Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8200 The character of the believer » 8324 purity » 8326 purity, moral and spiritual
Moral and spiritual purity is demanded by God of his people. God calls his people to be holy, just as he is holy.
Divine purity
The purity of God
Habakkuk 1:13 See also Job 4:17; Psalm 18:26; 1 John 1:5
The purity of Jesus Christ
1 John 3:3 See also Matthew 17:2; Hebrews 7:26
Fellowship with God demands purity
Psalm 24:3-4; Matthew 5:8 See also Psalm 51:6; Psalm 73:1
God's people are to live pure lives
Colossians 3:5 See also Leviticus 18:30; Job 31:1; Psalm 51:10; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Yeast is a symbol of sin; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Titus 1:15; Titus 2:5; Hebrews 13:4; James 1:27; James 4:8
Purity is unobtainable by human effort
Because of the sinful human nature
Job 14:4 See also Job 15:14; Job 25:4; Ecclesiastes 7:20
Because of the tendency to idolatry
Hosea 8:5
Because of self-deception
Proverbs 30:12 See also Proverbs 20:9
Because of an unwillingness to be cleansed
Ezekiel 24:13
Symbols of purification from sin
Psalm 51:7 See also Isaiah 6:6 fire; Mark 1:4 water baptism; 2 Corinthians 11:2 virginity; 2 Peter 3:14 spotlessness
God promises to purify his people
Ezekiel 36:25 See also Zephaniah 3:9; Zechariah 13:1
Purification through Jesus Christ
Through pardon offered in his death
Hebrews 9:14 See also Hebrews 12:24; 1 John 1:7
Through his word
John 15:3 See also John 13:10
Through his presence in resisting temptation
James 4:7-8 See also 1 Peter 5:9
Through hope built on his promises
Titus 2:12-13 See also 1 John 3:3
Purification through judgment
In the OT
Leviticus 18:28 See also Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 17:7,12; Judges 20:13; Malachi 3:2-4
In the NT
1 Corinthians 5:13
Symbols of purity
Whiteness
Daniel 7:9 See also Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 17:2 pp Mark 9:3; Matthew 28:3; Mark 16:5; John 20:12; Revelation 1:14
Light
1 John 1:7 See also Job 25:5; Ezekiel 1:27; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:8-9
Washing
Psalm 26:6 See also Psalm 51:2
Fire
Daniel 7:9-10 See also Isaiah 33:14; Ezekiel 8:2; Revelation 1:14-15
See also
2054 Christ, mind of 2063 Christ, perfection 4293 water 4826 fire 4833 light 5740 virgin 6187 immorality 6744 sanctification 8145 renewal, people of God 8266 holiness 8277 innocence