hands before they ate and in between courses. They must have thought they were made pure by this act. Jesus tried to set them straight on this issue and others.
Jesus said this to them, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said, ‘These people honor with their lips but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God’s commands with their own man-made teaching. For you ignore God’s specific laws and substitute your own traditions. You reject God’s laws in order to hold on to your own traditions.’ For instance, Moses gave you this law from God. Honor your father and mother and anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. But you say it is alright for people to say to their parents, ‘sorry I can’t help you, for I have vowed to give to God what I could have given to you.’ You let them disregard their needy parents. As such you break the law of God in order to protect your own traditions. And this is only one example, there are many others.”
Then Jesus called the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen, He said, and try to understand. You are not defiled by what you eat, you are defiled by what you say and do.” After this Jesus went into the house to get away from the crowd. Then His disciples asked Jesus what He meant by His statement? Then Jesus said, “Don’t you understand either! Can’t you see that what you eat won’t defile you?Food doesn’t come in contact with your heart but only passes through the stomach and then comes out again.” By saying this, He showed that every kind of food is acceptable.
And this is the reason we cannot be pure and righteous on our own.
Jesus said, “It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these vile things come from within they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.” Check it out in Mark 7: verses 1–23 (New Living Translation)
This is quite a list, if we have all these things in our hearts, how can a person possibly be pure or righteous?
What is impossible with man is possible with God! The only way anyone can be righteous or pure is when we confess and repent of our sins and ask the Lord to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
When that takes place we will be born–again. When we become Christians we are covered by the righteousness of Christ. Then we stand covered by the blood of Christ, cleansed and purified. Praise the Lord! Our bodies also become the temple of the Holy Spirit and we receive the mind of Christ.
Without being born–again it is impossible to be pure and righteous, so if you haven’t humbled yourself before the Lord and you feel the conviction over your sins and you want this experience in your life don’t put it off another second.
God loves you and wants a relationship with you. John says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” The Word also says that, “God is not willing that anyone be lost but that all come to repentance.” The Word also says, “Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.”
So if you are ready to turn away from your sins and repent and ask the Lord to forgive you of your sin and to be your Lord and Savior, bow your head and pray and tell Him your intentions and don’t be shocked if what I said happens. Praise the Lord and have a great day. PS don’t forget to thank the Lord.
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