Topical Bible: Defilement: Moral, Punished

◄ Defilement: Moral, Punished ►

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In the biblical context, moral defilement refers to the corruption or impurity of one's character and actions, which stands in opposition to the holiness and righteousness that God commands. The concept of defilement is deeply rooted in the moral and ceremonial laws given to the Israelites, and it extends into the New Testament teachings on personal holiness and sanctification.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament law provides numerous examples of actions and behaviors that result in moral defilement. These include idolatry, sexual immorality, and various forms of injustice and wickedness. Leviticus 18 and 20 outline specific prohibitions against sexual sins, which are described as defiling acts. Leviticus 18:24-25 states, "Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its iniquity, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants."

The consequences of moral defilement in the Old Testament often included severe punishments, both for individuals and for the community. The Israelites were warned that defilement would lead to God's judgment, including exile and destruction. In Numbers 35:34 , God commands, "Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles continue to emphasize the importance of moral purity. Jesus teaches that defilement comes not from external sources but from within the heart. In Mark 7:20-23 , Jesus explains, "What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man."

The apostle Paul also addresses moral defilement in his epistles, urging believers to live lives worthy of their calling. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 , Paul warns, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."

Punishment for Moral Defilement

The Bible consistently teaches that moral defilement leads to divine punishment. In the Old Testament, this often took the form of physical consequences, such as disease, defeat in battle, or exile. In the New Testament, the focus shifts to spiritual consequences, including separation from God and exclusion from His kingdom.

Hebrews 10:26-27 provides a sobering warning: "If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries."

The call to repentance and the promise of forgiveness through Jesus Christ offer hope to those who have defiled themselves. 1 John 1:9 assures believers, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This cleansing is essential for restoring fellowship with God and avoiding the eternal consequences of moral defilement.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 18:24,25,28,29
Defile not you yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Law of Christian Conscience.
... for it to have contracted positive defilement by being ... so utterly blinded and perverted
in its moral sense as ... which was admired; the child was punished if the ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xvi the law of christian.htm

The Old, Old Story
... but he takes human guilt, and is punished for human ... and all the remembrance of past
defilement, but only ... to see; who have always been quite moral, upright, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/the old old story.htm

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs.
... Other patriarchs indulge freely in moral and religious ... and Judah, and be grievously
punished for it ... of earth, dwelleth safely there and suffers no defilement.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the testaments of the twelve.htm

Rom. Ii. 17, 18
... in the idol temples") by reason of the defilement. ... But if they are righteously punished,
it is ... is enough to know that it obliterates all moral distinctions and ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily vi rom ii 17.htm

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
... divisions, their frail sense of moral responsibility ... shall be excommunicated and
shall be punished by disease ... against fornication, which is a defilement of the ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter x the first epistle.htm

Ephesians iv. 25-27
... Why said he not, "Let him that stole" be punished, be tortured, be racked; but ... which
are called pure; [345] they that are full of all defilement, and yet ... Moral. ...
/.../homily xiv ephesians iv 25-27.htm

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses ...
... of them and all kinds of them, moral and ceremonial ... sin, but in a righteous way he
punished sin with ... O then imagine what an unspeakable defilement must be on us ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv but we are.htm

2 Timothy ii. 20, 21
... And in many places we find men not blamed for their faith, but punished for their
evil life only; as ... Moral. ... [1390] This it is to be cleansed from defilement. ...
/.../homily vi 2 timothy ii.htm

The Era of Persecution
... it appears a difficult problem in moral philosophy to ... legal form, and failing to
recant, should be punished. ... to suffer even the involuntary defilement of her ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/iii the era of persecution.htm

Faustus Asserts that Even if the Old Testament could be Shown to ...
... that the wretched soul should be punished with lasting ... unable to cleanse it of the
defilement contracted from ... the power of miracles, of moral excellence, and ...
/.../faustus asserts that even if.htm