Jason Upton has an amazing song that goes, “Purity and Victory, Purity and Victory, You cannot separate them.” He repeats them over and over again and the words go straight to the Heart. Inward purity and outward victory over sin are linked in an intricate, mysterious way. James states succinctly, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16, italics added)” This purity is not an outward piety or act. It is a deep connection with the Trinity that transforms our very being, spilling out to every area of our lives. God is holy. God is pure. God is righteous. When we walk with him intimately and cultivate our oneness with him, we are changed.
Paul gives a clear call to the Church in Galatia, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Galatians 5:13-14).”
Life by the Spirit
”So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:16-21, italics added)”
How do we live in the Spirit? How do we let go of the pain of our past? How do we trust each other in relationship?
Jesus.
Not Jesus as a religious figurehead, or as a name associated with a series of ideas. Jesus as a Person who desires an intimate, living connection with you.
Hebrews 4:15-16 says “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (italics and emphasis added)”
Talking about “purity” in the church can bring up a host of images, not all of them pleasant. But far from our legalistic assumptions, purity is determined by our intimacy with the Father. And the obstacles that keep us from this intimacy- our past, our sin, our pain? This is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, the Father meets us where we are. He can bring healing and purity to our lives like we’ve never expected.
Jesus knows your pain. He understands your heart, because he has experienced it himself firsthand. He wants to carry you through it; He wants to fight for you but He will not force himself on you nor will He require you to be honest and confess your sin.
What is Jesus saying to you? What sin or lies is He bringing up that He wants to shed His light on? Are you willing to ask Him?
This is where “purity” begins…surrender and relinquishment of control of the things that have previously been hidden so that Jesus can have access to your soul. Will you release that control to Him?
