First Purity

First Purity

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” Jas. 3:17.

The wisdom that is from above is not first peaceable, but first pure. Jesus said that He did not come with peace, but with a sword. He thrust His sharp, two-edged sword between the pure and impure in order to establish His blessed kingdom on the foundation of purity and righteousness. The church of the living God, against which even the gates of Hades cannot prevail, is built on this blessed foundation. On this foundation arises a blessed and, for time and eternity unbreakable fellowship in the Spirit. Throughout the ages the saints have grown strong on this foundation. There is no true spiritual strength without wisdom’s purity. All strength that does not proceed from this purity is cursed.

Wisdom calls out to her church early in the morning and late at night: First purity! There must be purity and unselfishness in money matters, in thought, and in our conduct. The two-edged sword must always do its effective work by keeping the sharp division between purity and impurity open. It should not even enter our heads to have peace and spiritual fellowship with someone unless it is on the foundation of purity.

Many people think they are acting wisely by mixing with their carnal relatives and friends in order to win them. But it will go with them as it did with Ephraim who “mixed himself among the peoples.” He became like a cake that is unturned, and aliens devoured his strength. Hos. 7:8-9.

“Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 6:17-18; 7:1.

Everything is pure and clear as crystal in the heavenly places. If we are to be sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, we must be radically separated from everything that we know in our hearts to be impure.

Whenever the truth is being proclaimed in purity and with sharpness, one can often hear a “reasonable” voice from one person or another saying that we must be a little bit “wiser,” because then surely we can win more people. Unfortunately, the religious world, for the most part, has become so “reasonable” and “wise” that all they have left is the appearance of godliness without its power. They have come so close to the world that they have become like it.

The wise man wins souls; but you cannot even begin to speak about being wise unless the emphasis is on purity first, in every situation. Those who are wise have God’s abundant grace and blessing over their lives because of their purity. They are filled with Spirit and life and power; they have the effect of an undertow on upright and truth-seeking souls.

“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Ps. 12:6. The Word of the Lord must also be proclaimed in this purity and in God’s power, and must not be mixed with worldly wisdom. The wise do not selfishly win souls to themselves or to religious denominations; without personal gain or honor in this world, they lead souls into a wholehearted life in the steps of Jesus Christ, in which they themselves are walking as examples of purity and godliness. There is a lasting fellowship in life among such souls.