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